Yup, this sounds like a smart plan. I’ll just sneak in, sit in the back, and get a quick look at her, then leave before any of the guys notice me. Totally a good plan.I know I could probably just scroll up the conversation and see if maybe they’ve mentioned who she is higher up, but I’d rather see for myself.
I quickly pay the bill and jump back in my car, then make my way over to the practice center. Once inside the building, I head to the ice rink, where I know the guys will be. I look around quickly before taking a seat for this Gracie girl. There are a fewother people here watching the boys practice, but no one stands out more than the others.
I’m about to sit down away from view, thinking she might be in the washroom or something, when I notice Shane Jefferson, the head coach, with a baby carrier around his body.That’s odd… I didn’t know he had a child.
Being overly curious, I decide to go investigate and walk down to him. When I get closer, I finally have a peek at what’s being held by the carrier. A cute little baby girl dressed all in pink, with a little pink beanie hat with two puffy pompons on her head. She seems to be fussing against his chest as he tries to soothe her by bouncing up and down.
“Hey Shane, didn’t know you and baby Brey had gotten that serious,” I joke, even though I know that’s not her kid. I haven’t been gone that long to miss out on such big news. Although if it were the case, it wouldn’t surprise me with how infatuated he and Aubrey are with one another despite their denial of it.
He turns pale, eyes wide as he glances toward the ice where his players are doing drills. He clears his throat, looks down at the child, then back at me, and laughs nervously. “Not my kid.”
“So, now you’re not only a coach but also a part-time nanny?” I smile as I look down at the girl and let her grab hold of my fingers. “Hi, sweetie. Where are your parents?”
“Her dad doesn’t always have someone to watch her, so he brings little Gracie here, and we take turns. I’m on babysitting duty today,” Shane informs me as I play with her.
Ah, so this is the famous Gracie. Now I feel like shit for immediately jumping to conclusions and thinking some bitch had taken my spot. Although I am curious as to whose baby this is. I’m guessing Aubrey must babysit once in a while for the dad, since the girls assumed she had her today.
Shane looks at the ice, and I can tell he’s being held back from doing his job properly because of the baby. “Do you want me to take her while you guys finish up here?” I offer.
He regards me with uncertain eyes, hesitation in them. I get it. Even though he’s their coach, Shane is almost the same age as Silas Hayes, Cecilia’s husband, and Clay Burkley, Morgan's husband. He knows everything that goes on and probably noticed my absence from the group over the last few months.
“Are you sure? We still have about an hour before I can let them go home.”
“Of course. I was planning on staying for a little while.” Not exactly true, but now that I know no one has taken my spot, I guess I can stick around a little longer. “Besides, it’s not like I have anything better to do, plus it’ll be nice to spend some time with this lovely little lady.” I smile at her at the same time.
He studies me for a beat, then nods. “Okay. Yeah, sure. That would be really helpful. Thank you.” He begins to unclip the straps of the carrier so that I can remove her from the harness. “Her stroller is right there if you want to walk around or put her down. And the diaper bag is underneath with everything she may need. There are also little toys for her in the basket.” He points to where everything is as I take little Gracie between my hands and hold her up.
“Hi, Miss Gracie. Well, aren’t you just the most precious Little Tulip I’ve ever seen!” I bring her nose to mine and rub them together, the action instantly making her giggle. I plop her on my hip with an arm wrapped around her back securely, and she immediately grabs onto my damp red locks and starts to pull on them.
Shane smiles at the little girl before talking again. “There’s a bottle in the front pocket of her diaper bag that I just heated up. But if you need more, there’s some in the mini fridge in myoffice. You can help yourself, and if you need a quieter place to settle her down, you can stay in there.”
He seems nervous with the idea of leaving me with Gracie. I try to ease his worry by placing my hand on his forearm. “I’ll be fine, I promise. If I’m not sure of something or need help, I’ll come see you right away. You have nothing to worry about.”
That seems to make the concern from his features lift a bit. “Okay. Thank you again.”
“No need to thank me.” I smile, then turn toward the stroller as I babble along with Gracie.
Chapter three
Greyson
You left her with the crazy one!?
“Get your head out of your ass, Ford, and focus!” Silas, our team captain for the New York Griffins, calls out as he skates by me.
Yeah, focus. Easy for you to say! Your life isn’t the one that’s been turned upside down for the past two weeks.
That’s not entirely fair of me to say, though. Silas had it pretty rough for a while last year with his wife, Cecilia. I now understand better why it was so hard for him to play a good game during that time. Because for the last two weeks, my plays have been shit. I’m sleep deprived and in a constant state of worry.
I fucking hate this.
Two weeks ago, I got the biggest, most unexpected news of my life. I was a father to a little girl. A six-month-old baby named Gracie.
When I received the call from Child Protective Services at the Hayes’ house during Dante’s ten-month celebration, telling me that they had a child in their care who they believed was mine, I nearly passed out.
They needed me to come down to their office to fill out forms and get a paternity test done. And when the test came back with a perfect match, I was walking out of there with a child I had no idea existed.
A child I still don’t have a clue how to take care of.
