Page 123 of Playboy

But the Bolts aren’t my family, Hannah is. Every decision I make going forward has to be with her and our child at the forefront of my mind. And honestly, I wouldn’t know how not to put them first. Since she gave me a chance, she’s been my first thought and my last.

I start my trek back to the hotel, gearing up to make an important phone call.

“I still can’t believeyou guys are going to be parents.” Camden shakes his head as he sips his soda water.

I bring Hannah’s hand to my lips and press a kiss to the back of it. “You better get ready to call me Daddy Hall, because that’s what I’ll be in two months.”

My girl rolls her eyes and yanks her hand away.

Sputtering on his soda, Camden bolts upright. “Don’t hit me with your sex talk. Save that for the hotel.”

Hannah coughs out a raspy laugh. My favorite kind. “He wishes I’d call him Daddy Hall.”

“You will,” I say as I snag her hand again and settle it in my lap. “It’s only a matter of time.”

“How are you liking Vegas?” Hannah asks, changing the direction of the conversation.

We’re at dinner at the Top of the World, and I won’t lie, it’s really fucking nice to see Camden. Hockey hasn’t been the same without him. He laughed his ass off when I filled him in on the new guy, Smiles. He doesn’t think the kid will last with the Bolts, and I couldn’t agree more. He belongs in New York with the rest of the assholes, but I guess I can’t say that about a teammate.

My buddy leans back, stretching his arm across the empty chair beside him. “It’s awesome. Like I told your boy, if he’d said yes, he’d be a god on the ice here. But it looks like I’ll have to rule Vegas all on my own.”

While he’s chuckling at himself, Hannah’s hand goes limp within mine.

And my gut sinks. Dammit.

“Right,” my girl says, her tone flat. “Sounds amazing. Will you excuse me? I have to use the bathroom. The baby’s sitting on my bladder.”

I brush her arm as she stands, desperate for her to look at me, but she avoids my gaze, and since I don’t want to make a scene, I let her go.

Once she’s out of earshot, I hiss an aggravated breath through my teeth and push back from the table. “Fuck.”

“What happened?”

Jaw locked, I shoot him a glare. “I never told her about the trade.”

Camden scowls. “The trade you didn’t take?”

I toss down my napkin. “Yeah. But it doesn’t matter whether I’m taking it or not. The issue is that I never talked to her about it. Now she thinks I’m hiding shit.” I duck my head and yank at my hair. I should have just told her. But she’s been so overwhelmed, and until a few hours ago, I truly didn’t know how it would turn out.

And I didn’t want to risk fucking things up until I had all the information. Things with her have always been so delicate. She has so much baggage. And the people who were supposed to care about her most have treated her like crap her entire life. Her absentee father. Her absolute disgrace of a mother. An ex who made her believe she couldn’t have real love. I’ve worked so hard to do everything right, and I was terrified of rocking the boat, but fuck, I think I might have screwed it all up anyway.

I never had any intention of leaving Boston. I would never have uprooted our lives weeks before our baby is due so I can play hockey.

But it hurt, being moved to second line, being separated from the two guys I have such good chemistry with. And yeah, I was embarrassed. Angry even.

How could I not be when Gavin made the changes? The guy isn’t just my coach, he’s my brother-in-law.

When he brought Noah on, it fucked with my head. Made me feel inferior. I could practically see the writing was on the wall.

“Fuck.” I push back from the table and stand. “I’ve got to go talk to her.”

Camden nods. “Do what you need. I’ll see you at the game tomorrow.”

I feel like shit leaving him here before we’ve even ordered. “I’m really sorry.” With a deep inhale, I glance toward the hall where the bathrooms are.

Is that where Hannah really went? I wouldn’t be surprised if she left. I’d deserve it.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

---