My dad had married a few years ago. She was sweet, and she loved my dad. I hadn’t seen him that happy in a long time. As long as he was happy, so was I. It took him three months of dating her to tell me about it! I think he was nervous I wouldn’t approve, but I didn’t mind. He was a grown ass man living on his own, he needed to find someone.
When Bishop and I walked into my dad’s home hand and hand, I thought B was going to pass out.
“Why are you freaking out? It’s just my dad. You’re making me nervous!” I say as we walk up to the apartment door. His hand is in mine, and it’s sweaty.
“Because your dad is going to kick my fucking ass, that’s why.”
The entire ride over here he hadn’t said a word to me, that’s how nervous he was.
“Hey, look at me,” I say softly, turning to face him. He stops walking and sighs, but he doesn’t look at me. So I reach up and grab his face, forcing him to meet my gaze.
“Do you love me?” I ask.
“More than anything,” he replies with zero hesitation. It makes my head spin with happiness at how sure he is of his love for me.
“Then my dad isn’t going to kill you. He just wants me happy, B. You know that,” I assure him. I bite the inside of my cheek, as he reaches up to tug on one of my curls. Slowly he leans down placing a kiss on my forehead.
Once we reach the front door and I knock, I think Bishop is ready to pass out. I squeeze his hand for reassurance, and when my dad opens the door I grow nervous as well. What if he doesn’t approve? Is the age gap too much for him? Would he make me choose between him and Bishop?
He leans on the door frame, looking at our interlocked fingers, and then to Bishop’s face. Then he looks at me. There is no emotion on his face, I can’t read him. My fingers twitch as I jump to explain ourselves, but I don’t get the chance.
“Well it’s about fucking time. Now stop standing there and come inside so I can grill Bishop about his intentions with my daughter.”
Apparently our attraction wasn’t a secret to others around us.
A smile stays on my face as I watch Bishop tug on Dalia’s curls playfully, and my heart warms. I could cry at the happiness my life brings me. Bishop is the best daddy in the world. He spent three days on YouTube learning how to braid. Do you understand how many times he watched those videos? And now Dalia doesn’t even like her hair braided.
He was her hero and he would do anything to make her happy. I could not ask for anything more in my life than I have right now. I ended up surrounded by the people I was always supposed to be with. My career was great, my husband loved me, and my little girl was happy. You can’t really ask for more than that, can you?
So looking back on everything, knowing that this started because a boy and a girl who loved hockey. We didn’t have the most conventional start. It wasn’t a once upon a time, but we did get the happily ever after.
This time, fate got it right.
*Buzz* *Buzz*
I pull my phone from my pocket, answering it with a quick hello.
“I don't care where you are. Or who the fuck you are with. I need you at my house in the next twenty minutes.” My brows furrow together.
“Riggs, what’s wrong?” I say quickly, looking at Bishop and waving my hand towards him, meaning we have to go right now. He picks up Dalia, and Anna walks off to pay. Bishop, with Dalia in his arms, walks towards me.
“My water fucking broke! There is water everywhere, and I’m in a damn robe. I can’t find fucking anything. I swear to God, this child is going to be the death of me and she isn’t even here yet!” she cries into the phone. I can hear her waddling around her house, and I hear things falling. I assume she is throwing things.
“And where the hell is your husband?” I question, Bishop is still staring at me with concern, and Dalia is playing with his hair.
“In fucking Canada getting ready to play!” she seethes. I hear her say a few more cuss words. “I hate fucking hockey, fucking hate it.”
I guess they meant what they said,
All is fair in Love & Hockey.
THE END