But today is different.
I’m not being mobbed by people who want a piece of me, no. These are my friends and members of the organization I work for… and they want a piece of my kid. Which is freaking me the fuck out.
Everyone wants to hold him. Everyone wants to know about Nora. No one wants to be the one to come right out and ask about Otto’s mom, but everyone dances around it.
I’m starting to sweat when a deep voice rumbles through the space.
“Make a hole. Coming through.”
Nora looks up at me with a raised brow, and I chuckle, the tension easing as I nod toward the man, the myth, the legend. “Greg Baxter. He was our captain before he retired. Now he’s an assistant coach.”
“Axe, long time no see,” he says, cutting to the front of the group.
Baxter wasn’t the biggest guy on the team. Hell, I’ve probably got a good inch on him. But he’s commanding as fuck. A natural leader with a presence you can’t ignore.
And when he moves in to usher us out of reception, the crowd breaks up with smiles and well wishes.
“Coach, this is Nora Bennett. She’s helping me out with Otto while we’re getting settled.”
I shoot a look her way and score an appreciative-but-still-kind-of-pissed smile. I’m totally going to hear about that statement of ownership later, which is fine. The message to my teammates is out there, and that’s what matters.
I don’t want to have to kill them for putting a move on her. And they would. She’s a fox. A challenge. And when she gives it up, her laugh is like music.
And then, because I’m a fucking idiot, still staring at Nora’s profile wondering if she’s going to give me another look… Baxter introduces himself and asks about Otto.
“Shit, sorry. Yeah, Otto’s doing good.” I fire off his stats, weight, length, and wingspan, which the doctor didn’t get but I did. “How’s Julia?”
“Awesome. On her way home from LA tonight. She’s going to be pissed she missed meeting this guy.” Baxter’s wife is Julia Wesley, the top sports reporter in the country, and she travels even more than we do.
We walk back toward Talia’s office, where I’ve got some paperwork to sign, and Baxter wants to know if I’m still set to return to practice on Friday and travel with the team on Sunday.
Christ, I want to tell him no, but this is my job. My only means of providing for this kid who’s already gotten shortchanged too much. But the thought of leaving him makes my gut ache.
So, I do what I’ve been doing the last couple days and look at Nora. She’s not paying much attention to Baxter or that we’re inside the main offices for Slayers Hockey. She’s reaching into Otto’s car seat to adjust his blanket and give his little fist a stroke with the soft pad of her finger.
I’m not leaving him alone.
I’m leaving him with a woman who knows how to take care of him and treats him like she loves him already.
Turning back to Baxter, I nod. “Absolutely. I’ll see you Friday.”
We get to Talia’s door where she’s waiting, and he peels off.
She congratulates me and hands me a gift bag with one of those impossible tiny T-shirts that snaps beneath his baby junk with the Slayers’ logo on the front and Erikson #6 on the butt. It’s fucking adorable, and I end up pulling her in for a hug even though I barely know her.
But after a few minutes of small talk, it’s time to get down to business.
“I’ll take him back to reception and give him a bottle,” Nora says, slipping his diaper backpack over her shoulder and then reaching for his car seat.
I don’t let go. “Talia, give me one sec to get her settled, and I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time. Oh, and there’s a lounge area no one really uses away from the elevators if you’d prefer less traffic.”
I know where she’s talking about and guide Nora there.
“Sure you’re good? I don’t have to do this now. I can come back another time.”
She lets out a light laugh and waves me away as she takes a chair and sets Otto on the coffee table in front of her.
She doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t look like she’s at a loss for what to do next… ever. She just coos at my baby and deftly transfers him to her lap for some lunch.
I can leave.
“Do you need any help?” I ask.
The look she gives me is patiently amused. The answer clear. “No.”
I can go.
“Okay, I’ll just…”
“Axel, go. Meet with the nice lady so we can get out of here.” She points to the bag. “You want to put a monitor up so you can watch from your phone? It’s in there.”
She showed me how to use it yesterday. But—
I’m tearing through the compartments in a flash. “It’s not that I don’t trust you.”
“I know. It’s in the side pocket… other side.”
“This isn’t like with the door.” An incident I will never live down.
“I know.”
“It’s just— fucking finally.” I prop the small base unit so it’s aimed at the two of them. “It’s just… what if some nutjob came in here and—”
“I know, Axel. You want to make sure Otto’s safe.”
I want to make sure they’re both safe. “Yeah.”
“Turn on your phone.”
I pull up the app, and there they are. Both of them beautiful. Safe.
I can—
“You can go or stay, Axel.” This time, when she meets my eyes, it’s with gentle understanding. “If you’re not ready to leave him, it’s okay.”
Except I’m not going to have a choice this weekend. I can do this.
“Holler if you need anything.”
Then I force myself to walk the forty feet back to Talia’s office.
Twenty minutes later, I’m done, the end of our meeting rushed when I realized someone joined Otto and Nora in the lounge. Off-camera.
I round the corner at top speed, coming to an abrupt stop when I see the seat beside Nora occupied by Drake Haiden from Marketing. He’s holding a diet soda, chatting her up. The two of them going on like old friends.
I don’t like it.
Drake notices me first, and his phony smile cranks up.
What the hell is this guy doing in here? Doesn’t he have to work?
“Hey, man. Congratulations. Done with your meetings?”
“Yeah, we’re through.” I direct my attention to Nora, taking Otto in my arms because I need to feel him there. “Everything okay while I was gone? Next time, I’ll get you a private office so—”
“Otto is great. Drake here was nice enough to keep us company while he waited for his lunch delivery.” She gives him one of those killer smiles I remember from the before time. “Thanks again for the company.”
“Absolutely.” He grins, getting up himself. Then, like an afterthought, “Hey, give me your number real quick. I’ll see if Melissa is still looking to fill that position and put you guys in touch.”
There’s no way she’s going to fall for that shit. Sure, she’s already bought his bull about lunch. The guy’s probably got a bologna sandwich at his desk. But Nora’s way too smart—