"Then she wants you involved more than you think."
"So, what do I do?"
"Keep showing up. Keep being thoughtful. Keep proving you're not going to disappear or make demands or take away her choices."
"Thanks, Dad."
"Anytime. And Tuck? I'm proud of you. For being there today. For respecting Sloane's boundaries. For taking this seriously."
After we hang up, I sit with his words.I'm proud of you.When was the last time I did something actually worth being proud of?
I open a new browser tab and search for tea delivery services in Pittsburgh. Something thoughtful but not overwhelming. Ginger tea, maybe. Peppermint. Things that might help with morning sickness.
I find a company that does weekly subscriptions and set up a delivery to Sloane's address. Not extravagant. Just consistent. A reminder that I'm thinking of her, that I'm here even when she needs space.
Then I pull up my interior designer's number again. This time I send a text:
Need to talk about renovating my place. Making it more family-friendly. Can we meet this week?
Her response comes quickly:
Absolutely! How family-friendly are we talking?
Very. Like, babies will be living here, family-friendly.
Design Girl
!!! Congratulations! Yes, let's definitely talk. I have some great ideas.
I set the phone down, feeling slightly more in control. Small steps. Tea delivery. Planning renovations. Researching what babies need.
The list keeps growing until I'm overwhelmed again. I close the laptop and grab my gym bag instead. When in doubt, work out. At least that's something I know how to do.
Three hours later, I'm drenched in sweat at Fury headquarters and no less anxious. Even as I work my body to the max beside these guys, it’s like every breath I take is a lie until I come clean about Sloane.
Josh Grentley is going to find out eventually. The team is going to find out. And when they do, it's going to be a disaster. I knew this when I slept with her at the ski house. I knew it when I went back for more. And now...
I can already imagine the locker room gossip. The looks. The questions about whether I did this deliberately. Grentley's anger—justified anger. The way it'll poison team dynamics that are already fragile after our early playoff exit.
Coach Thompson will pull me aside. Management will get involved. I'll become the guy who knocked up his teammate's ex-wife instead of the guy who protects his teammates on the ice. Fuck—what if they trade me?
My phone buzzes as I'm toweling off. Alder again.
Alder
Seriously. You're worrying me, Fucker
His nickname has always bugged me, but it hits harder than usual right now. Fucker Stag. I’m deep in the bed I made, and I know how much work it will take to claw my way out. I need to remember the prize here: babies. Family.
I know Sloane has no reason to trust me yet, but I’m going to need the full power of the Stag herd to keep myself on track. I pull out my phone to call her and realize it’s late. She’s got babies to grow and needs her rest, so I send her a text instead.
Would you be willing to have dinner with my parents? I really need their support so I can support you. And the babies.
What I want to say is: I'm wild for you and I'm terrified and excited, and I want to be more than just a co-parent, but I don't know how to prove I'm different from what you think I am.
I want to tell her to move in with me, so I can keep our family safe while she figures out what she needs.
But that shit will scare her off faster than a puck off the boards.
