Page 10 of Playmaker

I covered a yawn. “Are you poking me, Hails?”

“You sleep.”

Impeccable toddler logic. “That I was. Does your mom know you’re in here?”

Her blue eyes moved around the room. Her wispy blonde hair was falling out of the ponytail on top of her head, and she hugged a striped stuffed cat closer. “Wanna play?”

I held back the grin that threatened to cross my face. Hailey was a handful, and I knew damned well she’d been told not to wake me up. I was glad I wasn’t her parent because standing up to her was impossible.

I pushed myself up till I was sitting in the guest bed at Hunter’s place, careful not to let the bedding slip too low. “Faith! Come get your spawn!”

Faith’s footsteps sounded in the hall. Hailey’s eyes widened and she turned to face her mother.

Faith stood in the doorway, arms crossed. I’d closed the door when I settled in here last night, but Hailey had obviously opened it. Toddler brain didn’t remind her to close it again.

“Hailey! What did I tell you?”

Hailey fidgeted. “Play with Kook when he awake.”

Faith narrowed her eyes. “What else did I say?”

“B’ekfas?”

“I told you not to wake up Cooper.” Only Hailey got to call me Kook.

“He awake, Mommy.”

“Was he awake before you came in this room?”

Hailey turned big eyes on me for the save.

Faith pointed a finger at me. “Don’t encourage her or I’ll take her to your place to wake you up every day.”

No, she wasn’t going to do that. But I got the message. “Why don’t you take your devil daughter so I can get up?”

Faith came into the room and leaned down to scoop up Hailey. “You know, you could keep some clothes on when you stay here.” She headed out of the room, reaching a hand back to close the door.

Hailey’s eyes stared at me over her mother’s shoulder. “Kook has no clothes?”

“Every morning, Cooper!” Faith repeated before she slammed the door.

I finally let the smile loose.

Faith and Hunter were my best friends, and I adored their daughter, Hailey. I crashed in their spare room often, when Hunter and I were both playing for the Blaze and arrived back in the city late after away games or celebrated too much with the team. He’d been a little over-juiced last night after the charity dinner, so I’d brought him back. After pointing him to his own room, I’d stripped and climbed in the bed here.

I pulled on the pants from last night and the shirt, carrying my tie and jacket with me.

Hailey was at the breakfast bar in her seat, bright gaze on me. She pouted. “Kook has clothes.”

Faith frowned at me. I raised my hands. “This one’s not on me. You’re the one who mentioned clothes. It’s not my fault everyone wants me naked.”

That eye roll must have hurt her. But hey, there were pictures of me in nothing but my underwear across the city. They paid me for that for a reason.

“Not everyone, Cooper.” Faith snorted as Hunter joined us in the kitchen.

“Daddy!” Hailey almost knocked her stool over trying to launch herself at Hunter. He caught her, used to her enthusiasm.

Most of the time I was happy to be Hailey’s godfather, without the constant responsibility that Faith and Hunter bore. Sometimes, though, the three of them together made something in my chest ache. This little family unit made it seem worth the effort. It would be nice to have that kind of bond. But that wasn’t for everyone. These were some of the lucky ones.

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