Hard Hit (IceCats 3)

The joy was in abundance, but now, I don’t know if there is any joy to be found.

I’m too nervous.

My dad hasn’t really spoken to Kirby, and my mom is grilling him. Meanwhile, Celeste sits between us in her little portable high chair, happy as a clam as she sucks on a rib bone. I have one eye on her since I don’t want her choking, and so do Kirby and my mom. We’re all helicopter parents in here.

Shit…did I just call myself a parent?

What am I doing?

Before my leg can bounce a hole in the floor, Kirby’s hand comes to still it, and our eyes meet. His eyes are so kind, so sweet, and I know he’s telling me to calm down. That everything is fine. But I know my parents. I know how they are, and this can’t be anything like fine. Someone is going to piss someone off.

More than likely, it’ll be me pissing off my mom.

“Did you finish college, Kirby?”

“I did,” he says, spooning some smashed-up potato salad in Celeste’s mouth. “University of Michigan with a three point four.”

“Impressive,” she says, and I nod.

“Especially when he was working full time at the rink and playing full-time hockey,” I add, and I feel Kirby grinning at me. I may be laying it on thick, but he is pretty remarkable.

“Working full time? Didn’t you have an athletic scholarship?” my dad asks, and I shouldn’t have said anything.

“I did, and I don’t know if Jaylin told you, but I never really knew my dad. He was a drunk, and that killed him. And then my mom got a new family and dropped me. I haven’t spoken to her in years. I don’t even know if she knows about Celeste. Because of that, I had to support myself, and when the dorms closed for holidays or the summer, if I couldn’t go home with friends or teammates, I had to stay in a hotel. So, I was always saving money.”

Fucking hell, I didn’t know that.

My dad seems impressed as Kirby holds his attention. “That’s very inspiring.”

Kirby shrugs, modest. “I had no choice. I had to survive. I had to reach my goals.”

“Still, that’s amazing. Unfortunate you had to do it alone,” my mom adds. “But I believe it has only made you stronger. Even though I only found out about you because your gorgeous daughter was in the back seat when Jaylin picked me up. She doesn’t tell me much. Though, she did tell me how you are raising Celeste all by yourself.”

Kirby flashes her a showstopping grin. Unlike me, my mom doesn’t swoon much. “Yeah. That was a kick in the gut for sure, but there was no real option other than to give her all the love of a dad and a mom. There is absolutely no way I would abandon her like I was abandoned. That pain takes years of therapy to ease.”

I reach out, squeezing his hand, and he sends me a wink. He’s so confident, so gorgeous, and good lord, I love him. “I, for one, am completely impressed by and proud of you.”

“That’s because you like me.” He leans over, pressing his lips to mine.

I grin as we part. “It’s true.”

Celeste squeals, and we both grin at her. When I look back over at my parents, my mom is visibly taken aback, while my dad grins like he just scored a hole in one. “So, hockey?”

“Yup. My whole life.”

“Isn’t that expensive? Jaylin did cheerleading, and lord, it was expensive,” Mom says, and Kirby nods.

“Very expensive. At first, I wore and played with a lot of used equipment, but then my rink started this awesome program that was designed for low-income kids. It was a lifesaver, and with the right equipment, I was able to advance. I actually donate ten percent of my salary every year to the program since it helped me so much.”

“Really? That’s so sweet,” I gush as our eyes meet. “Let me know, and I’ll donate when you do. I’ll match your donation,” I say with a wink, and he grins.

“That would be incredible. Thank you.”

“Absolutely. I have no clue what happens in hockey, but it seems to be cool.”

He laughs, as do my parents. “She’s actually going to her first game next week with Celeste and my nanny. Would you two like to come? I can get more tickets.”

“We would be delighted. Thank you,” Mom says, and Dad nods. “I have no clue what hockey is, but I’m sure we’ll enjoy it.”

Dad points his fork at him and sets him with a look. “Only if I can get you out on the golf course. Isn’t hockey the same thing as golf?”

“Dad, you guys hardly fight on the green.”

Dad laughs. “I don’t know. I almost decked Princeton the other day when his phone rang during my drive.”