I’m just so damn excited to see Adeline’s reaction.
“Yeah, they’re coming to see me skate, right?”
“Yup. They can’t wait.”
“And you’ll record it and send it to everyone else?”
I look at her in the mirror again. The hope in her blue eyes hits me straight in the chest. “Yes, Aves, just like I always do.”
She nods, content with my answer, and peers out the window. She’s stopped asking about Tabitha. Maybe it’s a bad thing, but for me, it feels like a step in the right direction. She shouldn’t be tormented by a woman who doesn’t care enough to even call her own daughter, but I still worry. When it comes to Tabitha, it’s always better to worry.
Avery asks me whether Adeline is here twice on the way from the car to the rink. I remind her that she had to stop at Josie’s, so she couldn’t have beat us. She isn’t thrilled with that answer and sticks close to my side as we approach my teammates.
When Bobby spots us, he gets down low. “Hey, Aves, whatcha wearing?”
She frowns up at me, her little hand tucked into mine. “Can he not read?”
Bray throws his head back and roars. “Dammit, I don’t want kids, but I love yours.”
Avery beams at him.
“I can read. I just thought maybe you’d want another one.” Bobby twists at the waist and procures a giftbag from behind him, then holds it out to her.
I eye him, laughing. What an idiot. “You bought my kid a jersey?”
He shrugs. “She’s the team’s kid. She should have all our jerseys.”
Avery shakes her head, her little lips turned down. “Nope. I’m only on Daddy and Addie’s team.”
Bobby looks up at me, eyes widening. Then he gets to his feet and leans in so only I can hear him. “Nicely done, JJ. Didn’t think you had it in you.”
“Avery, say thank you for the gift,” I remind her, ignoring his comment.
“Thank you for the gift. However, I only wear Addie’s jersey, so unfortunately this will just sit in my drawer.”
Bray coughs out another laugh. I swear the guy has laughed more in the last two minutes than he has in the last year. “Brutal. I fucking love you.”
I glare at him. There’s no way I want him getting on board with the ducking bullshit, but I’d appreciate it if he’d at least try not to curseatmy child.
He holds up his hands, cringing. “My bad, Aves. You’re a cool one.”
“Thanks,” she chirps. “But I’m not wearing yours either, Cap.”
He just laughs harder.
“What’s all the noise about?” a deep voice says from behind me.
Bray straightens and his smile grows. “Hey, Dad.”
I’m not a small guy by any standard, but being in the presence of this legend instantly makes me feel like a little boy standing on the other side of the boards watching Tyler Warren play hockey. He was a presence. An attitude. A leader. Covered in tattoos like Brayden, he could absolutely pass as his biological father, when in reality the two share no DNA.
He’s in a black long-sleeve Boston Bolts shirt and he’s wearing his hat backward like Bray, his smile bright. “JJ, Bobby, and Avery.” He kneels in front of my little girl and thumbs toward us. “These guys giving you trouble?”
“They don’t understand that I will only ever wear Addie’s jersey from now on and I’m not on the team.” She huffs like the idea is ridiculous. “I only just now learned to skate.”
War’s eyes jump up to me. “Did you? Does that mean your dad will bring you down to my house to skate on the pond? I even have pretty string lights set up, and my wife loves to bake this really good French toast casserole that’s the perfect breakfast at dinnertime.”
Avery looks up at me. “Can we, Daddy?”
