Page 87 of Game On

“I’m not.”

“You are. Your ex sucks.”

She sighed again. “He didn’t use to be that way. Or not until I found out he was a lying cheater. I met his new girlfriend at one of my jobs, and she reamed me out for not letting him see Rosie. He lied to her. Just like he lied to me. I felt awful for her. But at least she doesn’t have a kid with him.”

I clenched my jaw.

What an asshole.

If I ever met her ex…I wasn’t sure what I’d do. I made a promise that violence wasn’t the answer. I didn’t even fight on the ice because of that. I’d push a guy when he deserved it, sure, but I didn’t drop the gloves. I wasn’t my father. I didn’t want Liam to see that shit and think hitting someone solved his problems.

“I know what it’s like to have a bad dad,” I whispered.

She reached out and grabbed my hand. “You don’t have to tell me.”

But I did. I kept everything buried, and I wanted her to know I understood her plight. That I knew all about terrible fathers. When I stared into her eyes, I knew I could tell her whatever was on my mind.

“When he wasn’t belittling my mom, he knocked her around. I couldn’t stand up to him until I started getting serious with hockey. Until I was bigger than him and fought back.”

“Is that why he’s in jail?”

“Manslaughter. He was drunk and crashed his car. My mom was with him, and then my sister died the same way. The same fucking way! I didn’t recognize the signs until too late because I was too busy trying to build my hockey career.”

She let out a gasp and put her hand over her mouth. “Oh, Logan. I’m so sorry.”

I fingered the tattoo on my upper arm. “That's why I got this. To remind myself I couldn’t get Rose out in time. To show Liam real men don’t hit their partners. I don’t want my family history to repeat itself.”

“Logan, I’m so sorry you went through that, but it’s not your fault what happened to her. She’d be so happy that Liam’s with you.”

“I couldn’t get her away from him in time,” I muttered.

I was repeating myself, but the guilt was washing over me this morning. Reminding me that if I had only paid attention, she wouldn’t have ended up like Mom.

She looked down at the little boy snuggled up beside her. “Was Liam there?”

I shook my head. “He was with me. I’m all he has now.”

“He knows how much you love him, how you’d do anything for him. You’re a good dad. You might not be his biological dad, but sometimes blood means nothing. Kids need love, and as long as they have that, it doesn’t matter what type of family they have.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Sorry, that got dark. I don’t know why I unloaded on you.”

She gave me a sad smile. “I told you I’m here to talk if you ever need it.”

I was going to say something else, but then my alarm went off. Rosie fussed at the noise, and Liam woke up to her cranky noises. He put an arm around her and tried to tell her it was okay. A grin spread across my face at my sweet nephew comforting little Rosie.

I slipped out of bed while Lily kissed the kids good morning, and they climbed all over her. I stretched my arms above my head and tried to pretend I didn’t notice her stare at my muscles, open-mouthed.

“Okay, kiddos, let’s get breakfast before I have to head out,” I said.

“No!” Liam cried.

I laughed and ushered him out of the bed. “I gotta travel for hockey today, bud. Mari’ll be here while I’m gone to take care of you.”

“And Lily?” he asked with hope in his eyes.

I gave her a ‘help me’ look.

“Maybe, but no promises,” Lily told him. “I have a lot of work to do this week.”