Page 120 of Never Bet Against A Hockey Player

“You go put some meat on those bones,” Lydia said as Max hit the bell. His face was stern and he stared me down until I walked over. His face was warning me silently that I better eat every bite.

I took my plate and sat down at the counter, digging into the biscuits and gravy, fluffy eggs, and a side of bacon.

The same thing I ordered every time.

It smelled incredible. Half of it was gone before I’d even had a chance to breathe.

“Hey.” Lydia slid my phone over. “This has been going off like crazy in the back room. Maybe it’s important.”

I frowned as she pushed my phone across the counter. Gavin would call the diner if there was an emergency.

A knot tightened in my stomach when I saw the social worker’s name—the one who’d helped us get emergency custody. She’d had to make sure we had a place to live and means to stand on our own. Most of which had been taken care of by my pack while I was at the hospital.

I’d only met her in person once, but I was already the person taking care of him. Even my mother had to admit that.

I’d done my interviews. We’d proven that we could take care of him. Conrad had even put his car in my name and added my name to the house to prove even further that we were stable.

So, what could be the issue now?

“Hey, Dhara, breathe. You went real pale on me there,” Lydia said, reaching over to touch my hand.

I jerked back, blinking up at her as I tried to get my brain to both calm down and catch up to the current moment.

“I have to make a call,” I said, shoving my plate away and grabbing my phone.

My stomach was rolling with nerves as I dialed the number back.

It rang twice before her voice echoed through the speaker. “Dhara.”

“What’s wrong?” I managed to choke out.

“Listen, first I need you to breathe. I know seeing my name probably didn’t do you any favors.”

“Please, Hannah. Tell me what’s going on,” I begged.

“Let me just get it out there. Your mom is out of jail, and she is now petitioning the court for custody again. She’s claiming that it was all a misunderstanding.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I burst out, pacing the back storage room as I listened to her. My hands were curled around the phone so tightly it was digging into my palm.

“With all the evidence stacked against her, she’s not going to have a chance,” Hannah said. Her voice was calm but it didn’t help. “But we are going to come with just as much evidence as we did the last time. No judge will look at this case and hand him back over to his mom, and to be completely candid, your lawyer would never allow it. Not in a million years. He’s one of the best in the business. Your pack did not play around.”

I’d never been so grateful for them in my life.

My lungs were so tight it felt hard to take in a single breath.

“I just can’t lose him. She can’t have him. She’ll hurt him if I’m not there, and I can’t go back.” My voice cracked. “She put me in the hospital, Hannah.”

I’d poured out my heart to this woman, giving her every detail that I thought could help me. She’d been horrified with every new detail she’d heard.

“I am going to call your lawyer, if you give me permission to do that, of course.”

“Yes. Anything you need,” I rushed out.

“Perfect. We’re going to make a game plan, and, apparently, your mother knows someone because I’ve never seen a trial move forward this fast. They want to petition for custody. We’re going to counter-petition for full custody to go to you.”

“Yes, as it should,” I growled. “She’s not getting her hands on my brother. I fought too damn hard for this.”

“She’s delusional, and she’s desperate.”