With a sharp intake of breath, she stomps toward the door. “JJ.”
A chuckle rolls out of me. “I didn’t want anyone to come in while you were in here.”
“People will think we’re—” She whips around, her eyes going comically wide.
The chuckle turns into a full-on laugh. “No one is going to think a goddamn thing because I’ll have their head if they do.”
Huffing, she rolls her eyes. “Right because you can police the thoughts of others. You men are all the same.”
I pull down my pants, exposing my compression shorts.
With a hiss, she spins around again, giving me her back. “Stop getting undressed. I’m leaving, Jesus.”
“It’s not like you haven’t seen it all before,” I murmur as I slide off my shorts and cup. “Besides, I haven’t told you mine yet.”
“Oh my god, you can tell me later,” she mutters, but she doesn’t make a move to leave.
I snag a towel and saunter past her, headed for the showers. “I’llnever look at a piece of ice the same. I didn’t sleep a wink last night. And your talent is wasted on coaching.”
“Obviously it’s the third one,” she hedges, her tone uneasy, even if she tries to hide it.
I glance over my shoulder and catch her staring at my ass. “Nah, the lie was number two, Angles. I slept like a fucking baby last night.”
SIXTEEN
ADDIE
A few hourslater we’re back at the rink but this time it’s not for practice.
“But what if I fall?” Avery assesses the ice warily, then tips her head back, her blue eyes on mine.
She looks absolutely adorable all bundled up like this, though the weight of the snow pants and helmet might actually cause her to fall, so her concern is legitimate.
“You might,” I tell her honestly. “But you’ve got plenty of padding, so it won’t hurt. Plus, and this is the important part, your dad and I will be right next to you. We’ll help you get back up.”
She frowns like she was expecting a different response. But I’m not a liar and I won’t fib to get her onto the ice. The most important thing for a child is their ability to trust you, and once you fuck with that, you fuck with their confidence and trust for life.
Ask me how I know.
JJ steps onto the ice, does a little spin, and skates backward.
I inhale, ready to tell him he’s not helping, showing off like that, but before I can, he trips and falls flat on his butt.
“Daddy.” Avery looks up at me with the sweetest expression of concern. “Help him.”
Before I can react, JJ pops up, arms wobbly, and smiles at her. “Look at that. I fell and I’m okay.”
I flatten my lips to keep from laughing. He looks ridiculous, pretending he’s having trouble staying on his skates. He scissors his legs back and forth dramatically and then falls again.
Avery giggles this time. “Daddy!”
I snort. “Hmm, it’s wild to think we pay you so much to play on the ice.”
He shoots me a devilish grin, his brows dancing. “Why don’t you show us how it’s done then, Adeline?”
With a roll of my eyes, I shuffle to the opening in the rink. Before I can step out, Avery tugs on my hand. “Can I come?”
A bolt of surprise hits me, but I tamp it down, only giving her a gentle smile. I was sure it’d take all kinds of coaxing to get her out there.
