Page 69 of Her Hat Trick Daddies
He nods. “Right.”
But as we approach the door, it’s not Leighton who answers.
It’s Sven fucking Hinter. The man is a wall of calm and muscle, and I haven’t seen him since we played his last season together.
“Andy,” he greets, giving me a handshake that could dislocate a shoulder. “Good to see you. Come on in, guys. Kids are in the back with everyone else.”
We follow him inside, and just past the foyer, we’re met with the real greeting—Leighton. Blonde hair up, sun catching the curve of her smile, that soft look in her blue eyes that still manages to gut me.
Sven peels off toward the deck. “I’ll let you guys catch up. Gotta make sure I’m not burning the hot dogs and burgers.”
Leighton ushers us into this gorgeous, spacious home, but none of it—no fancy light fixtures, no art on the walls—captures my attention. Not even a little. Every ounce of my focus zeroes in on the tiny blonde toddler with soft curls bouncing around her head. She’s dressed in a pink ruffly dress with Barbie plastered across the front, chubby legs sticking out as she sitson the floor, completely absorbed inThe Lion King, Simba mid-belt about love and destiny.
I hang back, just staring at her.
Then my eyes catch movement—a little boy, maybe three or four, but what do I know, with golden-brown hair neatly combed to the side. He’s wearing a crisp button-down shirt and khaki shorts, kneeling in front of the TV, but fully immersed in a mountain of LEGOs next to the little girl.
That’s got to be Sven’s kid, I think.
In the kitchen, Ava is pouring lemonade from a big glass pitcher.
“Andy! How have you been?” Ava calls out, wiping her hands on a dish towel as she hurries over to wrap me in a warm hug. She pulls back, eyes twinkling.
“Miss your magic at the stadium, Ava,” I chuckle. “And… you guys have a nice home. I had no clue this was where we were headed.”
“I know,” she says, smirking with a wink.
She turns her bright smile on Shane and David. “Nice to meet you boys.”
“Pleasure’s all mine,” David says smoothly, flashing that gentlemanly grin. “Thanks for having us.”
Before we can say anything else, the two kids come scampering over, wide-eyed and giggling as they dart behind their moms’ legs, grinning but too shy to speak just yet.
The little boy peeks out first, his hazel eyes curious and bright, while the tiny girl, Luna, presses herself into Leighton’s side, her curls bouncing with every little move she makes.
Shane crouches slightly, eyes soft. “Well, who are these two cute kiddos?”
The kids exchange a look before offering shy little waves and whispering, “Hi.”
Leighton kneels, brushing Luna’s hair back gently. “Sweetheart, these are our new friends. And guess what…” She pinches Luna’s tiny nose, teasing a smile out of her. “They brought you all kinds of gifts! Can you say thank you?”
Luna buries her face in Leighton’s neck for a moment before peeking out again, whispering, “Dank ooo.”
I catch my breath, blinking hard. Well, I’ll be damned. If that isn’t the cutest thing I’ve ever heard. And suddenly, all the nerves I’d worked up about this moment? Gone.
Shane goes first, kneeling and holding out a soft plush doll. “This is for you, Luna.”
She clutches it with both hands, hugging it tight to her chest, her face lighting up like it’s Christmas morning.
David steps in next with a brightly colored book. “And here’s something for you to read at bedtime.”
She beams, and just as she reaches for it, David glances over at the boy still peeking out from behind Ava. “You know what, buddy? I’ve got something for you, too.”
The boy’s face practically explodes with joy. He races forward, grabs the book, gives David a high-five, and then sprints back to the couch, yelling, “Thank you!” over and over while waving the book in the air.
Now it’s my turn. I crouch down low, suddenly realizing Luna is even smaller than I imagined. She’s clutching her doll, smiling shyly, and damn if it doesn’t make me feel… weirdly vulnerable. I can see it in Shane and David’s faces, too. We’re all a little smitten with this kid.
I hold out a small pink ball, grinning. “This is for you.”
