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Of course.

Hockey.

That’s what he’s worried about.

I snort despite myself, and turn to Tucker. I did just try to tell him we should leave because he needs to get to work. I might not understand a lot, but I understand enough, and the draft is a big deal.

“Thank you so much for your input, Jankowski, I’ll be sure to tell Sarah every tip you have.”

It’s quite satisfying to see the big man lose most of his bolster and some of the color in his face.

“Not Sarah.”

Eli giggles.

“My big baby,” he coos.

“Shut up,” Lex mutters and shuffles his feet.

“We do need to go, though,” I repeat, managing to put two inches of space between Tucker and me.

“I don’t want to leave you alone all day. Wes is coming with me to the office.” He’s on the verge of pouting, I just know, and I am doing a great job of ignoring everything Eli put into motion. For me.

Shit, he did all of that for me, and I’m just a nobody, a teacher, a guy who just wants his life back.

What life would that be, exactly?

The snarky question pisses me off, but that’s dulled by shock.

“You should stay here with us,” Eli says, excitement all over his face. “We’re gonna watch the draft and be checking on all the trades with Lex’s dad. He’s gonna be so grumpy all day.” His laugh turns a little manic, and a sick, sick part of me wants to find out why.

“No, I’ll be fine⁠—”

“Awesome, he’ll stay,” Tucker declares.

And if looks could kill . . .

Meeting a legendary hockey player is pretty surreal, but realizing he’s the same legendary retired hockey player who’s been dating actual legendary actress Alaina Newman is a new kind of mindfuck the universe invented just for me.

Then there’s Eli’s dad, Michael, who owns just about every newspaper, movie production company, and TV network that matters in the country, and finally, the goddess that is Lyla Storm.

“I just saw you on TV,” I blurt out the moment I take her offered hand, and I wish the earth would just swallow me whole but her smile is too dazzling to miss.

“Did you?” She leans in with a teasing glint in her pretty, pretty eyes. “Did I look good?”

“Well, yeah,” I say dumbly.

“That’s the right answer, son. You’ve saved us all a tantrum,” Ruko says and nods wisely at me before Alaina fucking Newman slaps at his arm playfully.

“Like you have room to talk. You’re the biggest diva here, Ruko,” she scolds him while he barks out the loudest, most genuine laugh I’ve ever heard, and I physically can’t avoid smiling.

Lex and Eli smile happily at all the parents, like this is all normal, and sure, to them it has to be, but it’s not for me. I will deliver on the promise of punishment to Tucker later tonight, and it will not be sexy.

They spend the morning getting to know me, asking all sorts of questions about my current job and the one I’m hoping I get.

“Oh, Luxton is a great school,” Lyla says.

“Eli always loved it,” Michael agrees.