I lean back, staring up at the ceiling of the cabin. “It’s definitely beena lotsince she told me I was going to be a dad. Feels like the world flipped overnight.”
“I’ll admit,” he lowers his voice. “This isn’t how I expected to hear the news about my first grandchild, either. But life rarely hands us news the way we want them, does it?”
“No,” I agree, rubbing a hand over my jaw. “And I’m sorry. I didn’t plan for any of this. But I don’t want you to think this changes anything for me. I’m—” I pause, searching for the right words. “It’s my job to be there. For Haisley, for the baby. I’m not taking this lightly.”
“Good. That’s all I wanted to hear,” he lets out a long breath. “Remember that you’re not the first hockey player to have a baby, and you most definitely won’t be the last. It’ll be okay.”
He doesn’t elaborate or launch into a lecture about responsibility or expectations. But somehow, those three words carry more weight than anything else he could’ve said.It’ll be okay.
A beat of silence passes before he speaks again, his voice gentler this time. “And Rasmus?”
I glance over at him, meeting his eyes.
“I’m glad she picked you.”
I search his face for some hint of what he’s really thinking. But there’s no judgment in his eyes. Just quiet acceptance that says more than any words could.
“Thanks,” I say, my voice low but steady. “I’ll prove you’re right.”
It should be obvious, but never,I mean never, piss off a pregnant woman. Especially not one who has already been through the wringer. The glare Haisley throws my way as we settle into her hospital room is enough to make even a man twice my size take a step back. I don’t scare easily, but right now? Yeah, I might be a little afraid of my baby mama.
I’m not a mind reader, but I don’t have to be one to know exactly what’s running through her head. She’s furious about how her dad found out about the baby. I get it. I really do. She needs to understand how worried I was. Hell, I’mstillworried.
Apparently when she was brought into the ER, the doctors noticed some spotting. While not alarming on its own, it was enough to raise concerns after her fall. Enough to make my stomach twist into knots. For now, Meatball is doing fine. But the fear inside me hasn’t fully let go yet.
Her ankle, on the other hand, is sprained and she won’t be able to put weight on it for at least two weeks. You can only imagine how well she took that news. Hint: not well. Add that frustration to the list of ways I’ve apparently fucked up tonight, and the atmosphere in this room is colder than the damn ice I play on.
I’m thinking of ways to suggest she stays with me while she heals. Not because I’m forcing her but because it’s the only thing that makes sense. Her brownstone has too many stairs, and she needs to rest. Knowing Haisley and her stubborn side, she will try with counterarguments anyway.
And we get to have that discussion with her dad and Timmy present.How awesome. Not.
Haisley crosses her arms over her chest, her stormy green eyes sharp enough to cut glass. She’s propped up in the hospital bed, her irritation simmering beneath the surface. I brace myself.
“So, about where you’re staying—” I start.
“I’m staying at home,” she interrupts me. “End of discussion.”
“No, you’re not,” I counter immediately. “You heard the doctor. No stairs.”
“I’ll figure it out.”
“Haisley, be reasonable. Your brownstone has what? Two flights up to your bedroom? You can’t even put weight on your foot.”
“I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“No, you won’t.”
Her dad steps forward. “He’s right, Princess. You can’t be alone while you’re injured.”
She whips her head to him. “ButDad. I already had to cancel two trips because of this. I’m not going to move out of my place, too.”
“No arguments, Haisley,” he cuts in, his usual calm laced with the unmistakable authority of a man used to being in charge. “You’re not staying in that house by yourself.”
“I won’t be alone. Timmy will be there with me.”
“Oh, no,” Timmy groans. “No offense, H, but I’m not coming in between you and these two.”
“But I need help!”
