Page 79 of My Best Bet

The angel wings were the first of what would become many tattoos on my body, but it was still one of my favorites. I’d gotten it done a couple years after our relationship ended when I was partying with my team in Toronto. That night was pretty blurry from alcohol, but I remembered one of the guys losing a bet and having to get tatted on his ass. While there, my teammates were all riding me about turning girls down, and that’s when I drunkenly confessed being in love with a figure skater who looked like an angel. Enough years had passed at that point that I was no longer angry about how it all went down, more so grateful for the memories, but still sad, confused, and maybe a little frustrated about losing her.

I was shocked the next morning to see the wings on the side of my ribs, but I didn’t regret it at all. She was part of my story.She left her mark on my heart, so it made sense that a reminder of her, of us, was etched into my skin.

When breakfast was finally served, we sat around the kitchen table together, and home finally felt complete.

Watching Mer slowly eat and enjoy my cooking filled my chest with a ridiculous amount of pride.

The only problem was that Lucy looked a little glum as she held her forehead and played with her pancakes in a pool of syrup.

“What’s wrong Lu?”

She dropped her fork. “I don’t want to go to Grandma Catherine’s,” she pouted. “I want to go to the game with you.”

My stomach dropped. Both Kappy and JP grimaced. “Honey, you can’t go to the game by yourself. You can watch it on TV though, I’m sure Grandma would–”

“I can take her,” Mer offered suddenly. But when everyone turned to look at her, she curled in on herself. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to overstep.” A blush colored her cheeks. “I totally didn’t mean to–”

“You want to come?” I asked, trying to tamp down the rush of excitement I felt over just possibly having her in the stands watching. But also, I couldn’t just have her watch my daughter all day. “I mean, we have to leave soon, so that’s why Lu goes to my mom’s, because it’s a long day.” My mind raced to fix it, to make it work. “You could pick up Lu before the game?”

“Or we could spend the day together?” Mer shrugged and bit her lip in question, sneaking a glance at Lucy. “A girls’ day?”

“Oh my gosh! A girls’ day?” Lucy squealed. “Can we? Pretty please!” She practically bounced out of her seat with excitement. “The game issooofun,” she gushed to Mer. “Can we sit by the glass, Dad? Prettyprettyplease?!” She clasped her hands together to beg.

My heart pretty much exploded in my chest from a mixture of relief and happiness.

Mer’s cute upside-down smile slid on her face as she looked from Lu to me. “I mean, if that’s… okay? I’m kind of a hockey fan, if you didn't know.”

I grinned. “Alright, Bennett.”

Lucy cheered.

Kappy slapped the table. “Mer Bear’s wearing my jersey! I called it!”

“What? Why? She should wear mine,” JP argued.

Mer laughed, looking completely delighted.

I scoffed. “Yeah, it’s funny if either of you think your jersey’s even going near her,” I muttered under my breath right as the doorbell rang.

Shit.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed back and made my way to the door, really hoping this wouldn’t piss off Mer too much.

Behind the front door stood Ryan, an athletic looking dude in his late twenties wearing a blue Windy City Whalers team polo and docker pants– the athletic department's official game day uniform. Having worked for the team for a few years now, he’d become a good friend of ours.

I pulled him into the foyer for a handshake, back-slap. “Thanks for coming, man. Everyone’s back in the kitchen.”

“No problem. It’s good to get out and get some fresh air before being trapped in the rink for the rest of the day,” he said with a smirk.

I shot him a look of sympathy. I think his game day was longer than ours as players.

When we entered the kitchen, Ryan looked between us and announced, “So, who’s got the knee problem?”

Mer’s eyes immediately narrowed at me. Her jaw angled to the side.

JP and Kappy looked around the table in confusion.

“She does,” I spoke up, my gaze boring into her.

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