Page 118 of Second Chance Player

“He just had his bath,” Patty says. Crew snuggles into her side.

“Hi, Mommy.” He doesn’t take his eyes off the TV.

“Hi, my boy,” I greet him.

“Thanks,” I say to Patty.

“Liam made us chicken fingers and fries. There’re leftovers in the kitchen,” Patty mentions.

“Thanks. I’m starved,” I say. I walk up to Crew and Liam and kiss them both, but they are really engrossed in whatever they are watching. I watch the screen. “What is this?” I ask, staring at the too-big television screen.

“National Geographic. They followed a family of polar bears,” Liam explains.

“It’s so cool,” Crew says, and he looks just as transfixed as Liam.

I giggle.

Patty follows me to the kitchen.

I pile some chicken fingers and fries on a plate. They are homemade, and they look incredible. When Liam is in town, he likes to cook food for us. He says it’s a way for him to show us we matter. I don’t know what I did to deserve a man like him, but I’ll take it.

“Any prospects on an apartment?” I ask Patty. She’s been commuting and hates sitting in traffic all the time.

“Dad mentioned he spoke to the GM, and if you guys move, then maybe I could take this place,” she says.

“Oh wow, Pats. That would be amazing,” I say. “Liam said he had a good feeling about the townhouse we’re going to see tonight.”

“I know,” Patty cheers.

Liam pokes his head into the kitchen. “Sky, we should really get going.”

I nod, and I hug my friend. “See you soon. Don’t let Crew have any junk before bed.”

“Never,” she says with playful mockery.

Liam and I head out. He’s been home the last couple of weeks, but preseason games start next week, and he’ll be in and out of town playing exhibition games. After he returned from Chicago and was at home healing, he called his mom and invited her to New York. She came to stay with us for a full week. The first few days were rocky. She and Liam spent a lot of time talking. Then one day something changed, and she woke up one morning, made pancakes for everyone, and befriended Crew. Things were smooth sailing after, and we spent full days showing her different sights around the city. Liam had stayed back because he was still in pain, but he was happy his mom was bonding with Crew and me. Now he speaks to both his mother and father a couple of times a week minimum.

We arrive to the townhouse in under twenty minutes, which is fabulous for New York City this time of evening.

There’s a large tree along the sidewalk outside. The real estate agent takes us into the house, explaining all the details. It’s a mix of old and modern. It has a homey feel to it, and there is a backyard with a strip of grass and a large patio.

“What do you think?” Liam asks.

“Are you sure you want to spend this kind of money on a place like this?” I ask. “It’s super expensive and your contract with the Rangers comes up next year.”

He closes the space between us and takes hold of my hand before he stands in front of me with our bodies flush. “Let’s get a few things straight here. Whatever I have is yours so stop referring to it as my money and start referring to it as our money. Second, you still need to be in New York next year to finish your undergrad. We don’t move until it works for both of us,” he asserts.

That is what we spoke about, I just sometimes have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact this is my life.

“I love it,” I admit.

“I can picture us having sex in every room in this house,” Liam says, his eyes bright with mischief. “I’m thinking this place is going to work. Starting with the kitchen counter.” He winks.

“Liam.” I smack his chest playfully and then turn my head to see if the real estate agent heard him.

I don’t think he did.

We leave the townhouse, and Liam tells the real estate agent to put in an offer.

---