Page 53 of Shot Through the Heart

“What rarity occurred to makeyousmile?”

I glance around the locker room. Most of the guys are ignoring Dean’s shenanigans. Dominik watches me curiously, Carter and Reid try to hide the fact that they’re listening, while Landon looks like he’s two seconds from pulling Dean away.

“I…have a daughter,” I start, avoiding all the attention that snaps my way.

“Stella’s pregnant?” Dominik asks calmly beside me, and I shake my head, finally deciding to at least focus on him.

“No. We knew each other before.” I pause, widening my eyes in a silent signal meant for only him to catch. None of the other guys would know that I mean before the contract. “Before she moved to Tampa. We dated back in high school and umm…”

I shrug, trusting that they understand the birds and the bees enough to figure out the rest.

“Aw, shit, man.” Dean sighs, his earlier excitement diminishing. Seeing his crestfallen expression, I begin to understand how he felt seeing me smile. Dean is never not in a good mood, so witnessing anything other than joy feels wrong.

“She didn’t tell you?” Landon asks, a hint of judgment in his voice that I squash immediately.

“It’s not like that.” I sigh, briefly explaining to them how everything happened, making sure to wipe away any negative thoughts about Stella. She’s as much of a victim of my mother’s lies as I am.

“Damn, man.” Dean shakes his head. “No offense, your mom sounds like a bitch.”

“Tell me about it,” I grumble.

The guys ask a few more questions, both about Stella and Harper, and by the time we’re getting ready to head out to the ice, it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

I hang back for a moment, preferring to be one of the last guys to hit the ice. Normally, I’m left alone to wait it out. However, this time, Dominik lingers.

“Is that what you didn’t know if you could talk about a few weeks ago?”

Swallowing thickly, I nod.

“I’m sorry you had to deal with that on your own,” Dom says, patting me on the shoulder.

I shrug nonchalantly, watching the guys disappear out the door. “I’m used to it.”

“Just because you’re used to dealing with things on your own doesn’t mean you have to. You have people who care about you and would like the chance to show you.”

“Lately,” I start as we follow the last of the guys, “I’ve been feeling like I don’t deserve to let anyone in. Like I don’t even deserve Stella and Harper. But now that I know what it’s like to have them around, I couldn’t let them go if I tried. They were like a shot through the heart, and suddenly, I see everything in a new light. It doesn’t change that I’ve been such an ass to every one of you, keeping my distance and bringing down the mood wherever we go…How can any of you be okay with that just because I’m starting to be happy now?”

Dominik bumps my shoulder.

“Like it or not, we all saw through your grumpy mask. We knew something happened that made you close yourself off. You were doing what you needed in order to protect yourself. None of us hold that against you.”

Well, shit.

“Thanks, man,” I mumble and try to shrug off the emotions his words brought on. The last thing I need is to be a blubbering mess when we make it to the ice.

“It’s clear that something has been changing you lately. Maybe not to the rest of the guys, but I noticed. You’ve been coming out of your shell more at practice. Hell, you came with us to a bar after the Philly game last week. Knowing about Stella and your daughter…It’s clear. They’re bringing you back to life.” Dominik smiles, stepping in front of me and turning his back to the rink. “You’re changing, and that’s not a bad thing. Change is a part of growing up, and I’m just glad you’re finally moving forward.”

Dominik waves to a fan who’s waving wildly from the other side of the glass as he continues to walk backward. Just before we hit the ice, he grins at me one last time. “Personally, I can’t wait to get to know this new version of you.”

ChapterEighteen

STELLA

Packing for a toddleris so much more involved than packing for myself.

If I forget a shirt, I can just wear whatever else I brought. However, if I forget to pack the exact outfit that Harper decides she wants? It’ll be the end of the world. I made sure to have her help me pick out clothes last night, reminding her that we will be on vacation so she can’t change her mind about anything once we’re there. We’ll see how well that holds up if she decides she’s missing something.

All that’s left to pack are my toiletries, which are currently all spread out on the kitchen table so I can organize them in the travel bag the right way. Even with deciding that I don’t need to go full glam makeup while we’re gone, traveling with all the products I need for my skin and hair routine still takes up a considerable amount of space.

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