Page 47 of On Thin Ice

Panic bubbled in my chest at the thought of becoming a father in a few short months, just as it always had since she’d told me she was pregnant, but I wanted to do the right thing, be as helpful as possible. And that meant convincing Ally to relocate, if only until the season ended, and then we could decide what came next.

“You cannot seriously be considering this,” Harty said, still glaring at me.

I respected the guy a lot and hated how he was currently viewing me, but what the fuck, man? I was trying. Couldn’t he see that?

Couldn’t Ally see that? She was the one that I cared about the most, but I’d spent my entire career looking up to Harty, and while his reaction was somewhat warranted, it still stung.

“There is a bit of sense to the plan,” Penny remarked.

I flashed her a smile.

“Don’t try charming my wife, Dom,” Harty bit out. “And no, there isn’t.”

Penny rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You’re being ridiculous, Ethan.”

He sighed. “I know that. I’m just annoyed and irritated with him. Ally shouldn’t have to drop everything just because he wants to be involved now.”

“Ugh. Would you stop? I only told him a month ago. He hasn’t had months and months to process this like we have,” Ally said. “And I didn’t say I was going to move. That just seems rash.”

I internally cheered at her support until her last comment. Shit. I was going to have to work on convincing her.

“You’re right. It is rash. You know exactly what the hockey schedule is like and how little help he’ll be,” Harty said. Fuck. I wanted to punch him right now.

“Okay. That’s enough out of you. We’re going to go and let you two figure everything out. He’s being a grouch, but you know that we’ll help in whatever way you both need,” Penny said, and Harty muttered again.

She smacked his arm. “Stop it, or I really will make you sleep on the couch tonight.”

“He caused the drama,” Harty said, pointing to me. “Why am I getting punished?”

“Because you’re acting like a child. Now say good night to Dom and your sister,” Penny said.

“Fine,” Harty said. Then he stepped up in front of my face. “If you hurt her, a few hits into the boards will be the least of your concerns.”

“All right, tough guy. You feel better now?” Penny said, and I bit back my smirk.

“Nope,” Ethan said, thePpopping in my face.

“Look, I know you’re pissed at me, but I’m not going to hurt Ally. I just want to be there for her and our daughter. I’m notthat punk rookie anymore, okay?” I said, keeping my calm. Yeah, I’d been a just-here-for-a-good-time guy for years, but the good times had always been mutual decisions. I wasn’t out breaking hearts or anything.

“We’ll see,” Harty said. Then he turned to his sister. “You don’t have to move, okay? But I’ll support you any way I can.” He tugged her in for a hug, and she ducked her head into his shoulder.

“Thanks,” she said, pulling back. “And no matter what happens, you need to be nicer to Dom. He’s not going anywhere.”

My chest warmed at her words.

“Fine. But I don’t have to like it. Call if you need anything, okay?”

She stepped away from him. “I will.”

He gave me one last glare as Penny and Ally hugged, then left with his wife.

“Well, at least that’s over,” I said with a sigh.

Ally spun on me, her cheeks flushed. “I cannot believe you asked me to move in with you in front of him. Before we’d even discussed it. And how the hell did all this slip out on the ice anyway? Ugh. I know I should’ve just told him before you got here, but what the hell, Dom?”

It’s not like I expected her to fall into my arms when they left, but damn, I didn’t want her yelling at me, either.

“Want to sit?” I asked, gesturing toward the comfy-looking chair in the corner. “Or we could head back to my hotel or your place and talk things out?”

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