His eyes move back to mine at his last statement, as if he directed it right at me. I roll my eyes in response and humor laces his features yet again.
“Sophia, it’s late. Let’s get you home.”
Niko stands, as gracefully as ever, while Sophia grabs the crutches off the ground and then hands them to him.
I follow suit, standing awkwardly as Niko adjusts the crutches under his arms. “If you only tweaked it, what’s withthe crutches?” My words come out sarcastic and accusatory, causing Niko to smirk and turn my way.
“I want to get back on the ice as soon as possible. I’m willing to do whatever it takes. Which includes not putting any weight on my knee and using these ridiculous contraptions.” He raises one of the crutches in the air to emphasize his point.
Sophia giggles then lets out a big yawn. Sleepily, she says, “I like them, Daddy. It’s kind of like you’re a robot.” She yawns again then pouts. “You can’t pick me up with those, can you?” The disappointment and sadness in her voice has Niko stepping closer to her.
“Maybe you can hop on my back and I can give you a ride down to the car.” Sophia’s eyes light up as she begins to move behind her dad.
“Absolutely not.” I surprise Niko, Sophia, and even myself, with the authority in my tone.
Sophia freezes and Niko turns back toward me, questions clear in his eyes.
“She isnotjumping on your back when you have a ‘tweaked’ knee.” I use finger quotes when I say tweaked, to show just how much I don’t believe that’s all that’s wrong. “I can carry her down.”
Niko shakes his head. “No, Sadie. You’ve done more than enough for one night.”
I ignore him and move behind him to pick up Sophia. She hops into my arms and wraps her legs around my waist, resting her head on my shoulder.
“I wasn’t asking, Niko. Now, let’s go.”
Before he can give me another lame attempt to talk me out of it, I’m out the door and heading toward the exit.
I hobble my ass down the hallway as fast as I can, but it’s no use. I’m never gonna catch up to Sadie and Sophia. Sadie may be short, but those little legs can move.
The uneven rhythm of rubber tips echoes down the empty hallway; a not-so-subtle reminder of the shit situation I find myself in. I couldn’t express my frustrations in that room with Sophia and Sadie, but fuck am I mad. Game one of the playoffs, and I’m out for the next three games at least. They told me they want me resting it, even going as far to say I can’t travel to games three and four in Columbus.
“We want you resting and healed up in case we need you back here at home for game five.”
Yeah, that did not go over well. If they’re gonna keep me off the ice, there’s no way I’m not at least traveling with my team to support them in any way I can. Thankfully, my coaches were there and understood my passion, going to bat for me. The training staff didn’t put up too much of a fight once Lincoln spoke up and finally agreed I could travel.
I turn the corner to see Sadie waiting for me at the door that leads to the players’ and staff parking lot. Something lodges in my chest at the sight. My baby girl melting intoSadie’s embrace, Sadie’s arms wrapped protectively around my sleeping daughter, as if she was made to fit there. With how hard sleep has been for Sophia, she must feel extremely safe with Sadie to be out like a light again so soon after waking.
I try not to imagine it, but I can’t help it. How right it looks, the two of them there together, waiting for me. It feels so natural, I can almost believe it’s real. Them.Mine.
Just as fast as I imagined it, it’s gone. I can’t go there. There’s a reason I’ve locked myself up from that kind of feeling, and that reason is asleep in Sadie’s arms. Sophia deserves stability. She doesn’t need another woman coming in and blowing our life up. I don’t know if Sadie would do that, but it’s not a risk I’m willing to take.
Not now. Maybe not ever.
As soon as I approach the girls, Sadie holds the door open for me to go first. She falls in step next to me and silently we make our way to my vehicle.
“I got it from here, Sadie.”
Sadie huffs and turns toward me, a scowl painted on that pretty face of hers.
“Would you just let me help you? I’d rather you not fall on your ass attempting to get Sophia into her car seat. Now, what side is her seat on?”
Not wanting to poke the bear more than I already have, I let Sadie have this win.
“She’s on the passenger side.”
Sadie moves around the car and quietly opens the rear passenger door. Because I’m an overprotective jerk, I follow her and watch as she works. With the grace of an angel, Sadie gently places Sophia in her seat, not even waking her in the process. I watch on as Sadie straps and buckles Sophia up, unashamedly impressed with how quick she handled that.
Once she’s closed the door, she eyes me suspiciously.
