Page 63 of Shot Through the Heart

She’s smiling, but I see the hesitation lingering in the corners of her eyes. I wrap my free arm around her waist and tug her closer.

“You both look beautiful,” I tell them, hoping Stella can see just how much it means to me to see them both wearing these jerseys.

Harper leans away, smoothing out the front of her jersey.

“I want one of these,” she claims, pointing to the bobcat logo on the front. I laugh and poke her belly.

“You’ll have to settle for a stuffed one, baby girl. Bobcats are definitely not house pets.”

Stella laughs, dropping her head to my shoulder as we listen to Harper explain why she thinks she could tame a bobcat.

With my girls in my arms, the unnecessary nerves I had for tonight’s game finally begin to fade.

ChapterTwenty-Two

STELLA

“Whoa,”Harper says as she smushes her face against the car window, watching closely as we pull up to the arena. I hold back the urge to tell her not to get Grey’s window dirty, but the smile on his face tells me he couldn’t care less about finger and face imprints.

Grey barely has the car in park and Harper starts trying to undo her car seat buckle.

“She’s not excited at all,” I deadpan to Greyson.

“Yes, I am! Get me out of this thing, please.” She tugs at the straps over her chest, and I laugh. I’m about to open my door when Greyson reaches out to stop me.

Frowning, I turn to him and find his eyebrows pinched together.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, lowering my voice so Harper doesn’t hear.

“I didn’t think about the photographers waiting by the entrance,” he tells me, glancing back at Harper. “I can call Dom and have him meet us at one of the other entrances so we don’t have to worry about all of us being seen together.”

“Do you not want to be seen with us?” I ask. Before any doubt can settle in, Grey is shaking his head.

“No, I mean yes. I will always want to be seen with you. Both of you.” He takes my hand in his and brings it to his lips. “I don’t want you uncomfortable with Harper’s picture being taken.”

My eyes widen. “Shit, I didn’t even think of that.”

“Neither did I until just now. It’s completely up to you. Say the word and I’ll call Dom.” I think it over, weighing the pros and cons. Plenty of hockey players get pictures posted with their families. I only have one social media account so I can stay in touch with some people from college, and even that’s private.

After a few moments and Harper getting more restless, I make up my mind.

“I’m okay with us all being seen together.”

Greyson smiles and I know I made the right decision. Not that I think he would have been disappointed if I decided not to be seen together.

As it turns out, Harper absolutely loves the photographers. Greyson carries her, his gear bag slung over one shoulder and Harper in his other arm. She waves at every camera they pass, making everyone laugh.

That girl is definitely made for the spotlight.

Unlike the last game I went to, Greyson decides to escort us up to the suite, not once putting Harper down.

Arianna’s laughter echoes down the hall as we approach and for the first time today, I find myself nervous. I never told Ari and Lilly about Harper, and now here I am, showing up with a toddler. I didn’t lie, but I also skirted around the truth a few times. Guilt gnaws at me as we enter the suite, and all conversation comes to a crashing halt.

I can’t bring myself to look at the other women in the suite, so instead I focus on watching Harper as she takes in everything.

“Is that the lake?” Harper asks, unfazed by the eerie silence and breaking the tension.

Greyson smiles at her, crossing the space to the door that heads out to the seating overlooking the rink.

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