After her first night with Troy went well, we made arrangements for her to start spending more time with him. Which is why she’s here now to spend the afternoon with him.
“Would you mind keeping your voice down?” I shush her.
“Why? He shouldn’t be playing a game that is so unsafe.”
“You’re deciding now you want to be a mother to him?” I scoff.
Missy rolls her eyes at me. “Someone has to be a parent to him.”
Don’t react, Derek. Don’t fucking react.
“Hockey is perfectly safe,” Sutton interjects. “They have helmets on and are being supervised by anadult.”
I don’t miss the way she says adult—like Missy isn’t qualified to be giving advice to us parents.
Missy sneers at Sutton and it takes everything in me not to yell. It wouldn’t do anyone any good.
“You’re early, Missy. Troy is going to be skating for a bit longer. You can take him with you then.”
“I can’t believe you’re letting him do this. Do you know how many players get concussions a year?”
“Do you?” Sutton fires back. “Because I do. And it’s fewer than you’d think.”
The love I have for Sutton grows tenfold. The way she’s defending my son like he’s her own? Yeah, I fucking love it.
Even more so because I know I’m about to hear just how safe hockey is. Because she would never have let Lydia skate today if she didn’t know.
“Whatever.” Missy rolls her eyes. “I’m going to go wait over there. Bring Troy over when he’s done.”
“Will do,” I bite out.
The minute she’s out of earshot, Sutton rounds on me. “What the hell is her problem? I mean, she’s acting like his mother and she’s seen him, what, three times?”
“I—”
“Just because she shows up doesn’t mean she gets to judge how you parent. And she’s worried hockey isn’t safe? And…what? Why are you smiling at me?”
I can’t help the grin that slides across my face. “I love how protective you are over Troy.”
She looks taken aback. “What, because I love him?”
I shrug a shoulder. “I mean, I knew you loved me, but it’s nice to see how much you love him too.”
“Of course I do.”
I steal a quick kiss because the last thing I want is to have Missy see this. “I love you.”
Her face softens. “I love you too.”
“Then let’s finish watching them skate and then the three of us can have dinner.”
I don’t know what will happen next with Missy, but I know as long as I have Sutton by my side, things will be okay.
Chapter Twenty-Three
DEREK
“Ithink that Valley is going to be a tough team this year.”
