Page 47 of Playmaker

“It’s okay. I don’t expect the world to revolve around my training regimen.”

He opened the fridge and pulled out some prepared containers. “I’ll just warm this up in the microwave.” Once he’d set it inside and punched some buttons, he headed to the table. “You can find cutlery in the drawer under the microwave.”

I turned. Hailey had moved to stand in front of the drawer I needed. She’d done that on purpose.

“I brought juice boxes. If you let me get into that drawer, you can have one.”

She shook her head.

But then Cooper was back. “I thought you were going to play, Hails.”

She stepped aside for Cooper to open the drawer, giving me a triumphant look. Yeah, I wasn’t good with kids, but I didn’t remember one hating me like this.

I followed Cooper back to the table, bringing the beer along. “Can you drink beer with your training?” Looked like I could have come empty-handed for all the good I was doing.

“Absolutely. What did you get?”

I’d texted Darcy for advice, and I’d picked some overpriced labels that he swore were good. Cooper nodded, so at least that part was working.

Cooper opened the boxes and invited me to help myself while he went back for his healthier portion. “What are you gonna do, Hailey? The pizza looks pretty good.”

I pulled out a piece of the combination pizza. If I didn’t seem to want the cheese, maybe Hailey would eat it and I’d feel like less of a failure. When she didn’t respond, Cooper continued as if she wasn’t there.

“Faith and Seb flew out to Montana today. They’re helping a teammate run some hockey camps.”

“Both of them?”

He picked a slice of combination pizza and added it to his plate of broccoli and chicken. Not even cheese sauce to make the plain vegetable more palatable.

“Faith plays for the Bonfire, the women’s professional team here in Toronto. Hunts used to play, but he got a concussion, so now he works an office job for the team.”

“That’s how you met him?”

I took a bite of pizza, and yeah, it was good, despite what little divas might think. Cooper shared the story about meeting his friend in college, and helping the couple overcome some problems they had in their relationship.

The whole time, Hailey crept closer to the table, finally climbing up on a chair. Cooper didn’t skip a beat. He pulled out a piece of cheese pizza and put it on a plate. He slid it over to the toddler and opened juice box for her too. I carefully ignored her as she took a small bite of the pizza.

The whole piece finally disappeared. Neither Cooper or I said a word, but he kept an eye on her, and when she was done, he turned to her. “So how was the pizza?”

She shrugged.

“You should thank Callie for bringing it.”

She crossed her arms and shook her head.

“Don’t worry about it.” I expected a full-fledged tantrum if he insisted.

“Her mom and dad wouldn’t let her be rude,” he said, standing and taking the plates to the kitchen. Then he took the tiara off his head. “Sorry Hails, but I can’t play with someone who isn’t using their manners.” He started to wiggle out of the tutu.

I fought to keep back a smile.

“NO!” Hailey shouted.

Cooper set the tutu on his chair. “Now you’re yelling? That’s not going to fly.”

For a full thirty seconds, she struggled. Finally, “Tank you.” The glare she shot me proved that she was doing this under duress.

“And the yelling?”

---