Page 16 of Shot to the Hart

“Yep. Scetti time,” she says, doing her little happy wiggle. She started doing that when she was excited, about the time she started sitting up on her own. Her upper half moves side toside in a fast and dance-like fashion whenever she’s really happy about something. It’s one of my favorite things she does, aside from when she’s sleepy and cuddles into my chest when she gets tired.

“Can Daddy play cashier?” I ask her.

“Yes, please.” She and Kodi load all of her groceries onto the belt, and I begin scanning her items, making the beep sound each time I pass an item over the little red light.

“That’ll be eighty-two fifty-seven.” I tell them sticking my palm up to get their payment. Bella looks at Kodi expectantly, waiting for her to pay me for the groceries, “So usually I pay for the groceries so she’s waiting for you to pay.”

“Oh gotcha. One second.” She pretends to dig in her black cross body that rests over the curves of her breasts perfectly before handing me her debit card. I pretend to slide it through the machine before handing her a fake receipt and telling them to have a nice day.

We spend the next hour or so playing together. Kodi is actively involved in every exhibit with Bella, once in a while we let her play alone and would chit chat casually about the weather or the silly things Bella would be doing. Now I’ve got Bella tucked into her carseat, and she’s already passed out.

“Thank you for meeting us today. It was helpful for me to see you interacting with her.”

“Of course, if given the opportunity to work with Bella I want you to feel comfortable.”

“She seems to really like spending time with you,” I say, and it’s true. Bella doesn’t often warm up to strangers this easily.

“The feeling is mutual.” She smiles, and I can tell she means what she says.

“So, your background check came back clear, and I would love to extend this job offer to you, but we do need to get some paperwork settled, standard NDA’s and other legal jargon. It’sto protect mine and Bella’s privacy. All that being said, I think Arabella would love to spend more time with you, and I feel like I can trust you with her safety and happiness when I’m not around.”

“Absolutely, thank you again for the opportunity. I can already tell that taking care of Bella is going to be an adventure in the best way.” Her smile brightens even more as she once again sticks her hand out for me to shake.

“I’ll have Tatum get with the legal team and find a time where we can meet down at the arena to solidify everything. Cross all the I’s and dot all the T’s.” I let her hand go, missing the warmth just a little, then slapping myself mentally becausewhat the fuck. She’s going to be Bella’s nanny, and that’s all she can ever be.

10

KODI

YOU DID IT!

Idid it! I got the job! After Maverick and Bella pull away, I do a little happy dance in the front seat of my car then text the group chat that I got the job. Before driving away, I turn on my pop punk playlist and blast “Thnks fr the Mmrs” by Fall Out Boy. The whole drive home my phone is pinging with notifications that I can only assume are my friends freaking out about me working for Maverick and congratulating me.

I get a message as I’m pulling back into the apartment complex.

Tatum Reed

Think you can swing by the stadium on Wednesday to meet with the team lawyers and Maverick to get all of the paperwork out of the way?

Me

Sounds good, do I need to bring anything? Is after 12 okay?

Tatum Reed

Your ID is all you need. Think you can make it by 12:30?

Me

Definitely.

As soon as I step into Darcy’s apartment, squeals erupt from the couch. Darcy, Sinclair, and Harley are all huddled on the couch, wine and charcuterie spread across the small and wobbly coffee table. As I get closer, I see a cake in the middle of the table that says,‘You did it!’ in wobbly letters.

I roll my eyes but join my friends on the couch, laughing at their shenanigans.

“Okay, first, hot hockey player, I get why we freaked out. But what I really need to know is if you’ve heard anything about Bella’s Mom or his dating life?”

Harley immediately jumps in. “He just got moved to Tampa from Carolina this year. His social media is private, and no one has figured out where her mom is. It doesn’t seem like he dates or goes out much. Aside from a celebration here or there.”

---