“What are you doing here?” Grant asked as Sophia led Grant, Lexi, and Abby to a booth Friday night.
“Umm, I work here,” she said, handing Abby a kids’ menu.
Lexi laughed. “What he means to say is that we heard you are dating that gorgeous Hemsworth-looking hockey player and tonight’s the first preseason game, so why aren’t you there? I know I would be.”
Sophia chuckled when her cousin glared at his girlfriend.
“I swear you’re trying to test my limits the way you talk about hockey players,” Grant grumbled.
“Stop it. You know I only have hands for you. Eyes, on the other hand…” she trailed off with a laugh.
“No dessert for you tonight,” Grant said, catching Abby’s attention. “What do you think? We’ll share dessert, and none for your mom?”
“Yes. Or we could each get one,” Abby said, pushing her wispy blonde bangs from her eyes.
“Like mother like daughter,” Grant muttered.
“That’s right. And she’ll be sharing her dessert with me,” Lexi said.
“We’ll see,” the eight-year-old responded, and Grant burst out laughing.
“So, what are you doing here?” Grant asked.
“Becky called in sick, so I said I’d cover her.”
“More like Uncle called and said you had to work,” Grant said.
“It’s fine,” she muttered, wishing she had ignored her phone and gone to the game.
“They’re streaming it online tonight, so we’ll keep you posted,” Grant said, swiping on his phone.
“Thanks. And how did you find out about me and Finn?” she asked.
“Penny mentioned it to me the other day. Apparently, Finn was gushing over you at training camp to the guys,” Lexi said, a wide smile on her face. “They were teasing him that his rehab fixed his grumpy personality along with his foot, so go you.”
Sophia’s face heated. “Umm, well, yeah, we are dating.” And he’d gushed about her? Dammit, she wished more than anything she was at that game. “Well, I’ve got to get back up front. Keep me updated on that score.”
“Don’t let him cut his hair,” Lexi called out, and Sophia heard Grant grumble about growing out his own hair.
Sophia was pretty sure Lexi said something about Grant not having the face for it and Grant firing back about no tiramisu for her. Sophia shook her head, and headed back to the hostess stand, a little lighter in her step. He’d gushed about her. She hated that she wasn’t there to cheer him on tonight. He’d looked so disappointed when she’d been called into work, but she’d promised to swing by his house after the game ended.
***
Sophia spent the next hour getting updates on the score and seating the steady stream of people. Fridays were always busy, and her sister Cat was helping Sophia manage the list of parties since Becky was out.
“Just go back to the kitchen,” Sophia finally said when they were no longer on a wait. She caught her sister looking toward the back of the restaurant more than once. “Joy should be back up front soon, anyway.”
“Thank god. This is so boring,” she said, ditching Sophia before she could change her mind.
Not that Sophia could blame her. Cat wanted to be in the kitchen, and she usually was, as she finished her degree and internship. She never wanted to be jealous of her sisters, but watching Cat head to the kitchen and spotting her father grinning at his middle child as she walked through the swinging door stung more than Sophia wanted it to.
Everyone was following their dreams except her.
Shit. She sounded pathetic, and it was her own damn fault. Not that she regretted what happened with Finn, but she still hadn’t told her family, and every night that she stood behind the hostess counter and they asked her about her job, she smiled and said it was great. For two weeks she’d done that, and for the life of her, she couldn’t explain why she hadn’t come clean.
“I’m back,” Joy said, stopping next to Sophia. “Go eat. It’s slowing down, so I can handle this,” she said, pushing Sophia toward the kitchen.
Her father made her a plate of portabella and ricotta ravioli, tonight’s special, and she snagged two pieces of bread before heading to the office to eat. And maybe watch the game.
“Hey, we’re heading out, but your boy just scored a goal,” Grant said, poking his head into the office before Sophia had a chance to log into the game.
“Dammit. I missed it?” She caught parts of the game throughout the night, and Finn looked great on the ice. All the guys did, but she only focused on Finn. His corners were tight and he wasn’t taking it easy. She witnessed more than one hard hit against the boards tonight, and he’d been giving them and taking them.
He looked steady, and that was the most important thing. He was out there like nothing was wrong with his ankle, and that’s what he wanted.
She found the highlight of the goal, her heart warming when Finn’s arms went up into the air after the goal buzzer went off, and the guys crashing into him in a hug. She’d wanted to watch that live. To see the smile on his face in person as he grinned at the crowd before heading to the bench to tap his glove with all of his teammates.
“I wish I was there,” she said, her heart clenching at the pure happiness on his gorgeous face.
“Make sure you say no next time they try to rope you in when the Strikers are playing,” Grant said.
“Yeah, like that’s so easy,” she muttered.
“Don’t let them overwork you, Soph,” Grant said.
“Who’s overworking you? Is it that doctor? Dr. Anders?” her mother said, coming out of nowhere.
“Ah, no,” Sophia started. Her brain told her now was the perfect time to come clean.
“Yeah, you tell that Dr. Anders to give you a break,” her father said from the hall.
Dammit. She set her phone down on the desk and took a bite of bread to calm her nerves.
“Are they not respecting your time?” her father asked, and she tried not to laugh at the absurdity of him asking that question.
“No. Ahh, so I don’t work there anymore,” she said, picking at the bread on her plate.
“Because you realized that you belong here?” her father asked, but she saw the concern in his eyes.
“No. Because I got fired.”
“You what?” Grant said with shock.
“Why would they fire you? You’re the best employee they have, I bet,” her father said, and Sophia pushed down the tears at his statement.
“Is it because of that boy? The one you had a sleepover with?” her mother asked.
“A sleepover? Who are you sleeping over with, Sophia Marie?” her father asked.
“And that’s my cue to leave,” Grant said. “But if you need anything, you let me know, okay?”
She nodded and watched him slip out of the room. Lucky bastard.
“She’s dating one of the hockey players. Her patient. Oh Sophia, why did you have to date him? This job was important to you,” her mother said, taking a seat next to Sophia, and again, she pushed down her tears. This wasn’t the reaction she was expecting from them.
And that made her pause. Why shouldn’t they react this way? With concern and not judgment. It almost made her want to tell them everything. Everything. But she kept it to her job—or current lack of one—for now.
“I know, but we fell in love. He even told Dr. Anders that when I was getting fired. And yes, it wasn’t the best timing, but it happened, and I don’t regret it. I’m actually thinking about going back to school for a doctorate.” Her gaze darted between her parents, measuring the mixture of shock and happiness, and pride. Yes, her father was looking at her with pride.
“Well, we want to get to know him. Bring him to Sunday dinner this weekend,” her mother said.
“He has an away game this weekend.”
“Then next weekend. We want to meet him,” her father said.
“You guys are taking this really well.”
“Now you have more time to work at the restaurant,” her father stated matter-of-factly.
And all she could do was laugh as he leaned down and kissed the top of her head.
“Now get back out there. It’s getting busy again,” her father said.
“We are proud of you, Sophia. We’ve always been proud of you,” her mother said, and Sophia couldn’t bring herself to tell them anything else. She’d taken a giant step tonight and all she wanted to do was go to Finn’s house and wrap herself in his arms.
“I can’t believe you scored a goal,” Sophia exclaimed as soon as he opened the door later that night. She smelled like pasta sauce, and he was ravenous. He scooped her up, planting a kiss on her lips that had her gasping against him.
“I wish you’d been there,” he said, shutting the door behind her and not letting her go.
“Me too. I promise, next time.”
“And what if they ask you to work again? You have trouble telling them no.”
“They’ll understand. I told them about us tonight.”
“You did? How did that come up?” he asked, walking her into the living room and pulling her down on the couch with him. Bash immediately jumped up, butting his head under Sophia’s hand.
She laughed when he licked her fingers, and Bash sighed as she scratched his head.
Buddy, I know the feeling.
She launched into her explanation, and he squeezed her tighter when she told him about telling her parents that she’d been fired.
“I’m so proud of you for finally telling them, and for telling them about us. I’m not a fan of being a secret.”
“I know, and I’m sorry for waiting so long.”
“And if I didn’t have an away game on Sunday, I would definitely come over for dinner. But I’ll be home the following weekend.” Warmth buzzed through his body as she told him how much she wanted him to meet her entire family, but in the back of his mind, he couldn’t stop thinking about when she was going to tell her family everything.
“Can I just tell you how awesome you looked on the ice tonight? And not just scoring that goal, which was super hot by the way.” She shifted against him, locking her lips with his.
He pushed thoughts of her family and her ex aside. Tonight they were going to celebrate what they’d both accomplished today.
Everything else could wait.
***
The buzzer sounded at the end of the game and Finn followed his teammates off the ice. They’d lost. It was their first loss of the preseason, and even though these games didn’t count, it still stung. Almost as much as his ribs currently did after he’d been drilled into the boards during the second period.
They’d gone the entire first week without a loss and Finn had been hopeful to keep that streak going, but Anaheim had been tougher than expected.
“Crash and Byrne after this?” Sully asked as they ambled down the tunnel.
“Nope, I’m going to Lanzi’s and Sophia’s introducing me to everyone tonight.” He sounded giddy as hell for someone who’d just lost a game, but he was excited, and not just for the food.
Sully hummed the opening lines of “Another One Bites the Dust” and Finn glared at his friend.
“Knock it off, asshole. Your fall will be mighty and I cannot wait.”
“Not happening,” Sully muttered, stripping off his gear as he walked into the locker room.
After a not so gentle recap from Bugsy, Finn rushed through his shower and met Sophia outside of the WAGs room.
“I’m sorry you lost, but it was a good game. They were tough. And that pest,” she paused. “I wanted to jump over the glass and knock him flat on his ass.”
“So violent. It’s kinda hot,” he admitted, and she punched his shoulder. “What? I can’t help it. And now I’m starving. Should we go?”
“Are you sure about this? It’s going to be a lot to take in. We could do this another time.” She was nervous, and he tugged her into his arms.
“Stop. It’s going to be fine. They love you and I love you, so whatever happens, we’ll deal with it.”
“How are you so amazing?”
“It’s a gift,” he teased, and she rolled her eyes. “Now, let’s go.”
Within thirty minutes they were parked in front of Lanzi’s.
“Ready?” he asked.
“I should be asking you that.” She smiled nervously.
“It’s going to be great. Come on,” he said, getting out of the car and grabbing her hand as they walked into Lanzi’s. It had taken him longer to get out of the locker room and everyone had already started to eat. Not the best first impression, and his hands started to sweat.
Shit. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been nervous about anything.
“Hi everyone,” Sophia called out as they entered the back room. Her parents and sisters all looked up. “Sorry we’re late.”
“You must be Eric Finnegan,” her father said, rising from his chair and grasping Finn’s hand as soon as he reached him.
“Hello, sir. It’s very nice to meet you.” Her father grinned at Finn’s wooden voice.
“I’m nicer than she makes me out to be,” he said.
“Don’t torment him, Joseph,” Sophia’s mother said. “Hello Eric. Should we call you Eric or Finn?”
“Either is fine. I’m so used to being called Finn after all these years, but my family still calls me Eric. And it’s very nice to finally meet you all,” he said, the last word coming out in an oomph when Sophia’s mother pulled him in for a hug.
“She’s the happiest I’ve ever seen her, but if you hurt her, it will not go well for you, tough defenseman or not,” she whispered in his ear.
“Mom,” Sophia gasped.
“What? It had to be said. Now let’s eat,” she said, stepping away from Finn and patting him on the cheek before she sat back down.
What the hell had just happened?
Sophia laughed softly. “She has that effect.”
After they took their seats, Sophia introduced him to her sisters, who took turns grilling him about hockey and his teammates, and he wondered if they were hockey fans like Sophia or hockey butt fans. There was a difference. A big difference.
Spending time with Sophia’s family made him miss his own, and he couldn’t wait to get them down here for a game.
Plates and plates of food were passed around and devoured until Finn thought he might burst. And when he said as much to Sophia, she laughed. “I just take bites of everything. And Nathan should be here any minute to polish off the rest. My cousin Grant usually helps him out, too.”
Shortly after dessert came out, a young boy came barreling into the back room. “Nathan, I’m assuming?”
“Yep,” she said, laughing when Grant followed right behind. Sophia made the rest of the introductions and then they settled back in their chairs, her shoulder pressed against his in relaxation.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this content.
***
“Have you seen Sophia?” Finn asked an hour later. He’d stayed in the back room with Grant and Adam, talking about hockey and the team this year, while the family opened up the restaurant for dinner. Sophia had kissed him and told him he could hang out as long as he wanted and then she was taking him home to reward him for being so awesome with her family.
Her words, not his. He might’ve preened at her statement. He had no shame.
“I think I saw her talking to Tony,” one of her cousins said.
What the fuck? Tony was here?
“I’m going to go check on her,” he said, pushing back from the table and leaving the room before Grant and Adam could say anything else.
Finn spotted Sophia near the hallway that led back to the offices, with a man he assumed was Tony. What did that bastard want? He headed toward them, picking up the pace when Sophia shifted away from Tony. Finn couldn’t read her expression. He didn’t need to.
He would kill Tony if the man laid a finger on her. Fuck. He didn’t even want them talking.
Why hadn’t she told him that Tony was here?
“Maybe we should tell our families. Tell them how you kicked me out after we lost our baby. How you never let me grieve for the loss of our child,” Tony said.
Baby? What baby?
Sophia turned in that moment, catching Finn, and panic filled her eyes.
“What baby?” Finn growled, reaching for Tony.
“Finn, stop. I can explain,” she said.
“What baby?” He didn’t miss her flinch. What the hell? When would the secrets and partial truths end?
“That was the final point for me to leave. I’d just found out I was pregnant and he wanted me to move to New York with him. I didn’t trust him around a baby. We fought and he shoved me up against a wall before he stormed out of our apartment. I miscarried the next day. It was early in the pregnancy.”
“And you didn’t think to report him then? What the fuck, Sophia?”
She flinched again, and he hated the panic in her eyes. Hated that she still wasn’t telling him everything.
“That’s when I ended it. I couldn’t protect the life growing inside me. It was the final straw.”
“And you still kept this from your family? Why, Sophia? Why are you continuing to protect him?” he asked, his temper boiling.
“Because deep down she loves me,” Tony gloated.
Finn itched to punch the smirk off of the man’s face.
“Tony, shut up,” Sophia said, her voice pained, then turned back to Finn. “I know I should’ve told them, but Tony was gone and…” she trailed off.
“It was easier,” Finn finished. “But, it’s not easier. You are still protecting him.” Just like his mother protected his father. He couldn’t keep doing this.
“I’m not protecting him,” she said. “I’m going to tell my family. But not here. Not in the restaurant. It’s not the right time.”
“When is it ever going to be the right time? You need to tell them what he did to you. They need to know. They should’ve known after the first time he laid a hand on you. Stop protecting everyone but yourself.”
“That’s not what I’m doing,” she said, straightening her shoulders.
“But it is, and I can’t stay and watch it,” he said, softly, before turning on his heel, and glaring at Tony. “Don’t you touch her again.”
“Finn, please.”
He walked away before she could say anything else, and it killed him with each step he took, but how could she continue to protect that monster?