Page 59 of Nanny For My Brother's Best Friend

“Nobody on the regular. Coach wants to meet for an early dinner in an hour.”

“Sounds good. I’m starving.”

That game in Philadelphia later that night is intense, with both teams fighting for control of the puck. I keep in mind what Andrew said about playing like a beast and do just that. We all do. It helps me to think about Delilah and Lola somewhere back home cheering me on, with my family or maybe alone.

Still, we lose by one goal. Deflated, I return to the locker room and shower so we can go to the hotel room. Tomorrow, we’ll be going to New York for a couple of games, and I hate doing that after a loss.

“We played hard, you guys. They just got that extra goal, and we didn’t block it this time. We’ll work on that when we practice next time.”

Gabe sounds positive but defeated, and I nod as I pull on a white button-up shirt.

“I just want to call my family.”

He shuts up and I look at our captain as he finishes dressing to leave. We don’t go to dinner or out tonight since it’s an early travel day tomorrow and I head to the room to decompress as best I can.

I can sneak in texts with Delilah when her brother isn’t paying attention and, of course, I always FaceTime with Lola. Those texts turn dirty when I happen to be alone, and tonight is one where I’d love to be alone. Losing at home means I can go home and release the demons in bed with Delilah, but on the road, I am alone and not looking for a quick hookup.

Not anymore.

We win two of the three remaining games and I tell myself it’s all even now. When we’re heading home, I can’t wait for a day at my house with the girls, just relaxing. It’s what I live for these days and the idea that it’s both girls scares me a little.

“Andrew asked me if you’re dating. What’s up?”

I am alone with Delilah in bed, resting after catching up on lost time.

“Shit. He did? I got the same question but brushed it off with a no. Are we obvious?”

“I don’t think so. We act so neutral around everyone and work so hard doing it. I don’t let my walls down until moments like this.”

She rests against my chest, and I stroke her damp curls.

“I look forward to this on the road. Being with the guys is great since they’re like brothers to me, but I just crave calm. I just want you in my arms where I can let everything go.”

“Yeah.”

Delilah sounds sleepy and I wonder how well she’s slept. When I am home, we both lose sleep, and I know Gabe has pointed that out to me. I just want as much time with Delilah as I can get and we manage a few hours at most.

On the road, I sleep better because I can’t throw myself into this thing with her. Andrew is in my room and we’re usually busy as a team. I am distracted as he puts it, but I can focus on the game.

Does she have trouble focusing on Lola and her needs?

I let her drift off to sleep and shift Delilah when I head into the bathroom to clean up. She’s staying in my bed until Lola wakes up now, since we currently have some wiggle room. She plays in there rather than barging into my room and one of us can get up and start the day with her.

I know she sleeps in here when I’m gone sometimes and imagine what Delilah does to herself, surrounded by my scent. Our scent. It makes me crazy.

I go to sleep with her in my arms, warm and soft. I wasn’t a fan of sleeping in a bed with a woman before and Kim had been the only one in recent years when we were together. It was always sex and then I’d be gone, or they would because I didn’t crave intimacy.

What is happening now?

The next couple of weeks blend with practice, games, and home time. It’s always a rush and ends in my bed where we push ourselves even if we need sleep. The girls come to games and I fucking love it; I look over there more and more as the days pass.

“How is it with Lola getting older and learning about the game?”

Gabe looks at me after practice one day, and I smile.

“Great. She wants to wear her jersey and cheer me on now, and it’s amazing. Obviously, she won’t learn everything right away, but she knows what a goal is. It’s a start and we’ll build on that. Delilah is good about teaching her as much as she can.”

“You have a good situation there.”

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