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Haley glances back at me. “Don’t you dare look at the scale when they weigh me. Or this will be the first and last appointment you get to join.”
“Regretting those two doughnuts on the way here already?” I whisper, and she shoots me a harsh glare. “I’m kidding, Haley baby. Honestly, you’ve never looked more gorgeous.”
She rolls her eyes like I’m lying. But the truth is … I mean every word.
Haley
The ultrasound tech tells us we’re having a baby boy, and Cade wipes his eyes before picking my hand up and pressing his lips to it.
“I’ll admit, I’ve been terrified of having a boy. I wanted a girl, who would be just like you. Not a boy who might be a little shit like me.” He sniffles. “But seeing him? Seeing he’s real and he’s ours?” His voice cracks, and he shakes his head. “We’re having a son, Haley. I love him so much already.”
Tears stream down my face as I look from Cade to the black-and-white screen in front of us, and I nod. “Me too.”
After the time I went to see Cade at rehab and told him the news that he was going to be a father, I expected him to be freaked out. But when he promised me he’d be here for our baby, I started thinking about names for either a boy or a girl. I thought long and hard about something. Eli was Cade’s very best friend. He loved Eli beyond measure. And what better way to honor Eli than to name our firstborn after him?
I might not have known Eli, but I know he means a lot to Cade, so he’s special to me too.
“Cade?” I whisper, nervous to tell him what’s on my mind.
“Yeah, baby—Haley?” he says, correcting himself. “What is it?”
“What about Eli? Eli Hunter?” I reach up, wiping under my eyes. “Because, well, Eli was—is so important to you. And Hunter … he’s just really stepped up when it comes to being there for me during this pregnancy. And when it comes to your recovery, he’s been so supportive.”
“Really?” His voice is shaky as his eyes gloss over. “You’d be okay with naming our baby after Eli?”
I nod. “Yes, of course. If you want to, that is.”
“I’d love that.” He kisses my hand again. “And even though Watson might be a little bent out of shape and cry himself to sleep when he finds out … yeah, I can’t think of a better middle name than the guy who is responsible for bringing you—the best thing that’s ever happened to me—into my life.”
27
Cade
Ihead into the arena, somehow not nearly as nervous as I should be, and I think it’s probably because I’m still on such a high from yesterday when I got to see my baby boy on the screen. And what made it even better was spending the day with Haley. But the closer I get to Coach’s office, the more the nerves flood my body, the calmness quickly wearing off.
“Knock, knock,” I say as I stick my head in Coach’s open doorway. “Your favorite pain in the ass is back to put some more gray hairs on that head of yours.”
He tries to give me a stern look, but can’t hide his smile. “Gray hairs? What gray hairs are you talking about, Huff?”
I raise my brows. “Hey, if my son-in-law were Cam Hardy, I’d have some gray hairs too, Coach.”
Standing, he walks around his desk and pulls me in for a hug. “Never thought I’d be so damn happy to see your face, ya asshole.” He shakes me lightly. “You look good, kid. Really good.”
Patting his back before he releases me, I take a seat in the chair across from him once he’s back behind his desk.
I shift in my seat, fidgeting nervously because, truth be told, I’ve never felt so ashamed in my life. “I’m, uh … really sorry, Coach. I hope you know that.”
“Tell me what you’re sorry for, Cade.”
“For lying. For doing drugs. And for letting those drugs come between you and the season you deserve. For letting you and my teammates down. For being an absolute moron.” I stop. “I can go on, if you want.”
Talking to LaConte has always come so easy to me. Aside from when I was high, of course. Because I was so fucking scared he’d notice something was up with me, I’d avoid eye contact as much as I could. Which, yeah, that was hard. But he’s the best coach anyone could ask for. I hate myself for letting him down after he gave me a chance.
“Our season wasn’t going to be perfect anyway, Huff. It’s not easy to find our footing right away after losing so many big players on our team. I knew we’d have our work cut out for us this season.” His lips fall into a flat line. “Did I think my best defenseman was on drugs and was going to be shipped off to rehab? Well … truthfully, no. I’m pretty good at seeing shit coming, but that one, yeah, I missed it. And, sure, it didn’t help our season any, not having you. That’s for sure.” He bobs his head like he’s thinking. “That’s the way it goes in hockey—any sport, I suppose. Sometimes, you’re on top. Other times, you’re scrounging around on the bottom.” His lips turn up the slightest bit. “Or like my college coach used to say, ‘Sometimes, you’re the windshield, and sometimes, you’re the bug.” He sighs. “But we’ve been holding our own. We miss you—there’s no doubt about that. But the boys have worked hard, and if you ask me, this season hasn’t been all bad. All things considering.”
He stops, pulling in a breath and leaning over his desk a little more. “You know what I never got the chance to tell you, kid? Before you left, Boston called me.” He tips his face up to look at me. “The Bruins, kid. The fucking Bruins wanted you.”
My breath hitches as I let his words fully wash over me. And realize that … I blew it.
