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“My mom’s in from Boston and we have a date with a toddler, so I’ll have to miss it.”
“Every date you’ve talked about in weeks has been daddy-daughter. You be sure to get some adult fun time in between,” Axel teases.
“My dick is doing just fine and isn’t your business.” I snicker. If the team has a manwhore, it’s Axel Wallin. In some ways, he reminds me of Torsten, a lot of fun but easily can get you in trouble. “I’m keeping focused on Sadie and hockey. Coach hates me enough as it is. I need to be in top shape.”
“Women help keep me in shape.”
“Easier to do when you don’t catch their name because that way you don’t catch their drama either,” Hugo says with a grin.
“You should try it, Wild. It’s the only way to live,” Axel tells him before disappearing out of the locker room.
“Don’t listen to him, kid. You do you, keep that head where it’s at.”
“Thanks, Bloomy.” It cracks me up when he calls me kid. At twenty-four, I’m the second youngest on the roster but that won’t last long. Hockey is a young man’s sport and there is a whole team of younger guys on the farm team waiting to be called up. I was one of the lucky few to skip the minors. It’s rare and I almost lost my spot in Boston a time or two.
Tonight is a big night. Mom’s back in town and Isla has agreed to let Sadie stay the night with me for the first time. We’re both nervous about it in different ways. Isla is nervous because she doesn’t trust that I can handle anything that comes up. I can though, because my daughter is my priority and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.
I even had an alarm installed so all doors and windows chime in the most annoying way possible. There’s no way she can wander off without me knowing.
My worry is that Isla will find any kind of reason to not let me do this again. Maybe that’s not fair, but I had to bend over backward to get permission to take her out to ice cream without Isla tagging along. Not that I mind Isla around, I don’t. But it isn’t realistic for her to be with us every minute of every day.
It also makes it harder to keep my heart from getting too entwined with the woman.
What I said to Wallin isn’t exactly true. My dick is most certainly feeling neglected these days. My hand hasn’t seen this much action since I left for Boston. Once again, it’s because of Isla Cole. Every woman that catches my attention pales in comparison, and for some insane reason, I compare every single one to her. Nobody’s smile is as bright, no body as curvy, no other flirty glance makes my heart pound.
She has the same effect on me as she always did. Now, it’s two-fold and confusing as all hell. I know she’s here at the Iceplex today; she’s been entertaining a group from the biggest local youth hockey leagues. When I was skating earlier, she was on the other side of the glass surrounded by a group of teenage boys all looking at her like she hung the moon.
I remember feeling like that at their age. Fuck, I still feel like that now, when I’m not so enamored with my daughter that I hate how much time I’ve missed.
Finishing my shower and tossing all my shit in my gym bag, I go find the woman who dominates my thoughts. She’s saying goodbye to the group of walking hormones as I approach.
“Holy shit, that’s Wild,” one of them says when I get close enough.
“Hey, guys,” I greet them, then press a kiss on Isla’s cheek to a round of oohs and ahhs from the boys.
“Gentlemen, this is Cillian Wylder,” she says, laughing. “If you want some selfies with him, now is your chance. You have about ten minutes before your bus takes off.”
I play along, because I remember the days of being starstruck by pros and I’m not that kind of asshole. When we’re done, I trail her as she escorts them to the main entrance of the hockey facility.
“Thanks for doing that for them,” she says.
“No worries, I don’t mind that sort of thing.”
“I didn’t know, and I don’t want to push anyone’s boundaries. But you walked right into it.”
“Any time you need something from me, just tell me. You know if it wasn’t for people encouraging me in youth hockey, I wouldn’t be here. I’m happy to give back,” I remind her because she’s acting like she doesn’t know me at all.
I don’t like it.
“Okay, thanks.”
“Are you done for the day?”
“Thankfully,” she says, nodding. “Boys are exhausting.”
“I know that’s right,” I tease. “Can I meet you at your place to grab Sadie? Mom’s excited to see her.”
Isla shuts down quickly. Her smile fades, shoulders slump, and eyes become vacant. Her skin turns ghostly and her chest rises and falls rapidly.
