Page 19 of The Only Goal

My quick move startles Fezzik, and he sits up, perking his ears and then barking once before leaping to the floor and racing out of the room.

Kai jolts and gapes after him—a mixture of disappointment and curiosity.

“Shall we go see where the little dude’s going?”

“Okay.” Kai jumps down and scampers after him.

Relief floods me as I chase him out the door. Awkward conversation averted. But I can’t expect that to last forever. At some point, he’s going to want the truth, and somehow I have to explain it in a way a four-year-old will understand.

I’m on borrowed time here. Hudson won’t just let me get away with ignoring him. And Kai will eventually want to talk to his dad. I’m a good mother, and I have to put Kai before my own emotional nightmare, which means later today, I need to find the courage to turn my phone back on and set up a video chat with Kai and his dad.

“Fezzik?” Kai softly calls, following him down the stairs, then jerking to a stop with a quiet yelp.

I hurtle down the stairs, wondering what’s got him spooked, until I spot the tall, muscly guy in the entrance. He glances up the stairwell and looks at me, confusion buckling his expression.

“Can’t fucking believe Coach ended practice with that bullshit drill. What the fuck?” Another guy walks in, rubbing his shoulder and cursing some more, until the first guy nudges him with his elbow.

He shuts up immediately and glances my way, spotting Kai peering through the railing. I edge up behind him, resting my hand on his chest while we both gape at the group of giant men who are now piling in the front door. Their bags land with thuds on the shiny wood floor.

“Yeah, well, that new assistant coach is a piece of fucking work. He’s gonna make us sweat blood in training, I’m telling ya.” The man with dark hair frowns when he notices his two friends staring at us. Then his gaze inevitably tracks to the staircase, and now I’m nervously smiling at what I can only assume are hockey players.

Big, burly hockey players with foul mouths who look like they could squish us in a heartbeat.

Do these men all live in this house together?

Shit. What have I done bringing Kai here?

He leans back against my legs, his white-knuckle grip on the railing making me want to race back upstairs and pack our bags.

But then Baxter appears at the bottom of the staircase. Fezzik yaps at his feet, then rushes to the guy with messy blond hair.

“Hey, buddy!” He bends down, a wide smile dominating his face as he scoops up the dog in his arms and gets excited puppy kisses.

Mr. Tall is still studying me along with Mr. Dark Hair. It’s unnerving. I glance at Baxter, who gives me a reassuring smile, so I wave at the guys. “Uh… hi.”

“Who are you?” Mr. Tall crosses his arms and narrows his eyes at me. It’s not a mean look exactly, but he obviously wasn’t expecting some strange lady and her kid invading their turf.

“This is Tammy.” Baxter speaks before I can. “She’s a friend of mine. We grew up living next door to each other, and she’s just swung by to say hi and stay for a couple days.” His soft explanation leaves no room for argument, and the guys all relax, their smiles turning friendly. “And this is her son, Kai. He’s… four?” He glances up the stairs for confirmation, and I nod.

“Yeah.” I squeeze Kai’s shoulder. “Say hello, please, kiddo.”

He swallows, and I give him another soft nudge. Eventually, a greeting that sounds more like a mouse squeak pops out, and it causes the one with the puppy to laugh, then call up to him. “Nice to meet you, man. Welcome to our castle.” His wink and grin are downright adorable, and I feel Kai relax beneath my fingers. “Don’t be shy, dude. Come on down. You met my puppy yet?”

“He’s yours? I thought he was Baxter’s dog?”

“What?” The incredulous expression is hammed up, and it makes Kai giggle. “I bought this little dude for my girl, and he’s ours. Baxter just looks after him for us when we’re at school.”

“You go to school?” Kai’s face buckles in confusion as he starts walking down the stairs. “Aren’t you too old for that?”

My mouth drops open. Kai is talking to strangers. He’s having an actual conversation. Using words. His little voice ringing out loud enough to actually be heard.

“We’re in college.”

Kai stops on the fourth step from the bottom as the man approaches him. Fezzik is starting to squirm, and he places him down so the dog can dance up the stairs and sniff Kai’s feet. The man crouches down so he’s level with my son.

“College is like school for big people. And I’ve only got one year to go. Then I’m gonna get me a contract with a professional hockey team.”

Kai bobs his head, his wide eyes drinking this man in.

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