Page 41 of Second Chance Player

“It means he didn’t name his son after me. His wife just liked the name, just like your mom liked the name Crew,” he says.

Liam is so good with him.

Liam turns to me. “You can take a seat up in the bleachers. I can walk him onto the ice.”

“Thanks so much for everything,” I say to Liam breathlessly. He’s making it hard to stay mad at him, but it doesn’t mean we are meant to be.

I walk up the bleachers and take a seat. Parents introduce themselves to me, and a bunch of dads gush over Liam and his friend Wolfe. I watch Liam introduce Crew to some kids.

“Is Bozeman his dad?” one of the dads asks.

“No,” I reply, and the truth is, being in this kind of environment around hockey players makes me nervous. Carter never reached out or wanted anything to do with Crew, but if he learned Liam was in the picture, he wouldn’t like it.

A lady then introduces herself, “I’m Rebel. That’s my husband, Wolfe. He’s a good friend of Liam’s and my son is little Liam over there.” She points. She has a baby bundled up in a little car seat carrier beside her. “This is Ariella.”

“Nice to meet you,” I say.

“You too,” Rebel responds. “It’s such a great program. Your son will love it.”

“I’m sure he will.” I smile hesitantly. I only worry how I will get him here on Sunday mornings when Liam isn’t driving us across town, and I work a late shift Saturday night.

I watch Crew on skates. I’ve taken him skating at the Bank of America Winter Village since he was three years old. We started on those little two-blade cookie skates and moved up to real ones. I would rent the skates for Crew, and I kept the ones Liam bought me. The skating was free, so it was a fun activity for us to do in the winter.

Crew seems like a pro on skates. Liam hangs around talking to his buddy, but I can tell from here he’s giving Crew tips on what to do.

“Look at Liam teaching those boys what to do,” Rebel points out, looking proud.

I just smile, even though she isn’t wrong. Liam is adorable.

The coaches tell the boys to skate up and down the ice, and then they are divided up into two groups. Each boy is given a puck and asked to skate around the ice, maneuvering their hockey sticks. They need to do a full circle around the rink and then shoot the puck into the net. I watch Crew nervously. He wanted to play hockey so bad, I hope he’s enjoying himself.

“He’s doing good,” Rebel tells me, and I wonder if she can read my mom anxiety.

“Thanks,” I say. “He’s really excited about playing.”

“My Liam is too,” she replies. “But then he knows his daddy is a famous hockey player.”

Her words make my stomach dip because Crew’s daddy is a famous hockey player too. Only I don’t want him to know Crew. I know that sounds awful, but Carter has a temper. One that can get ugly. I never want my son to see it or be near it.

Liam stands off to the side as Crew does his thing with the team. He waits for the exercise to be over and heads off the ice.

I’ve always wanted my son to have a male role model, but this feels like it’s moving too fast. Not that anything is happening. I just figured if I did ever get around to dating, I would date the guy to see how we are together, and only then if it made sense would I introduce him to my son.This is just backward.

I see Liam walking up the steps toward me.

“He’s settled in well,” he declares. “Reminds me of the first time my dad took me to play hockey.” He has a nostalgic look on his face.

“Thanks so much for doing this. My son is in seventh heaven.”

“I need to take Ariella indoors for a bit. Do either of you want a cocoa?” Rebel asks Liam and me.

“I’m good, thanks,” I say.

“Me too,” Liam replies.

Rebel walks off, and I think she left on purpose to give Liam and me privacy.

“I’m glad he’s enjoying himself. I hope the three of us can spend some time together,” he says, watching me carefully.

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