Page 155 of Face Off
I’ve never wanted it before, but now that I have a little of that with Emmy, I want more. I want all of it.
A wraparound porch with rocking chairs. A play set in the backyard I put together myself and a redhead watching me from the window. A fence and a bedroom we fall into together every night. Rings and cribs andgoddammit.
How the hell do I make that happen?
“Hey.” Emmy touches my elbow. Her fingers press into my jacket, and I sigh. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” I nod and wrap my hand around hers. “Never better, Emmy girl.”
“A suite?” Alan looks around the private box above center ice. “This is too nice for a guy like me.”
“Maverick.” Emmy puts her hands on her hips, and I love how her leather pants hug her legs. I shouldn’t be staring at the curve of her thigh, but it’s hard not to. “This wasn’t necessary.”
“I know it wasn’t. But I wanted Alan to have the best experience tonight, and what better way to do that than give him the VIP treatment?”
“You make saying no almost impossible.” Emmy huffs and glances at the dark wood walls and leather couches. “It is really nice. I’ve never been in a suite before.”
“Thank you, son. This is a wonderful surprise,” Alan says.
Son.
The pride that word brings me.
I’d like to find a way for him keep calling me that, because I like how it makes me feel.
Like I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.
Like I have someone who cares about me and wants the best for me.
Like that void of wanting a permanent father figure is filled.
“Don’t mention it.” I put my hands in the pockets of my dress slacks and smile. “I’m on a quest to make everyone’s dad like me more than they like their own kids. Upgrading you to a suite is just the start of my plan.”
“I can’t stand you,” Emmy says, but there isn’t any heat behind it. “I’m going to check in with the guy at the elevator and make sure he knows you’re here, Dad. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Let me know if you need anything,” I tell her. “We can go down to the locker room after.”
“Thanks.” She squeezes my arm and heads for the door. I watch her walk away, and when she looks back and smiles at me, I grin.
Alan clears his throat, and I jump, sheepishly running my hand through my hair. “Hudson Hayes’s dad, Duke, will be here in a few minutes,” I say, breaking the silence. “He’s fairly quiet like his son until the game gets going, then he’s the most enthusiastic fan I’ve ever seen. If you need anything, he’ll be happy to help.”
“I’m sure we’ll get along just fine. Is Hudson one of your friends?”
“Yeah.” I sit on the couch across from him and stretch out my legs. My quads are tight from being in the van for so long, but I’d do the long round trip drive again. “All my teammates are great, but I’ve connected the most with Hudson. If I needed anything, he’d be there in a second to help. I’d do the same for him.”
“That kind of friendship is special, especially in sports. It’s hard to know what the future holds as an athlete, and to have someone in your corner you respect and trust is important.”
“Emmy told me you played college hockey. Where did you go? Michigan?”
“I’m a Boston College boy. Had the time of my life playing there.”
“Ethan’s from the Northeast. He went to BC too,” I say.
“Richardson? I like that guy. He’s a scrappy center, isn’t he?” Alan asks.
“And a total pain in my ass,” I joke, and he laughs.
“How are you feeling about tonight? You’re getting into the last stretch of the season. I’m sure the pressure is amping up.”
