Hard Hit (IceCats 3)

“For sure. Thought Kirbo was gonna kill him,” D’Artagnan teases, and while his nickname for me is downright annoying, I nod in agreement. I haven’t seen red like that since Lilly ditched Celeste. Even then, I wasn’t as mad as I was in the moment that douchefuck grabbed Jaylin.

“He had one more chance to put his hand on her before that happened,” I admit, and everyone chuckles along. Though, Jaylin’s eyes move over my face. A smitten little grin sits on her lips, and I get the vibe she’s feeling me. But could she be? I’m so insecure about the idea that I could actually be enough for her. She’s so successful, so smart and classy. I’m not saying I’m trailer trash, but I have no family, my baby mama dumped our kid, and I knock into guys for a living trying to score in a net that is guarded by a huge-ass dude with a frozen biscuit. Plus, I’m a single dad.

Is that something she would want to involve herself with? She seems different. I’ve never seen her look at a child the way she looks at Celeste. She’s always grinning at her and saying hi. Of course, Celeste eats it up. Like her daddy, she loves attention and feeling important. Or maybe it’s just my uncertainties that make me feel she craves those things. I don’t want Celeste to ever feel alone.

It’s an awful feeling.

“So, easy to say, you’ll stay away from assholes?” Owen asks, and Jaylin nods.

“That asshole, for sure. I still can’t believe he acted like that,” she says, and I can see embarrassment on her face. “But let’s let that go. I don’t want to think of him.”

“Was he a boyfriend?” Owen asks, apparently not hearing her.

She gives him a dry look. “No, just a casual f-word.”

I would have laughed at her censor, but then D’Artagnan pipes up, “Listen, Jay, I can be that casual f-word—anytime of the day.”

“D…” I warn, and he snaps his mouth shut. Jaylin thinks it’s hilarious by the way she is laughing. Owen and Evan snicker, but I hold D’Artagnan’s eyes in a heated glance, advising him to watch it.

“My bad, bro.”

I shake my head as I turn my gaze to Jaylin, but she’s grinning at D’Artagnan. With how upset it’s making me that Jaylin is smiling, mighty hard, at D’Artagnan, one would think Jaylin is my girl.

It’s me.

I’m the one thinking so.

Wanting so.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, this is hard. I shouldn’t care that she hasn’t smiled at me like that since we sat down. My sweet girl Celeste always smiles at her daddy with all the love in the world, and that is a miracle in itself. I should be satisfied, but I want more. I want Jaylin. I want her to be mine. The thing is, I work hard to be a good dad. Really, I work hard at anything I want to be successful at. I wanted to be in the NHL—boom! Done. I wanted to be a damn good parent and be Celeste’s world—boom! Done. I want Jaylin to smile at me with those dark-brown eyes that promise all kinds of naughty things.

Huh? Boom! Done. Isn’t happening because I’m a pussy.

Wait, no. I’m not. I’m Kirby Litman. I am a badass dad, a phenomenal hockey player—ignore the fact that I’ve been a part of a team that has lost a Cup twice in two years. This is something that needs to be overlooked. We’ll figure it out. Or the Assassins will be hit by a meteor and vanish so they can’t torment us anymore. One of the two—and one good-looking dude. Females love me. I’m a catch. I’m a hot dad, if you will. A DILF.

Jesus, what is wrong with me?

She’s what’s wrong with me. I want to be the DILF she wants.

Jaylin moves her tight curls off her shoulders and then leans on her hands as D’Artagnan tells one hell of a story. He’s so animated, funny, and damn it, he’s also a good-looking dude. If he had a kid, he’d be a DILF. I’m man enough to admit that, and honestly, if he doesn’t slow down, same with Owen, they’re going to be joining my club pretty quickly.

Not with Jaylin, though. I’ll kill him.

He’s busy…some would say messy. He loves the women, and the women love him. He’s huge, really muscular, and one hell of a hockey player. He’s just not fast enough yet. That’s why I’m pretty sure Evan will make the roster before D’Artagnan. Evan is fast and he’s got the hands, but a part of me feels like he isn’t in it to win it like his brother is. I know Evan likes hockey, enjoys it, but I don’t know if it’s a live-it, breathe-it kind of thing for him.

Owen, on the other hand, is all that and then more. He is his famous, hockey-playing dad made over. He’ll make it no matter what, so it’s a toss-up between Evan and D’Artagnan. Both good players, both talented, both lacking in an area. One thing is for sure, though. If D’Artagnan keeps looking at Jaylin like she’s a snack, I’m going to make sure it’s Evan.