Page 93 of My Lucky Charm

Just because I can admit I want to get married and have a family of my own, that doesn’t mean I need to fantasize about doing it with him.

But it also doesn’t mean I don’t.

True to my word, I spoil Scarlett with the Eloise VIP treatment, and when she tells me I put too much stuff on her hot dog, I happily take it off her hands and get her a plain one. We’re both wearing Hawke jerseys, number eighteen, and when I cheer at the wrong time, Scarlett is quick to correct me. She teaches me the rules of hockey as we sit in the stands, and I fall a little more in love with her by the minute.

At one point, a fight breaks out on the ice, and even though I try to get her to look away, Scarlett is too invested. She stands on her chair and yells, “Are you gonna take that!? Rip his head off!!”

I wonder if Gray is aware just how much she knows about this sport.

After the Comets win, I take Scarlett back to the hallway outside the locker room, and we wait off to the side. I’m thankful Poppy isn’t here because I know she’d be asking me questions, and even if I hadn’t sign a contract to keep my mouth shut, it’s not my business to tell anyone Gray has a daughter.

When Jericho saunters out of the locker room, his wife, Monica is there waiting, and even though these two have been married for a while, they go at it like newlyweds long enough that I step in front of Scarlett to obstruct her view.

Dallas is next, followed by Kemp and Jimmy, who latches on to my gaze and smiles. I smile back, politely, which he must mistake for encouragement or flirtation or worse, an invitation. He walks over, completely oblivious to the little girl standing beside me.

“Hey Eloise,” he says. “You’re wearing the wrong number.”

I glance down at my jersey and laugh. “Gotta support the boss.”

“Right,” he says. “Are you coming out with us?” He takes a step closer. “Or maybe just with me? There’s this great bar around the corner—”

“Uh, no,” I say, feeling a little caught. I don’t want to use Scarlett as an excuse, especially since I don’t know what Gray has told them about his daughter, but also, I don’t want to leave if there’s even a shred of hope that I might be able to spend any time with the two of them.

“It’s late,” he says. “The game’s over. Come have a drink with me.” He pauses. “You’re not still working, are you?”

“Uh—” I start to respond, aware that Scarlett is watching me. “I’m not actually sure.”

“She’s off the clock.” I turn and see Gray standing behind me. His eyes are darker than usual, but they’re every bit as intense as he bypasses me and looks at Scarlett.

“Dad!” She throws her arms around him, and he picks her up and hugs her, and I want Jimmy to make a quick exit so I can see how I fit into this moment. If I fit into this moment.

“Hey, Scooter!”

“Ugh, your nicknames,” she acts annoyed, but she’s smiling. “Just call me Scarlett!”

“You got it, Tootie.” She playfully slugs him, and he sets her down.

“Hey,” he says to me, “thanks for hanging out with her tonight,” Gray says, like I’m a babysitter who’s reached the end of her shift.

“Of course,” I say, stuffing down my disappointment. “We had fun.”

“Did you see Krush get nailed on the jaw at the end of the second quarter?” Scarlett’s eyes are wide. “That hit was dirty, Dad. Good thing Krush let him have it.”

Gray looks at me.

I hold up my hands in surrender. “Hey, I tried to distract her,” I say. “But she liked the fighting.” I wince. “A lot.”

He glances back at Scarlett, and then, he smiles. Like, a genuine smile, and it’s like seeing Halley’s Comet. For a brief moment, the rest of the world goes quiet—and there are just the three of us.

But it’s just me fantasizing again, and Gray makes that clear when he looks at Jimmy. “Have fun tonight.” His eyes meet mine for a flicker of a moment, and then he takes Scarlett’s hand and walks away.

Leaving me standing in the hallway, wishing I had a reason to go with him.

“So, ready to go?” Jimmy moves closer.

Wasn’t Gray the one who told me not to date him?

“Uh, sure,” I say, partly because I don’t know how to get out of this situation, but mostly because I’m trying to process the conflicting feelings inside of me.

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