Chapter Twenty-Seven

Trevor awoke to something bouncing on his bed, snaking up the covers and plopping right down next to him, breathing heavily. He couldn’t help but smile, keeping his eyes closed, and felt small hands on his face.

“Daddy,” Gabrielle said, dragging out the vowel. “Wake up.”

“Nope,” Trevor said, turning his face back into the pillow.

Gabrielle sighed loudly, shifting and draping herself over his back. “Please? Nana says she’s making pancakes.”

The last was said with a touch of reverence. She wasn’t wrong; Donna’s pancakes were legendary, and Trevor’s stomach rumbled at being reminded of such greatness. Grinning he quickly rolled over, reaching up to grab Gabrielle and tickle her gently, hearing her shriek and giggle as she tried to wiggle away.

“Stop, Daddy,” she gasped, almost kneeing him delicately.

Lifting his hands to her head, he kissed her temple and gave her a tight squeeze. “If Nana’s making pancakes, I should probably get up?”

Gabrielle nodded eagerly, her hair mussed from sleep and Trevor ran his hands over the loose braids.

“After breakfast, I can fix your hair.”

Another nod. “You make the best hair.”

Smothering a laugh at her turn of phrase, Trevor lifted her down to the floor. “Tell Nana I’ll be right down.”

Immediately, Gabrielle turned on her heel, yelling for her nana. Trevor snorted, and tossed back the covers, rubbing his hands over his face. He hadn’t slept for as long as he would have liked, but he felt refreshed enough that the idea of Nick coming around left his heart clenched in anticipation rather than apprehension. The good kind, he supposed, padding through to the bathroom.

Staring at himself in the mirror, Trevor was more appreciative of what he found there than he had been. At least the bags from under his eyes had disappeared. Washing his face and going through his morning routine, Trevor couldn’t wipe the smile from his face. It wasn’t just because Gabrielle was suddenly treating him like she had before Nick had left, but also because of Nick.

Maybe things between them could have gone down a little better, but enough time had passed that Trevor could appreciate Nick was right about certain things, and that maybe he should have stood by his own doubts about being with Nick when he was the employer.

There was still the potential for things to go wrong but Trevor hadn’t made it to the NHL by giving up at the last minute.

“Dad-dy!” Gabrielle’s yell, broken by irritation, pulled Trevor from the bathroom and into the bedroom, tugging on a clean t-shirt and some sweatpants as he did. It wouldn’t hurt to get dressed up a little after breakfast, but Trevor was still in his lounging morning attitude, so he jogged downstairs, trying his best for apologetic when he caught sight of Gabrielle in the foyer, hands on her hips, looking supremely unimpressed. Trevor’s heart clenched for a whole different reason and he thought of Gabrielle’s birthday coming up, and the fact that she would be four soon enough and would be heading off to Pre-K.

When she’d appeared on his doorstep, holding hands with Trevor’s lawyer, he hadn’t expected to fall in love with her quite as fast as he had, but even though she was only three, he was caught with the speed she’d leave it, growing up faster than he could keep track of.

Lifting her up into the air with a little throw, Gabrielle laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. Trevor held on tight as he carried her through to the kitchen, planting kisses all over her face.

“Stop it,” she said, planting both hands on his face. She was giggling, gasping when he almost walked into a wall, but she didn’t make any move to lift her hands away.

“Help me, Nana. I can’t see!”

His mom sounded amused when she said, “How will you get breakfast if Daddy can’t see?”

Gabrielle made a considering noise and then pulled her hands away. Her toothy grin was fast becoming Trevor’s favorite, and he planted another kiss on her nose before sitting her at the table.

The pan was already sizzling on the stove, and Trevor rooted through the cupboards and drawers for cutlery, plates, and Gabrielle’s cup.

“What juice do you want this morning?”

“Apple,” Gabrielle replied immediately, watching the goings-on in the kitchen with rapt attention. “Mr. Nick says it’s good for you.”

Trevor looked at his mom in time to see her raised eyebrows, but he didn’t bite. Thanks to Bess, he knew his mom already knew, and he didn’t want to have that conversation in front of Gabrielle. “Does he now?”

“Yep.” Gabrielle took the beaker, lifting it carefully to her mouth. “Are we going to see him soon, Daddy?”

Trevor debated whether to tell her while he held out a plate for the first batch of pancakes. He could make up an excuse, get her and his mother out of the house, and he was torn between being fair and protecting Gabrielle from getting her heart broken. “I dunno, baby. We’ll have to see, all right?”

Gabrielle’s pout was in full effect when Trevor placed her breakfast down on the table, but thankfully, just nodded her head and grabbed her fork.

His mother looked unimpressed with his diversion, apparently picking up on the fact that he was keeping something to himself. Waving her off, knowing he would have to talk to her once Gabrielle was occupied, he grabbed his own plate and sat next to her, making faces every time she looked up.

“Can I go and watch some TV please?” Gabrielle pushed her plate away, fork resting neatly against the side.

Trevor pretended to think about it. “You have until Nana and I have finished the washing up, okay? Then we have to go get some clothes on.”

Letting out a little cheer, Gabrielle slid down from her chair and ran into the living room.

“So,” Donna said immediately, as Trevor knew she would. “Gabrielle told me she’d talked to Nick last night.”

“I already know,” Trevor said, waving a hand. “Bess messaged me during the game. So what if he did call?”

His mom frowned down at what was left of her pancakes, clearly trying to find something to say. She always chose her words carefully, didn’t want to intentionally hurt her children and Trevor usually appreciated it. Right now, he needed her honest opinion. Not because he wanted her to change his mind, but because he needed to know, if he argued against her, then he was certain of his own feelings.

“I know you care about him,” she said eventually. “But you need to be sure before you let Gabrielle get re-attached. I don’t want to see her hurt.”

“You said you didn’t believe Nick and I would intentionally hurt her,” Trevor protested. “That hasn’t changed just because we’ve had a conversation. He’s coming here today to talk, and I didn’t tell Gabrielle that. I want to protect her, Mom. I’m not going to let them get together until both Nick and I are certain we’re at the point we need to be.”

His mother nodded. She swallowed the last bite of pancake and then nodded decisively. “I trust you, Trevor.”

Trevor hadn’t realized how much he’d needed to hear it until she said it, and he sighed, rubbing at his face. “Thanks.”

“Hey,” Donna said, drawing him around and tapping him under the chin. “You’re an adult. Whatever mistakes you make are on you, but I know you love that little girl in there. I trust that you’ll do whatever is best for her.”

“Yeah,” Trevor breathed, and closed his eyes, relishing the comfort she was offering.

“I’ll take Gabrielle out for lunch,” his mother offered and picked up both her plate and Trevor’s. “Text me when Nick’s gone – or if he’s gonna be here,” she said the last with a raised eyebrow and Trevor really didn’t want to address that, “and I’ll sort something out with her.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Trevor gestured for the dishes. “I’ll do that.”

“You’ll be doing plenty after I’ve gone home,” Donna said with a grin, and Trevor snorted, making a face at the prospect of all of the chores in his future. Not that he would have preferred having Nick around to do everything, but it had been a weight off.

Pulling his phone from his pocket, Trevor brought up his message chat with Nick.

Trevor: Mom’s taking Gabby out for lunch. You can come whenever you like. Hope you’re still all right with coming.

It didn’t take long for Nick to answer and Trevor hoped it was because he had been waiting.

Nick: I’ll be there in about an hour.

Simple and to the point. Trevor’s heart did a little skip and he swallowed thickly. The last time he’d been this nervous was when he’d slept with Nick that first time, despite it being so good. That thought put a smile on his face and he tapped his phone against the counter.

“I’m gonna get Gabrielle dressed.”

In the living room, Gabrielle was stretched out on the floor watching TV. Trevor had told her time and again not to watch it that way but was never listened to. He shut off the TV and at Gabrielle’s betrayed look, he gestured over his shoulder.

“Come on, get dressed.”

Gabrielle frowned, not looking pleased, but pushing herself up to her feet anyway. “All right.”

“Nana’s taking you out,” Trevor said, placing a hand on the top of her head as he guided her out to the hall. “Then you’re going for lunch.”

“I can’t spend the day with you?” Gabrielle said, pouting, fisting a hand in Trevor’s sweatpants. “You’re not playing today.”

“I know, baby,” Trevor said, feeling like a dick. It was going to be difficult, juggling Nick with Gabrielle and not hurting either of them, but if he wanted this to work, it was a necessary evil. “I only have practice tomorrow so how about a whole day of just you and me?”

Gabrielle seemed to weigh whether this was an acceptable tradeoff as they walked upstairs, brow furrowed and worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. “I suppose.”

Trevor huffed a laugh and guided her into her room. “I know it’s hard,” he said, taking on a more serious tone as he sat on the edge of her bed, pulling her onto his knee. She toyed with the collar of his shirt, not looking him in the eye. “I haven’t been around a lot because of hockey, but I promise I’m gonna be better, all right?”

“It’s okay, Daddy,” Gabrielle said, though her eyes were wet, and she didn’t look all right at all. “I know you have to play hockey.”

Trevor sighed and wanted to make things better for her, wanted to make sure she was never sad again, but it wasn’t something he could promise. It wasn’t the easiest thing to deliver, though he had always told himself she would have the life she deserved.

“I know it’s been bad for you,” he said, trying to put it in terms she would understand. “I want you to be happy.”

Gabrielle didn’t answer straight away, still playing with his t-shirt, but eventually, she smiled, leaning her head on his collarbone. “I am, Daddy.”

It wasn’t as believable as it could have been, but that just made Trevor want it for her more. He would deliver that, at least.