“You sure did,” Adeline says, almost breathless.
“Can Addie sleep over with me at Mimi’s?”
“No, baby.” Chuckling, I press a kiss to Avery’s cheek. Then I hold my arms out.
Adeline stretches her arms out, passing my little girl to me. She’s not so little anymore, really, so skating around with her for the last two hours, mostly carrying her, much to Avery’s delight, has probably been exhausting.
I’ll make it up to her tonight. I’ll massage every inch of her body. And then kiss every spot.
“But why?” She sticks out her bottom lip, pouting at Adeline. “Do you want to sleep at my Mimi’s with me?”
With a soft smile, Adeline presses a hand to her back. “I always want to be with you, Avery, but I have plans tonight.”
“You do?” she says, voice filled with almost wonder.
Adeline’s eyes meet mine for a second, full of affection, then she focuses on my daughter again. “I do. I’m going out with my best friend.”
My little girl perks up in my arms. “Who’s your best friend?”
“So many questions,” I say. “Come on, say good night. You’ll see Adeline in the morning, okay?”
“You promise?”
Adeline cups her cheek, moving in a little closer. “I will always come back. Okay? You and me and Daddy, right? We’re a team?”
Avery’s little body relaxes in my arms. “I told everyone that. I’m not a Bolt. I’m Adeline and Daddy’s.”
Adeline’s eyes widen, and for a moment I worry she’s freaking out, but then her lips quiver and tears form on her lashes. She wraps her arms around Avery and presses a kiss to her cheek. “You sure are my girl. I love you. Have a good time with Mimi and Pops.”
It takes another half hour for Adeline to say goodbye to our friends, then she heads out. I wait about ten minutes, chatting with the guys a little longer, planning to meet her down the street so no one sees us leave together.
I’m so damn anxious for the rest of the night to get started. I can’t wait for her reaction. In a rush, I take off down the hall toward the elevator. I’m about ten feet from it when a loud whimper echoes off the walls.
“You bitch,” a deep voice growls. “Thought you could ruin my career.”
My head snaps toward the locker room. I’d know that voice anywhere. What the fuck is Dirk doing here?
I throw open the door and storm in, and when I find Adeline pinned against the wall, Dirk’s hands around her throat, a blinding rage takes over.
FORTY-SIX
ADDIE
Dammit.
I’m not normally this weak. Fuck, am I irritated. I was too distracted. Too happy. I didn’t even consider that it could be Dirk when I heard a man call my name from the locker room.
I walked in like a complete idiot.
But this room is normally filled with my teammates. My family. I felt comfortable here. Safe.
“It wasn’t bad enough that you took the spot that should have been mine, you greedy bitch, but then you brought the rookie up? Made me the laughingstock of my team.”
Dirk is still whining. His ego is bruised because I’m playing in the NHL and he’s not. He’s been going on about this for a solid five minutes.
At first he was just raging. Not violent.Though he stood between me and the door, trapping me in here.
When I brushed him off, telling him he didn’t deserve to be called up, he lost it. He yanked me by the arm and shoved me against the wall. And now his hand is on my neck.
