Page 98 of On Thin Ice

“What?” I asked, tugging her close to me.

“You looked frustrated or something,” she said, running her thumb along my palm.

“My father’s being a dick as usual. It’s fine. We’re just heading to Montreal, so he wants tickets to the game so he can critique my play,” I said.

“Are you serious?” she asked.

“Yeah. It’s what he does.” We’d talked a little about my parents because I didn’t want her to think that I wasn’t introducing her because of her and our baby. It would kill me if Ally thought for one second that I was hiding her from my family instead of protecting her from their toxicity and bullshit.

“But you’re amazing out there,” she said. “Like, crazy good.”

“I know, right?” I teased. She swatted my chest and rolled her eyes. I took the opportunity to tug her even closer so I could press a kiss to her neck, loving the shudder that rolled through her.

“Dom,” she whispered.

With a groan, I dropped her hand and reached up, cupping her face so I could kiss her properly, and thoughts of my dad’s texts disappeared.

I’d deal with him later. For now, I had this gorgeous woman in my arms, and I was not letting her go.

***

“Who’s blowing up your phone?” Micah asked a few days later as we sat down across from each other on the team plane and had lunch.

We’d beaten Toronto the night before and were now on our way to Montreal. I tried to ignore the dread that kept cropping up when I thought about the upcoming game—or, more accurately, the upcoming presence of my father. At least I wouldn’t have time to grab a meal or a drink with him. We had practice this afternoon, and I refused to let him fuck up my game day rituals and focus before the game tomorrow.

I’d gotten him his damn tickets, so at least he wasn’t bitching about that anymore.

“Is it Ally? Oh shit. She’s not going into labor right now, is she?” Micah asked.

“Don’t even say that out loud,” I implored. It was one of my biggest fears that she would go into labor while I was on a road trip and couldn’t help her. This was why players and their partners tried to plan getting pregnant during the season and give birth during the summer.

I bit back a snort. Not that we’d planned any of this, of course. I just had to hope that Baby Girl would wait until I was at least at home and able to help Ally before she went into labor.

“It’s getting close,” Micah said.

Tally slipped into the seat next to Micah. “Like weeks away.”

“Yeah, I know. And no, it’s just my parents texting since we’re heading to Montreal,” I said.

“They coming to the game?” Tally asked.

“Unfortunately,” I muttered.

“What?” Tally asked.

“Nothing. My dad is your standard hockey-is-life dad. Still critiquing my game. It’s irritating, but I’ve learned to ignore it.” I hoped I sounded like I didn’t care.

And it wasn’t that I did. It just grated that he still got in my business and thought he knew how I could play better.

Micah quirked a brow but didn’t say anything else.

“You’re playing great, so it doesn’t matter what he says. I think Ally’s your good luck charm,” Tally said.

I grinned. “That’s why I’m not letting her go.”

“Another one bites the dust,” Sin sang, taking the seat next to me.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

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