Puck Daddy

Chapter One

Tristan

When my cell begins to ring, I’m sitting on the bus thinking about our first upcoming game this season. The one I need to win, we need to win, to be back on top. My heart’s racing out of control, and I wonder if I’ll ever shine like I once did. We need to win, and we need to make the playoffs, and my nerves are getting the better of me.

My hand shakes as I answer my ringing cellphone. The other guys are cheering on the bus in anticipation, and I wish I could do the same. I wish that the fucking confidence I used to have would come flooding back in. They’re confident about beating the Boston Rats. I just hope we do. I’m the center, and I fucking need to get it together if we have any chance at all of winning.

“Isobel?” I ask, wondering why she’s calling me. I only left her with my kids a little more than three hours ago. She’s been their nanny for the past three months. I just hope nothing’s gone wrong, because I’d put out all the stops to make sure I didn’t have any childcare issues during game season.

“Tristan…” She sounds distant. “I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to leave them at the arena.”

Lights flash in front of my eyes, and my heart starts to thump as if it’s about to beat out of my chest. Anger and fear constrict in my chest.

“Isobel, what do you mean you left them at the arena?”

My kids are too young to be left alone. I can’t believe that the nanny’s calling me, just before a game, to tell me she can’t look after my kids. Is that even what she’s saying? I don’t fucking need this today. I’m playing for the first time in months, and she’s fucking it up with one single phone call.

“Where are you?”

“On my way home. I can’t do this anymore. Ferguson put gum in my hair, and as for Darcy, she was throwing popcorn at me. I told them if they didn’t stop, I would leave them. And guess what they did?” She spits out the words.

I can’t believe she’s justifying her actions because my kids were a little troublesome. Sure, Ferguson can be a handful; my mother says he got it from me and that he’s going through the Terrible-Twos stage. Which is great, considering he’s nearly four and doesn’t seem to be growing out of it. Darcy just thinks she’s older than everyone. She’s too sensible for a six-year-old, so something must have sparked her behavior, and she usually controls Ferguson whenever he gets up to some mischief.

“You can’t fucking do this to me!” I blurt out, waiting for her to have the good sense to go back to them. They must have arrived only a few minutes ago. Where are my parents? They should be there, too.

“Tristan, I try, I do. But those kids of yours are too much. They’re great when you’re around. Fucking angels. But the moment you turn your back, they show their true colors. It’s been a nightmare, but I knew a lot was riding on this game for you, so I tolerated it. But, enough is fucking enough.”

She can’t be fucking serious.

Is this the same woman that told me Darcy and Ferguson were both gifts from above?

The same woman that said I’d never have to worry about a thing with her in charge?

I feel as if my ears are deceiving me, because last night at the hotel, they seemed fine. Everyone was getting along. I never for one second suspected that something was up or that there was animosity. They’d spent the whole summer together, just so I felt confident that I wouldn’t have to worry about childcare again during the game season.

“So, you dumped them somewhere, like fucking trash!” I hiss venomously, thinking there’s no way she could truly feel justified in her actions. If she took them back to the hotel, that might make more sense. Maybe. But, what woman in her right mind would just leave kids in an arena? Or, anywhere?

I’m shaking my head, waiting for her to say something as I take a deep breath and compose myself. I move to one of the back seats, away from my teammates and as far away as possible from my coach. Fuck, if he thought something was wrong, he’d trade me without hesitation, and my reputation is so bad at the moment he wouldn’t even feel bad about it. This is why I need everything to go smoothly now. And why I spent weeks looking for the right nanny. But, now, it’s our first game, and it’s completely fucked.

Why today?

She’s left my kids in the Boston arena, a long way from home, in a different state. And we know no one here. She knew that before she even did it.

Isobel’s references were excellent. She seemed to be a good match for the kids. Even my mother said that she was a treasure and that I’d be a fool to even doubt hiring her. I wonder if she will think the same thing now.

Why hadn’t I seen the signs?