I bury my face in the fridge, collecting the meat and peppers before setting them on the counter.
“Where are your pots and pans?” Chance asks.
I bend down and pull out a pan from one of the lower cabinets. “You don’t need to?—”
He gently nudges me aside, and sets the pan on the stove before reaching for the package of chopped meat. “Do you want to get changed into something comfortable? I can handle the tacos.”
My mouth flaps open and closed as I stand there staring up at him.
He leans in and presses a kiss to my temple. “Go. I’ve got this.”
What is happening right now?
I bolt up the stairs and throw on a T-shirt and sweatpants, and that’s when I hear the doorbell ring.
“Aunt Pres,” Avery’s voice calls up to me. “There’s another man standing on the porch.”
Another man?
I run downstairs and skid to a stop in front of the door. Peering through the peephole, my stomach drops to the floor.
No fucking way.
“Are we having a party?” Alyssa asks.
“No, go back inside and finish your homework.”
Neither of the kids move.
I inhale a deep breath and swing open the door.
“Hi, pretty girl.”
With a groan, I yank Stephen’s wrist and pull him over the threshold.
I’m going to kill Dominique.
Stephen’s eyes narrow as he gazes over my shoulder, spotting Chance in the kitchen. “What’shedoing here?”
“I could ask you the same question.”
He holds his arms out wide and grins. “I’m here to see you.” His smile drops when he spots the kids standing beside me. “Oh, fuck. You have kids?”
Alyssa gasps at the sound of the curse word.
I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her close. “This is my niece, and that’s my nephew.”
“Cool.” He waves at them. “Hey, guys. I’m Stephen McKinley. I play for the Goldfinches. You might’ve heard of me.”
“I haven’t,” Avery says flatly, and I stifle a laugh.
But Alyssa’s eyes light up. “I love hockey! I play field hockey.”
“That’s awesome.” He kneels down to get eye-level with her. “What position do you play?”
“Attacker.”
Stephen holds up his palm for a high-five. “That’s badass.”
