Page 68 of Passing the Red Line
I just laugh as I play with the puppy, occasionally looking over at Christian to make sure he’s got a handle on the diaper situation. I can’t help but to smile at the image before me and for a split second, a different scene pops into my head.
One where instead of the baby being Emma, it's a little boy with dark hair and light gray eyes. A little boy named Christian after his father and has the attitude like his mother.
The image is quick but it’s not one that I will never easily forget.
Maybe one day, that scene will actually become reality.
For right now, I’m content with us playing pretend.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Christian
The shutterof the camera continues to sound throughout the small room and every time it does, a hint of pride hits my chest.
Today, all the Knights are on sight for all I like to call picture day. It’s the second day of training camp and the marketing team has everyone in full gear to get promotional videos and pictures to use throughout the season.
Every single year, I usually hate this day. Mostly because I could be spending my time on the ice instead of snapping pictures, but this year is different. This year, I actually don’t mind taking time out of my day to take pictures or do promo shit. This year, I’m perfectly happy with slapping a smile on my face and saying cheese to the camera if I’m told to.
And that’s because this year, Eliana is at the helm of it all, taking charge of every photo taken and every video that is shot.
The woman looks so in element, so at ease, taking charge and ordering everyone around just to get the perfect shot, and doing it while having a smile on her face.
I don’t know if this is how she is with all her jobs, I know I saw a glimpse of this during her last few weeks of her assignment with the Quakes, but even then, that didn’t compare to the excitement and happiness that she is radiating now.
The second I walked into the room for my photo time slot, I saw that she was made for this job. Everyone in the room saw it.
And that shit right there is what continues to make my pride for this woman grow.
“He’s doing it again,” Blake whispers from next to me as he, Liam and I line up for a shot.
“Who’s doing what?” Liam whispers at the kid, looking over at him like he has a third head or something.
“Rodriguez is smiling again.” Blake answers, nodding his head towards me.
“Am not, ” I refute.
I should make a mental note to shave the dude’s head the next time we share a hotel room. Just to see if that will keep his mouth from saying shit.
“Are too. Where’s the grumpy asshole that we all know and hate?”
“He’s not allowed to be grumpy,” Eliana throws out, inserting herself into the conversation. “Now shut up and stay still, Jacobi, or I swear I will have a banner printed of you with your mouth wide open and have it hung everywhere I can.”
Damn. I didn’t know I could develop even deeper feelings for this woman, but she proved me wrong with one single threat toward Blake.
“Shit. I can see why you two are an item. She’s like a female version of you, just a whole lot prettier,” Blake whispers just for me and Liam to hear, but that doesn’t stop me from reaching over and slapping a hand along the back of his head. “Ow!”
“Shut the fuck up,” I whisper yell through my teeth and try to give him my most menacing look so that he remembers to not mention anything about me an Eliana being together while within the walls of the arena, or doing anything work related.
We haven’t gone to HR yet with our relationship, so we still have to keep it a secret and professional while we do anything related to hockey. We’re also keeping the news that we are together on a need to know basis. I told Liam, Blake and Logan because I knew two of the assholes were going to ask questions as if their lives depended on it. Logan didn’t give a shit, but I told him anyway.
When I told them, I specifically told them to not mention anything about me and Eliana even liking each other while we were in the arena, the locker room, a plane, a bus or anywhere where a Dark Knight’s logo was visible.
I knew Blake was going to be the one to not be able to follow orders.
“Sorry,” he says, holding his hands up in defense. “I forgot. Won’t happen again.”
“Better not. If it does, you’re going to be changing Emma’s diaper for a day.”
