Page 26 of Game On

He clapped me on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about T. He’s just busting your balls.”

“He’s a pain in my ass.”

Riley laughed. “That’s TJ! He got on my shit while Fi and I were trying to have a baby. Like sorry dude, I'd rather be with my smokeshow wife than have a beer with you assholes.”

I laughed too. “I get that.”

He studied me for a split second. “Do you?”

“I can imagine. All I have is hockey and Liam, and I’m fine with that. I gotta get going. A friend did me a favor by watching him tonight.”

He raised an eyebrow. “She hot?”

“Yeah, but it’s not like that. Plus, Blaise said she’s off-limits.”

“Why?”

I shrugged. “She’s friends with his girl.”

Riley’s eyes lit up in recognition. “Oooh, V’s friend Lily. She’s cute. If I recall, you two looked pretty cozy at Blaise’s barbecue last summer.”

“Nah. Just commiserating being single parents. She’s cute, but…yeah, I don’t have time for that, and neither does she.”

Riley seemed like he wanted to say something else, but then Blaise came back from his shower, and we both shut our traps.

I wasn’t sure why Blaise said Lily was off-limits, but I respected him enough to know there had to be a reason. It was probably because Lily didn’t have time for anything either. She might be a cute little blonde with a pretty smile, but I wasn’t going down that road.

I left before TJ could goad me into going out with them. One beer led to three, and I didn’t want Lily to wait up so late for me to get home. I didn’t get home until at least midnight if I did post-game media or cooled down on the bike. I felt guilty that she’d dropped her free night to help me, so I raced out as soon as I could.

I drove back to Old City, and when I parked in the garage, I realized I should have told Lily to park down here. I’d have to ask her where she parked. After she dismissed taking payment for helping me with childcare, I was sure she wouldn’t let me pay for parking. I didn’t get that stubbornness. I might not be making what Blaise or Riley made, but I knew I made way more than she did.

I got out of my car and went up the elevator to my floor. When I walked inside, the TV was on in the living room, turned to the sports network, and a laptop was laid out on the couch, but there was no sign of Lily. The hair on the back of my neck raised in alarm.

I burst into Liam’s room, and then my heart fluttered at the sight of Lily in the kid bed with Liam curled around her. They were both asleep and looked so peaceful.

I walked over to the bed and knelt down beside it. “Lily?” I whispered, but she didn’t move an inch. “Hey, Lil, wake up.”

She stirred and held Liam to her tighter. Something about the movement made my chest puff out in pride. Watching this woman I barely knew be protective of Liam got my pulse jumping.

I lightly tapped her. “Lil.”

Her eyes fluttered open, and she took a minute to realize where she was. “Oh. I must have fallen asleep.”

“Come on.”

I helped her get out of the bed, hoping she didn’t wake up Liam. He stirred a little, but I tucked him back into the bed and kissed his forehead. Lily gave me a look of adoration as she watched me with my nephew. We crept out of the bedroom and shut the door.

She ran a hand through her hair, trying to fix her bedhead. “Sorry. He woke up screaming for his mama, and it was the only way to get him to stop.”

“Fuck, I forgot to tell you about that,” I said. “You want a glass of wine or something? I need a beer.”

“Um sure,” she said as she bit her lip.

I took off my suit jacket and hung it on the back of the couch before going into the kitchen. I grabbed a beer but opened a bottle of red wine and poured her a glass. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked her that. She probably wanted to get going.

I found her on the couch in my living room, furrowing her brow at her computer. I handed her the glass. “Oh, thanks,” she said, but she didn’t look up from her computer.

I undid my tie. “I’m sorry. I should have warned you about the screaming.”