Page 25 of Game On

“I miss Mama,” he sniffled.

My heart hurt for this little boy and all the emotions he couldn’t contain. No wonder Logan looked overwhelmed every time I saw him. He was in over his head trying to do the single dad thing. He needed my sister’s help.

“Are you my new mama?” Liam asked.

“No, baby. I’m here to help take care of you while your uncle’s at work.”

“Uncle Logan sad,” he muttered as he buried his head in my chest.

They said kids were observant, and there was a loneliness around Logan. Was it sadness? I wasn’t sure. I barely knew him. I shouldn’t waste my energy worrying about someone who was a mere acquaintance. But I wanted so badly to fix everything for him.

It was the mom in me. Or it was because I was in the same boat. I knew the loneliness that set in when you were trying hard to take care of the little person in your life. Or maybe it was because when I looked into Logan’s eyes, it was like I had known him my whole life. I wished I knew why I felt that way around him. The only thing I knew for sure was that I had to make sure the little boy in my arms was taken care of.

Chapter Nine

LOGAN

“Hell yeah, that’s how we do it, boys!” TJ yelled as we walked into the locker room after another much-needed win.

I stripped my jersey off and began taking off my gear, all the while shaking my head at him.

We played a good game, but I wasn’t happy with my performance. The worry over Liam and what I was going to do while we headed out on a road trip in a couple of days was a raging storm cloud over my head. I let it affect my game tonight. Coach noticed it, and so did my teammates. Blaise even said something when we were riding the pine together.

I should have cooled down on the bike before heading out, but I had to get home. Lily was already doing me a huge favor by watching Liam and finding me a nanny. I chatted with Mari earlier today and got a good impression of her, but I wanted to check her references. I needed her to meet Liam first to see if they fit. I was hoping he’d latch onto her like he did with her sister.

“Man, you okay?” Blaise asked.

I shook my head. “I gotta get going.”

“Liam’s fine with Lily.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. Blaise wouldn’t understand the shit I was going through until after Veronica had their baby. Then he’d understand my constant state of worry.

“Come on, Cully, get your ass in the shower. We’re getting drinks!” TJ yelled at me from the other side of the room.

Riley eyed the forward. “T, leave him alone.”

Thank the hockey gods for Riley being the voice of reason. It was no wonder Coach gave him the ‘C.’

I headed toward the shower, ignoring TJ. When I got out, Riley sat in his cubby, dressed and waiting for me. “You okay, man?”

I felt bad he stayed to chat with me, especially since he had a newborn and wife waiting for him at home. That was another reason why he had the C; he was always there for us when we needed his advice.

I sighed. “I looked bad tonight.”

He nodded. “You seemed on edge.”

“Still don’t have a nanny.”

He nodded again in understanding. “Okay, but let us know. Fi will help.”

I shook my head. I couldn’t do that to them, especially since they were still adjusting to parenthood. “No, it’s fine. I got someone potentially.”

“Okay, but you have people who will help you. Tomorrow, let’s do extra drills during practice on the penalty kill. And we’ll review video. Okay?”

I nodded.

That was fine with me. Riley was all about video. He wanted to study what we did wrong and analyze our next opponent for their weaknesses. That’s why he was the best defenseman on the team.