Page 24 of Hockey Nanny

Beneath it, though, I was chewing on Dawson and Gage. I could feel Dawson’s tension from the game, Gage’s mood swinging like a pendulum, and I wasn’t sure how long either would hold it together. Carissa probably noticed, but I had no intention of bringing it up. I let it linger under my attention like a storm cloud no one wanted to name.

When the cab stopped, Henry tumbled out first, squealing and sprinting toward the arcade. I followed, acting all playful and goofy, ruffling his hair and making him crack up. Carissa laughed behind me, and for a moment, everything else slid to the back of my mind.

Henry darted toward the claw machine and I dropped low to match his height, showing him a trick with the joystick. We made a tight triangle, joking and bouncing with Henry’s energy,but I couldn’t shake the weight in my shoulders. It was a coil in my back, a low pull at my chest, a tension I carried with me even as I kept my face easy for them. Dawson and Gage were running through my mind, and I wasn’t about to let either of them see it.

Henry’s fingers jabbed at the joystick and the little claw swung, missing the stuffed dragon by a hair. He groaned, bent over the machine, and I leaned close, nudging his elbow, showing him how to angle the claw just a bit.

Carissa crouched beside us, her hair brushing my shoulder, eyes glinting as she whispered, “You look ridiculous doing that.”

I laughed, loud enough for Henry to glance up, and our elbows collided. Heat sparked across me from her. She didn’t have to say anything else for me to feel it. Henry barely noticed, too wrapped up in the machine, shouting encouragement at the claw like it could hear him.

I let him win the stuffed dragon on purpose. The grin that split his face, teeth all crooked with excitement, made the coil in my back ease a little. I let my hands rest casually on the joystick, leaning toward Carissa.

“You’re supposed to be the expert,” she said, tipping her head at me.

“Teacher said practice makes perfect.” She nudged me with her elbow again, laughing at my ridiculous grin.

Henry spun around to point at the next machine, a row of arcade basketballs, and before I could respond he was already bouncing toward it. I followed him, crouching to his height, letting him hold the ball, showing him how to angle his throw. Carissa was close enough for my shoulder to brush hers, close enough to notice the way her hair ticked against my arm.

I caught her glance when Henry made the shot. Her grin was all sly amusement, not saying a word, just letting me feel it.The tension in my chest coiled tighter for a moment, worry and something else twisting together, but I shoved it down. I had a job to do. Keep Henry laughing, keep Carissa smiling, make sure the day didn’t feel like any of the trouble waiting for us back home.

Henry bounced between machines, dragging us along with him, and I let Carissa walk beside me, our hands brushing over and over as we moved. She laughed when I purposely missed a shot, pretending to frown and shake my head at the ‘incompetence’ of my own aim. Henry joined in, bouncing on the balls of his feet, arms flailing like he was conducting an orchestra.

I kept my gaze on the game Henry and I were playing, but I couldn’t ignore her. Carissa had a way of leaning in just enough for a look to linger, for her laugh to brush against my ribs. I knew she noticed the tightness I carried, that coil in my shoulders, and the way my eyes flicked toward the door when she wasn’t looking, hoping Dawson and Gage were alright.

Henry grabbed a token from his pocket and waved it at me, motioning to the skee-ball lane. I crouched low, letting him roll the first ball. It hit the lane just right, bouncing off the side for a near-perfect score. Carissa clapped, leaning so close I felt her hip against mine. “Not bad,” she said, voice light but full of something that made my jaw clench a little.

Henry cheered, racing ahead to get the next ball, and I followed, one hand on the ball for him, letting him guide the motion. Carissa’s hand brushed mine when she moved past, lingering a fraction longer than necessary. My focus should have been on Henry, but I couldn’t ignore the pulse that had settled somewhere low, deep, where it threaded between worry and the pull I felt toward her.

“Okay,” I said, tossing a ball that went wide on purpose. “Your turn to beat me.”

The little guy squealed and took it, winding back with everything he had. Carissa leaned on the counter beside me, watching, her gaze flitting between the two of us. The arcade lights glinted off her eyes, and I realized I’d been holding my breath without thinking.

Henry’s ball hit perfect, rattling down the lane, and he spun around, throwing his arms wide.

Carissa laughed. “You’ve got him wrapped around your finger.”

I shook my head, smiling, letting her words hang between us, feeling the weight in my shoulders tighten again, not from the game but from what I couldn’t control yet.

I snagged a popcorn from the stand and tossed one to Henry. He lunged for it and missed, sending a few kernels tumbling across the floor. I leaned down and snatched them up before they vanished under the arcade machines. Carissa bent over to grab one too, and her fingers brushed mine.

“You really don’t have to be doing this. Especially right after a—”

I pressed a finger to her lips before she could finish, rising slowly. “You deserve to have a little fun.”

Her cheeks went pink, but she didn’t say anything.

Henry tore off toward the racing game, loudly calling out that he had to go first. I guided Carissa to the nearest machine, and slipped in a few tokens.

“Ready to get your ass kicked?”

The game started, and I could hear her muttering something about luck, but she was focused, all competitive energy in her fingers.

She smashed the high score in minutes. I leaned back against the machine, arms crossed, jaw tightening with a mix of frustration and admiration.

“Seriously?” I said. “I’m officially humiliated.”

She grinned, brushing imaginary dust off her shoulders. “Guess I’m better at this than you.”