Page 12 of Power Play

Yeah, even I can admit I was fucking dick for that one.

Finally making our way into our building, I carry Rory onto the elevator.

“Press the top button, sweetie,” I tell Rory, as I turn her toward the buttons.

When she doesn’t move, I listen quietly, laughing when I realize she’s fallen asleep and is snoring up there, leaning on my head.

As I press the button, I can’t help but think it’s hard to believe we’re here. Things are slowly starting to build their way back up, and Rory is going to get to grow up in New York City, something I loved when I was younger. She’s going to get to grow up with her whole family around her. She’ll be in a great daycare, and I finally have a job that I’m excited about again.

As I get off the elevator, I immediately smell freshly baked cookies, so delicious that I almost walk right into my sister.

“Hey, big bro, welcome home!” Stella says with a smile, quickly quieting down when she realizes that Rory is asleep on my shoulders. “How long has she been sleeping?”

“Just since we got here. One moment she was talking, the next she was asleep.”

“It was a long trip for her, she’s probably exhausted. Her room is all ready. Want to go put her down?”

“Yeah, I’ll be right back.”

Heading over to Rory’s room, I have to smile at the little touches my mom and sister must have done this morning before I got here. There are family pictures hung up, more of the boxes are emptied, and it looks like they might have gone a little crazy with the purple things.

There’s a purple rug, purple bedding, purple curtains, and a bunch of different purple things hung up on the wall. How much purple can one room handle? Stella must’ve had a heyday with this. My mom and sister spoil Rory rotten.

She looks so little as I lay her in her bed. Back in Austin, she slept in her crib with the side off. With the move and all the changes that we were already making, I figured it would be best to just transition her to a twin bed. Hopefully, when she wakes up in the middle of the night, I still agree with that statement.

By the time I make it back out to the kitchen, Stella has the cookies out of the oven and everything cleaned up again. She may be a pain in my ass, but she’s a thoughtful one. Plus, she bakes really well. Might have to start getting up even earlier to get more gym time now that we live in the same state.

“Did she go down okay?” Stella asks as I sit down at the table with her.

“Yeah, she didn’t even stir. It was a long trip for her and messed with her nap time, so I think she was just ready to go to bed. Honestly, even I’m exhausted. Trevor and Cade were going to stop by, but I think I’m going to reschedule. I’m so beat.”

“Not a bad idea. I mean, you only have tomorrow before you start work again, and Rory going to preschool. Maybe one night after work we can all grab drinks, catch up. I miss those lovable idiots.”

“Deal.”

Stella stands, her way of saying it’s time to go, which secretly I’m thankful for because I’m ready to lay down and fall asleep. I’m crashing on the couch tonight, so I’m even closer to Rory in case she wakes up in the middle of the night. Don’t need her first night in a new bed and a new house to be something she’s never seen before and to not know where to find me.

Shit. Maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing in the world to change her bed too.

“I’m going to head out, let you guys get some rest,” Stella says, leaning in to give me a hug. “It’s nice having you back in the city.”

“It’s nice to be home. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

“Yep. What day did you need me to pick up Rory from daycare?”

“Thursday. We have a late game that day, but they aren’t starting their night classes for one more week. Is that fine?”

“Not a problem, we’ll just head back here and watch trashy tv.”

With a wink, she slips past me and heads out the door.

My sister is going to be the reason I get gray hair long before Rory is. She’s a handful and a half, and I pity the guy who decides to put up with her craziness. Walking over to the fridge, I’m thankful to see that they stocked up my beer; my dad must’ve been with them.

I didn’t have many guilty pleasures back when I played hockey professionally, but sour candy and beer were the ones I could never give up. Grabbing a beer, I head over to the couch and turn on hockey. It’ll put my mind at ease and probably help me fall asleep faster.

* * *

Sunday goes by quicker than I would have liked. After I woke up with a full beer still sitting next to me and the sun shining through the window, Rory and I got up and made breakfast together. We’re meeting my parents near Central Park for dinner so they can see each other before she starts daycare on Monday. To say I’m a little nervous is the understatement of the year.

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