Page 80 of Back On Ice

“I know.” I smile, my heart full of love for the man next to me. “But I’m still not naming our baby Jessica.”

He barks a laugh, and offers an alternative. “How about Hazel?”

“Love it. Let’s make a list.” I pull out my phone and start a list on the notes app. We spitball names back and forth, only putting ones we both agree on. Then I have a thought.

“Carter…” I trail off, still looking down at my phone. “What do you think about Vivianne? If it’s a girl.” My bottom lip gets caught under my teeth, and I meet his eyes.

They shine with warmth, and he looks at me in awe. “You would be willing to name our baby after my mom?”

“I love your mom. And she’s been through so much, and came out stronger on the other side. She’s a survivor, and she raised the love of my life, turning him into the sweet, kind, loyal man he is. What better way to honor her?” Carter told me all about the retreat that his mom went on and how she’s practically a different person now, and all about the children’s books she’s been writing.

“I think,” Carter leans over, placing a gentle kiss on my lips, “that you’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met, and she would be over the moon if we did that.”

I smile against his lips. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Angel.” He pulls back and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Are you feeling okay? Nauseous or anything? Tired?”

His concern is so sweet, but I can already tell I’m going to feel smothered before long if he keeps it up. “I’m fine, mother hen,” I tease.

“I’m not being a mother hen,” he protests. “You were on your feet at the shop, and then you had to pick up Jordan…”

“Being on my feet won’t be an issue for too much longer. It might please you to know…” I trail off, not sure how to say it.I haven’t told anyone else this yet, but since Abbie and I talked about it the day I found out I’m pregnant, I’ve been thinking about putting my future career plans into action. “I’ve been thinking about our conversation that night at the lake, and I’m going to do something that I want to do. I’m going to open my own small accounting firm in town.”

His face lights up with a smile brighter than any one that I’ve seen from him today. “Sophie! That’s great!”

I can’t help my smile at his happiness for me. “Yeah?”

“Fuck yeah!” He does a little arm pump that makes me giggle. “God, I’m so fucking proud of you. You’re amazing, you know that? Do you need help finding an office space? Or like, shit, an assistant or something? Anything you need, I’m here. We’ll make it happen.”

“You’ve always known how to push me to be my best. And I think this is how I do that. Kerry loves the flower shop, and it’s time I hire a few more girls and make her the manager. Who knows, maybe my parents will even let her buy it if she wants.” A shrug leaves me. The flower shop, while I’ve had a good time working there for the most part, was never my dream. At least with Kerry, I know it’ll be in good hands. “I’m not sure what the timeline on that would look like though or what your schedule will look like.”

“Practices will start in September, and the baby will most likely be born sometime in March, right?” I nod my head in answer to his question. I haven’t had my first doctor's appointment yet, but the online calculator estimated somewhere around March 22nd. “So, the season will still be going on, but I’ll have to let the team manager and coach know that a contract change will have to be made because there’s no way in hell I'm missing the birth of my child. I can ask for no away games after you hit thirty five weeks.”

My brow furrows. “But Carter, this is yourdream, and if you do that, you’ll get significantly less play time?—”

“You are, and have always been, more important to me than hockey,” he says sternly, moving the pizza box to the side table and then bringing me closer to his side.

Snuggling in closer to him, my fingers dance lazily across his chest, drawing a little shudder out. “Did you ever imagine that we would be like this again?” I ask quietly.

“I’m pretty sure I always wanted to end up back here, with you,” he murmurs before pressing a kiss to my hair. “I would avoid thinking of a future outside of hockey because when I did, I imagined how our life might have been different if Dad hadn’t ruined everything. That just filled me with so much regret and sadness, I didn’t want to dwell on it.”

Shit, I’d done the same thing over the past nine years. Buried myself in work and did everything for everyone because if I stopped to take a breath and think about what I truly wanted, it would have included Carter.

Never did I imagine that it would be a possibility again.

Before I can say anything, Carter’s phone rings.He picks it up, checking the caller ID. “I think it’s the police station.” He answers, and I can’t hear the other side of the conversation, but Carter tenses slightly before relaxing again. He listens intently, and at the end of the call says, “Yes, sir. I can do that. I’ll see you then.”

“What’s going on?” I pull back and prop myself on my elbow looking at him.

“It was Detective Peterson. They have a plan for me to help bring down Dad.”

My heart stutters. It’s really happening. Once this is done, we won’t have to worry about him ever again, and we can live our lives in peace.

“They’ll put a protective detail on Mom at the house. They want me to call him and say I have the $500k and pick a location to meet,” he says, his gaze studying me for my reaction. I keep a straight face even though the thought of him walking into a metaphorical wolves’ den to face his father has my stomach in knots. “I’ll wear a wire, and see if I can goad him into some sort of confession. Then, Detective Peterson’s team will move in and arrest him regardless. One way or another, Soph, two days from now, things will be over with him for good.”

My heart hammers in my chest and my bottom lip tucks between my teeth. Isn’t there another way? Carter should never have to deal with his dad again, with what he’s put him through. Not to mention the danger he could possibly be in…

“Soph?” Carter asks, reaching over with this thumb to release my lip and run his thumb over the sensitive skin. “You okay?”

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