Page 149 of The Nanny Goal

Right. Because I told her she should do that. “It’s great. I’m learning a lot. I like my chef instructors.” I dodge around a rowdy group and head for the escalator. My seat is up on the second level. “It’s hard to be away from Alexei and Inessa, of course, but he’s playing against New York next week, so I don’t have to miss him for?—”

I cut myself off, but I’ve already said too much.

My mom sighs happily. “I knew it.”

Damn it. I step to the side of the concourse and lean back against the wall. “Mom, don’t.”

“But, Emery…”

I swallow hard. I wish Alexei was here to hold me as I say this. “Mom, you’re never that happy for me in any other way, so please don’t be that happy for me just because I’ve fallen in love. Trust me, I’m happy for me, too, but I was also happy for me when I was made captain in Boston and you didn’t bother to come to my first game of the season. I was happy for me when I ran the Chicago Marathon. Do you even remember that? I was happy for me when I went to culinary school, and started my own business, and closed that business, and applied to this program. I will be happy for myself thousands of more times across my lifetime, but if it doesn’t relate to an NHL player, will you even notice? I don’t think so. Maybe you should think about why you’re the last person to find out that Alexei and I are together.”

“Oh,” she says. And then she starts crying.

To her credit, she pulls herself together before I can complete the thought of,really, Mom? Making this about your?—

“I’m sorry, baby. I will try to be better.”

“I hope you will.”

“Am I really the last to find out?”

“No, of course not. I haven’t told Dad, either.”

She sobs into a laugh. “Okay. Were your brothers Neanderthals about it?”

“No. I made them be mature about my sex life before I told them who it was with.”

“Emery Granger!”

“Don’t make me get specific, Mom. I will.”

This time, her laugh is all giggle, no sob. “Is he good to you?”

“So good. He’s very supportive.”

“Good.” She takes a deep breath. “Maybe I will ask him for advice on that.”

CHAPTER49

ALEXEI

Our last away game of the year is a quick overnighter in New York City.

The team plane touches down mid-afternoon the day before the game.

When we get to the hotel, we have a few hours of rest, followed by a team dinner—but Russ and I get excused from that because we’re going to have dinner with Emery.

Or rather, we’ll have dinner prepared for us by Emery, and her fellow trainees, at a pop-up tasting menu seating at the culinary institute she’s training at.

She was so disappointed when she told me that she would be working on my night in the city. But I was delighted, and Rusty was more than happy to come with me, so I made a reservation for two through school’s online system.

When we arrive, the person who I give my name to immediately recognizes me. And not because she’s a hockey fan. “Chef Granger has picked your table out. She’ll be out to greet you shortly. Can I start by bringing you still or sparkling water?”

We both ask for still water, and she leaves a bottle on the table for us.

Emery appears shortly after. She’s wearing chef whites, and her hair is twisted back in four mini-French braids, two on either side.

She looks amazing. And the way her eyes flare when our gazes meet is all I need to be patient and wait to pull her into my arms, later.

---