Page 106 of A Major Puck Up

With a rumbling laugh, he saunters down the aisle. On one side of the aisle is a set of oversized leather seats with tables between them. The seats on the other side have no table.

Before Vivi, I would sit at a table. Always.

I’d have my coffee, talk to the coach—at the time my scumbag uncle—laughing or smiling the whole way.

But I’m not that man anymore. It’s not lost on me that I don’t smile as much. I’m trying. But it’s hard to keep up the façade when I’m focused on keeping my head above water.

Millie waits for me to sit, still holding the diaper bag and her carry-on. What I want to do—what would put an instant smile on my face—is take Vivi and Millie to the corner in the front of the plane where it’s just us. I want to hold Millie’s hand during takeoff while she cradles my daughter. I want to smile at her while Vivi dozes in her arms, and I want to whisper secrets, tuning out the rest of the world.

What I’m going to do, though, is very different. “I’ve got it from here.”

Millie’s lips turn down and her brows pull together. “Huh?”

“Set the diaper bag on that seat right there.” I wave a dismissive hand. “Then go sit in the back with your brother.”

“Don’t you need me to help?” Even as she asks it, she sounds resigned to my answer.

Yes is what makes sense. It’s why I hired her. It’s why she’s on this plane and in my life.But I can’t be that close to her. Not in such an enclosed space.

“No. You’ll be with her all week. This is the perfect chance for you to have a break and for me to spend time alone with her before I have to deal with practice and games and the media circus.” Without waiting for Millie to reply, I settle in the seat by the window and fix my attention on the tarmac. Even as I avoid her gaze, it’s impossible not to feel the shock radiating off her.

It eats at me, this uncontrollable feeling, making me hate myself with every second that I don’t return her gaze.

“Baby Hall, you’re traveling with us!” At the sound of Camden Snow’s voice, I can’t help but turn. Camden—“Ice” to his teammates and fans—puts a hand on Millie’s waist and steps up close.

Mine, I want to growl. Hands off.

Instead, I bite down and keep my mouth shut.

Millie’s frown morphs into a smile. “Sure am. Can I sit with you? Apparently, I’m not needed up here.” Her tone is sticky sweet and fake as can be.

We’re both playing roles that we don’t want to perform, but it’s better this way.

Or at least that’s what I’ll keep telling myself.

THIRTY-SIX

MILLIE

Camden drops into a seat and pats the empty one beside him, signaling for me to take it, his smile nothing but genuine.

“She’s sitting with me,” Daniel says, motioning to the empty spot beside him and zeroing in on me. “I want answers, and you’ve been avoiding me.”

Stomach in knots, I settle in beside Camden. I’ve had just about enough with the attitudes of the men in my life today. I’m not answering my brother’s inquisition any more than I’m dealing with the asshole up front.

We had a moment last night with the piano. I know we did. I don’t even know what to make of his admission that he bought it for me. When? Why? His vulnerable admission was a slip of the tongue, obviously, but it was something. Which just means that now he’s putting even more distance between us. One step forward, seven hundred back.

“Oh, looks like you’re hanging with me, Playboy.” Aiden plops down next to my brother.

My brother shoots daggers at me, then turns to Camden and holds two fingers out, motioning from his eyes to his buddy and back in the universal sign for I’m watching you.

The guy beside me laughs. “We haven’t officially met. I’m Camden.” He holds out his hand, and when I slide my palm against his, he squeezes it gently.

A gentleman. How nice.

“Millie, or as everyone here likes to call me, Baby Hall.”

He grins, and his dimple pops. His nose is crooked—probably from being broken a time or two—but he’s pretty all the same. “How’s working with Coach?”

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