Page 112 of A Major Puck Up

Can’t be easy for her either. The last time we played New York, Brooks found out that Seb had been running his mouth about his affair with Sara to his nephew. Vincent Lukov plays defense for New York, and he’s always stirring shit up on the ice. When he asked if he could have a shot with Sara since she’d already been passed around the family, Brooks left the ice in the middle of the game and beat the shit out of Seb in front of the whole arena. It was a shit show and a night we all wish we could forget.

“Feeling good. I’ve got my head on straight. I won’t let Lukov get to me.” Brooks squeezes Sara’s hand. “You still okay?”

Sara gives him a soft smile and snuggles Vivi closer.

“Duckhole,” Aiden grumbles.

Vivi breaks into a smile at the sound of his voice, causing us all to laugh.

“I gotta be honest. Using duck really doesn’t hit the same.”

I chuckle and take another sip of whiskey. Then I roll my shoulders back. Seb is a duckhole. He doesn’t know anything. He’s making threats because he wants his money. I blow out a breath and will my nerves to settle. I’m glad I asked my brothers and Sara to join me for dinner. I need time with my favorite people to help me feel a little like the old Gavin. Gavin 2.0 kinda sucks. I need to be a better version of myself for Vivi, not worse.

Once we’ve ordered and the server walks away, Aiden arches a brow. “We gonna talk about the elephant in the room?”

“You want to talk about Lennox again?” I tease.

“Hey!” Sara cries, feigning annoyance.

I hold up my hands. “He’s the one who won’t shut up about her.”

Unfortunately, my youngest brother won’t be distracted. He sits forward and rests his forearms on the table. “No. The peach elephant.”

My stomach sinks, but I keep my expression bland. “Nothing to talk about.”

“Sure about that?” he counters, a little too confident.

“Easy.” Brooks lays a hand on the table. “Why don’t we talk about tomorrow’s game?”

“Because I think if Gavin talks about this, he’ll feel better,” Aiden counters.

I grunt. “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw hockey pucks.”

Sara’s laugh is light and her smile is wide. “This family. I swear you can make anything about hockey.”

Vivi sticks her bottom lip out and fusses. Before I can grab her diaper bag and search for her binky, it turns into a full-on cry.

As much as I hate when she does, I can’t be mad about the excuse to avoid the conversation. “Looks like I’m on daddy duty, Aiden. No time to chat.” I stand and snatch her out of Sara’s arms. I’ve just pulled her to my chest when she makes a gurgling noise. “Hey, Vivi girl,” I coo. “Say bye-b?—”

My words are cut off when I’m splattered by baby goo.

“Oh shit.” I grasp her a little tighter, fighting my instinct to recoil, and wipe my face on my shoulder to get the vomit away from my mouth. As I turn back to her, there’s another gurgle, and this time, the explosion hits my hand. The hand holding Vivi under her bum. The liquid that coats my skin is warm and foul, and suddenly, everyone at the table is groaning and backing away.

Sara claps a hand to her mouth. “Holy shit. Is that?—”

“Oh my god,” Aiden shouts. “Gav, you really are on daddy duty. Only it’s doody covering the daddy!”

I scan the restaurant, taking in the horrified faces watching us and then look back at Sara. “I’m gonna go.” I back away, ignoring the mess left behind, trying like hell to hold my breath and not puke.

Sara follows me back to the room, the two of us gagging all the way, and helps me give Vivi a quick wipe-down. Once we’ve used half a pack of baby wipes on the poor kid, I wave Sara off, then take the screaming baby straight to the shower.

“This is so not how I saw my life going,” I tell my poor girl. A single dad spending my night in a hotel shower with my baby girl covered in shit. Doesn’t get more glamorous than this. I’ve just gotten Vivi in a fresh diaper when my phone rings on the bathroom counter.

I scoop her up, wrap the towel around her to keep her warm, and rush to pick it up. “Can’t they just leave me the duck alone?”

When Ford’s name flashes on the screen, I hit accept and put it on speaker. “In the middle of something. Can I call you back?”

“What is Millie doing out with your hockey players?”

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