Page 23 of Game On

“Wow, bud, look at you! Just like your Uncle Logan!”

“You be goalie,” he told me.

A smile curled up on my lips. Oh, this little boy was going to have me running around all night. I got in front of the goal net and faked trying to block his shots. I played with him on the carpet for a few minutes until I heard Logan walk back into the living room.

I gulped when he came out wearing a royal blue suit that looked molded to his body. He no longer had messy bedhead; instead, he had styled his bright hair to perfection and trimmed his beard.

He walked over to us and held up two different ties to Liam. “Okay, bud, help me pick which one.”

Liam pointed to the blue one that matched Logan’s suit. “This!”

Logan smiled and then ruffled Liam’s hair. “You’ll be good for Lily tonight, okay?”

“Okay!” Liam cheered, and then he moved on to playing with one of his toy trucks, the hockey stick long forgotten.

Logan laid the rejected tie on the floor and put the other one on instead. But he messed up and had to redo it. I leaned forward and pressed my hands against his chest. He flinched at my touch, but then he relaxed when I fixed the tie for him.

“Thanks,” he said, but neither of us moved. It felt like all the air had gotten sucked out of the room while his eyes bore into my own.

“Umm. So, is there anything we need to go over?” I asked, trying to cut the tension.

He pulled away and stood up, then offered me a hand and helped me off the floor. Liam was preoccupied with his toys on the floor, and Logan pointed to a binder on the coffee table. A thick binder.

“Everything’s in here, but you’re so good with him, he shouldn’t have an issue.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Logan, that’s a bit much.”

He rubbed his beard. “I might be a helicopter parent.”

“I’ll read it, I promise,” I laughed.

“It’s mostly emergency numbers and detailed lists about his likes and dislikes. He doesn’t have any allergies, but you’ll probably only get him to eat chicken nuggets tonight. I left my card on the counter if you want something else for dinner for you.”

“Should I bring him to the game?”

He shook his head. “Nah. It will end pretty late, and I don’t want you stuck there all night. I also want to talk about payment.”

I waved him off. “I’m doing you a favor.”

“That’s why I want to pay you. It’s a lot for me to ask. You don’t know me.”

That was true, but I felt a kindred spirit in him. Maybe it was because we were both struggling single parents. When I peered into his eyes, I felt calm. Like I had known this man my whole life. I couldn’t explain why.

“Liam likes you. When I told him you were coming over, he got excited, and he doesn’t trust very well. Thanks for doing this. I owe you.”

“You can buy me a drink later,” I told him and gave him a friendly smile.

He cracked a smile. “Okay. A drink. Maybe dinner. Deal?”

I stuck out my hand, and he shook it in confirmation. “Deal. You better get to the arena, right?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I’ll be back late.”

“Fine. I brought work to do once I get him to sleep. We’ll be fine. I promise you.”

He let out a long breath like he had been holding it all in. I saw the stress bearing down on his big shoulders. The mama in me wanted to take that all away from him. I had that same expression on my face more than I would have liked.

Logan walked over to Liam and knelt down in front of him. He opened his arms out to the little boy. “Okay, little man, I gotta go to work.”