I needed to call Coach.He was my best plan.My only plan, really.Looked like I was going to swallow my pride.I clenched my jaw.For Millie, for my precious daughter, I’d eat as much humble pie as Coach forced down my throat.That didn’t make placing the call any easier.But as Alyssa used to say, “Doing right isn’t always the same as doing easy.”
I nearly dropped the phone as I found his contact.My hands were sweaty as I paced through the living room, too agitated to sit still.
“Stolly, I’m glad you called,” Coach said when he answered.“How are Millie and the baby?”
I didn’t waste energy on wondering how Coach knew so many personal details of my life.“That’s part of what I wanted to talk to you about.”I rubbed the back of my neck as I explained Millie’s situation, and Alyssa’s.
“Mmm… So you need to go out of town and are worried about Millie’s father and his threats?”
“I am.”My heart pounded.
“I’m sure Paloma and the CATS can set up a rotating visitation sheet to help Millie out while you’re in Detroit.”
I blew out a breath.“That’d be great.I don’t want her to be alone.”I hesitated.“I think it may be best if there were a couple of CATS here…or a player.”I headed toward the bedroom and peeked inside, pleased to see Millie asleep.A pang hit me.I wouldn’t get to hold her tomorrow night.I’d miss out on Bree’s constant diaper needs.The days were slipping past, and I couldn’t catch them, hold them tight enough.“But I’m not sure that’s enough,” I murmured.
“Why not?”
I crept back to the living room and into the laundry area, I closed the door and leaned against the machine to avoid waking Millie.
I didn’t want to have this conversation, yet I had to see it through.Millie’s happiness, our future, depended on it.“I heard Gunnar’s been considering selling part ownership of the team to Chasten Jones.Millie’s father.”
“I can’t confirm that,” Coach said.
“Well, I can tell you it’s a shit idea,” I snapped.
“You’re worried about what?”Coach countered.“Nepotism?”
I gritted my teeth.“Actually, I’m worried because he’s suing for custody of mykid.I thought you might have some advice on how best to ensure that doesn’t happen, especially since you went through something similar with Trixie.Clearly, I was mistaken.”
“That’s a hell of a thing to say, Luka—”
I hung up before I said or did something stupid, like chew out my coach.Shoving my phone into my pocket, I rested both hands on the washer and dropped my head forward.
After a bitter string of curses, I straightened, intending to look into a flight to Detroit.I knew Millie was right, and I’d regret not doing my utmost to see Alyssa again before… It took just a few minutes to find a flight that left later today.
I entered the bedroom quietly and went into the closet.I shut the door and turned on the light.I packed enough clothes for a few days.
Millie was still asleep when I tiptoed to the bathroom to grab my toiletries.I’d just finished throwing those into the suitcase when I heard a knock on the door.
I shut the bedroom door before I strode down the hall.I rolled my eyes when I saw Coach standing in the hallway.
“What do you want?”I asked as I cracked open the door.
“First, to apologize,” he said.
Well, that wasn’t what I expected.I opened the door wider and ushered him inside.He glanced around, seeming surprised to find the place tidy.
He shoved his hands into the pockets of his khakis.“Cruz sent me copies of the documents the lawyer dropped off at the hospital.”He paled, his lips pressed into a disapproving line.His gaze darted down the hallway.“Is she okay?”
“With what?”I asked.Exhaustion hit me hard.I walked to the couch and settled on the edge.
“All of it…”
I glanced up at him.“I doubt it.She didn’t want to be here.”
Coach settled into the armchair.“I can understand why.”
“Clearly, her father’s willing to take her child away.And we had a run-in with that piece-of-shit ex.”
