“Haisley’s a smart woman,” Jasper says with an easy confidence. “She’ll understand even if you don’t have the right words to express how you feel. But you’ve got to give her the chance to hear you out. Sitting around and saying nothing isn’t going to get you anywhere.”
I hate knowing he’s right. “How about the team? What should I tell them?”
“The truth.”
“About everything?”
He nods and checks the clock on the wall, getting up from the tub. “No time like the present.”
35
SHE COULD HAVE HAD ANY OTHER MAN AND PICKED THE SWEDISH MAN BUN MASTER
RASMUS
The locker room falls silent as we enter. Some of the guys keep their heads down, avoiding eye contact, their frustration still simmering beneath the surface. Others glance our way, curiosity piqued but their expressions otherwise unreadable. The weight of tonight’s loss lingers in the air.
Jasper exhales, shaking his head slightly as he steps forward. His voice calm but firm, he says, “Listen. We’re all frustrated after tonight’s game, but we’re still a team. A team needs every member to stay focused and give their best effort.”
Silas, never one to let things go, scoffs from his cubby. “Save your pretty words for Westerholm.”
I clench my jaw, bracing for more similar comments, but Jasper doesn’t let them spiral out of control. Instead, he turns to me, his expression supportive. “Actually, Rasmus has something to share with you,” he says, motioning for me to speak. “Tell the truth, and it’ll be okay.”
Taking a deep breath, I look around the room. My heartpounds, but I nod to settle my nerves. The only way out of this is to go through.
“Look,” I start, my voice steadier than expected. “This might come as a shock to all of you, unless you’ve seen the social media posts today. But I'm going to be a dad this July, and the mother is Haisley Lavigne.”
The room freezes. No one speaks. No one moves. My words have sucked all the air out of the room. You could hear a pin drop. The silence is heavy and loaded.
After the initial shock, a few exchange wide-eyed glances. Others stare at me, their expressions ranging from surprise to disbelief. I stand there, my heart pounding. My palms are clammy and my throat is dry like the air is too thick to swallow. The silence wraps around me, heavy and suffocating, and all I can do is wait. I hope someone will speak before the weight of the moment crushes me completely.
I should have known Felix is the first one to break the silence. He shoots up from his cubby, his eyes wide with excitement.
“No way, Ras. Congrats, man!” he exclaims, pulling me into a long hug. “Is everything okay with the baby? How's Haisley?”
A relieved chuckle escapes me. “The morning sickness was brutal, but she’s doing better now. We're actually finding out the sex on Wednesday,” I say, reaching for my wallet and fish out the slightly worn copy of the first ultrasound.
Silas peers down at the image in my hand. His nose scrunches in confusion. “It’s a blob.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Don't tell Haisley that I agree. But our little Meatball is growing beautifully. I can’t wait for a new photo next week.”
“Meatball, seriously?” Lee laughs as he undresses, ready to shower. “Couldn’t pick a better nickname?”
“I found out when she was around twelve weeks along. The baby was the size of a meatball.”
“I mean, it isn’t much different from Bean,” Felix ponders.
“That’s what I said,” I exclaim. “Or Peanut.”
“When did this happen?” Papa Shane chimes in, arms crossed over his chest. His expression is mostly neutral, but there’s an amused glint in his eyes. “If my math is correct, this baby was created before you were traded.”
My cheeks heat, the flush creeping all the way to my ears. “Funny story, but we met last Halloween and didn’t recognize each other because of the costumes. We kept our identities a mystery, and well…” I rub the back of my neck, hearing a few chuckles from the guys. “It wasn't until the Peacocks’ 75th birthday party that we connected the dots when her dad introduced us.”
“Holy shit,” Papa Shane mutters, shaking his head in disbelief. “It's like one of those movies.”
Some nod in agreement, others still looking stunned.
Silas, however, isn’t satisfied with what he has heard. “And how is all that linked to tonight’s fight?”
