AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A knock on my office door draws me out of my thoughts. “Delivery for Ms. Childs?”
“That’s me! Thank you.” I stand and the delivery guy meets me halfway handing over a box. I turn it to look for a return address, but it’s blank.
Taking it back to my desk, I sit and slice the tape with the scissors. Pulling the paper apart, I see an envelope on top of another wrapped package.
Honey,
You said I wasn’t ready. And you were right. But I can’t be without you either. Help me learn to be better. Help me be the man you need, and the father our baby needs. Let’s get ready together.
Ezekiel
P.S. I don’t ever want to see you with another man’s name across your back.
I open the package and see two jerseys. Both read STONE but one is my size and one is for a newborn. Tucked between them are two tickets to the Strykers next home game. The tears come instantly and I know this is the man I’m going to spend my life with.
“I’m coming for you, Eli. We both are.”
CHAPTER15
EZEKIEL
Sittingon the plane listening to Luke tell me Honey went to the doctor without me, gutted me. That’s not how a man is supposed to act. Whether I’m an asshole or not, a grouch or not, I should be there. Me not giving her a chance to tell me about the appointment, never mind just a phone number to reach out, proves I’ve got a lot to learn.
It also proves she can do so much better than me.
But I’m not going to let her.
I sent her two jerseys and two tickets. The symbolism is there and I hope she grabs hold.
I’m skating around, glancing at the empty seats behind our bench. My head isn’t in the game and it shows. I’m letting in practice pucks left and right and my team is beginning to talk. Not to me, of course, because I’d fucking kill them. But I know they’re whispering about me.
Blake skates over, skidding to a stop, spraying me with ice. “Dude, she’s going to show.” I won't look him in the eye, so when he grabs hold of me, the best he can with gloves on, and gets in my face and yells, I know I’ve got to get it together. “Stone! Get your shit together. Now! We need you here. We win this and we’re in the playoffs. And one step closer to holding that cup. You’ve been here for nine years. Don’t you want to fucking touch it? Jesus! Think about someone other than yourself for a goddamn minute!” He pushes my shoulder and I stumble on my skates but hold my balance. He skates off without a second glance back.
I flick my eyes to the bench again, seeing my two seats empty.
Fuck.
I’ve lost my girl and I’m about to lose my team if I don’t pull my head from my ass.
* * *
We’rein the second intermission and we’re down 4-2. We’ve got one more period to play and I’ve been doing shit out there.
I let in four goals. Four fucking goals. My anger and frustration should drive me to play the best I ever have going into these next twenty minutes, but all I can think about is why hasn’t Honey shown to the game. Is she hurt? Is she sick? Is the baby okay?
Is she just done with me?
“Stone.” Halting by the door, I step to the side and let the team pass by me. None of them look me in the eye and I wait for Luke to catch up.
“You good?” Luke questions me.
“Fine.”
“No, you’re not. But you will be.”
Narrowing my eyes at him. “I don’t have time for games.”
“You’ve got twenty minutes left in this game. You gonna show up yet or what?”
