Page 36 of The Secret Play

It set the mood for more conversation instead of wanting to dance. I wanted to ask her something meaningful that would bring us closer, and before I could stop myself, the words spilled out.

“What’s your relationship with your dad like?” I had to know. If our thing was some warped Daddy Issues thing, I couldn’t keep getting attached to her.

Gemma stilled for a moment, her mug halfway to her lips. I regretted the question immediately, remembering too late what Nico had mentioned about her dad’s health. This was it. I was officially the world’s worst boyfriend.

“It was great,” she said finally, her voice steady. “Before his stroke.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, setting my coffee down. “I forgot Nico told me about that.”

“It’s okay,” she said, waving me off. “It’s just part of life. My dad’s in a nursing home now. He doesn’t recognize us much anymore, but he knows he’s a dad. He calls Winnie by my name sometimes, so he’s close. Just…not quite there most of the time. The moments of lucidity are nice until they fade away, and you’re left explaining who you are to your own father.”

My heart clenched at that. I could not imagine how hard it was. “That must be rough, having your own dad not recognize you.”

Her eyes flickered with something—pain, maybe—but she nodded. “It is. But now that I’m back in town, I visit him every week. It helps. Most of the time.”

“That’s admirable,” I said, meaning it. “I think it’s amazing that you do that.”

She smiled faintly. “It’s hard. Especially since my mom passed when I was a teenager. Our dad’s all I have left, even if he’s not fully himself anymore. He got to see me graduate high school, but his stroke hit when I was in college, and I hate that he didn’t remember seeing me walk across the stage for my college graduation.” Her smile died, replaced by a wistfulness that killed me. “If I hadn’t…if I hadn’t fucked around in high school and had gone straight to college right after, then he would have that memory, too.”

“Oh, Gem, you can’t think like that.”

She gave a tiny shrug. “It’s impossible not to. But I cheer myself up by remembering how proud he was when I graduated high school, and it has to be enough.”

“Does that have anything to do with Los Angeles?”

“Yeah, definitely. The opportunity was huge, but it wasn’t the only one. I could have stayed here. But Nico encouraged me to leave Atlanta for a while. See the world, that kind of thing. He said he’d watch out for Dad and stick around here.” She took a steadying breath and finished her coffee, refilling both our mugs for a second go-round. “I was lucky to get that break from Dad’s situation, and I’m lucky he’s still alive for me to get to know this new version of him.”

I reached across the table, brushing her hand with mine. “You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

Her smile widened slightly, but I could tell the conversation was starting to weigh on her. I wanted to ask more, but I also didn’t want to push too far. Instead, I decided to shift gears.

“What about Winnie’s dad?” I asked cautiously, keeping my tone light. “What’s his deal?”

Her entire demeanor changed. The warmth in her eyes dimmed, her expression tightening as if I’d struck a nerve. “It’s not something I talk about.”

The wall she’d put up was immediate, and I backed off without pressing. “Got it. Sorry I asked.”

“What about your family?” she asked, kindly changing the topic.

“The team is my family,” I said honestly. “My dad passed from cancer when I was in my twenties. My mom had a heart attack a few years later. I was an only child, so…that was that.”

Gemma’s expression softened, her hand resting lightly on mine. “I’m sorry. That must’ve been hard.”

“It was,” I admitted. “I have an uncle in Maryland and the cousins I mentioned, but we were never close. Hockey’s always been my constant. The team is what keeps me grounded.”

She nodded thoughtfully, and for a moment, it looked like she was about to say something. But before she could, keys jingled in the door. Megan appeared in the doorway, carrying a sleepy Winnie in her arms.

Winnie’s head was resting against Megan’s shoulder, her tiny arms hanging limply at her sides. She was wearing a tank top despite the cool weather, and her soft snores filled the room as Megan carried her closer.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Megan said with a grin. “But I think someone’s ready to come home.”

I stepped forward, reaching out instinctively to take Winnie from her. She stirred slightly but didn’t wake, her small body relaxing against my chest as I held her.

Megan smiled. “We had a hell of a slumber party.”

“Did she stay up late or something?”

Megan nodded vigorously but said, “No, of course not. I’m a responsible auntie.”

---