“Mom, are you sure?”

She sounds frail on the phone, and I feel selfish for even asking her to come to the game.

“Yes,” she assures me. “I’m fine, I swear. See, I didn’t want you to be worried about me. I just had a fall. Then, the doctor was worried about a blood clot, and I had to have a few tests. But, I’m just here resting. Your father refuses to leave my side. Tristan, are you there?”

“Yes,” I say, my throat thick with emotion. I’m trying to take it all in, everything she’s saying. First, I lose my nanny—which isn’t such a fucking loss considering what she did, but still—and now my mom is sick.

I have a game in three days and my head’s fucking spinning. I can’t do this. “Mom, I think I should come home…”

Before I have a chance to say another word, she scoffs at the notion. “No way. You’ve got to get to Colorado and make us proud. Remember when they said Tristan Wright couldn’t make a comeback? You showed them that you could, and we’re so proud of you for that.”

I want to tell her the truth—that it’s not just about her fall. That I have no one to look after the kids. They should be going to school, but there’s no way that I can send them home alone.

But, to put that on Mom right now would be low, even for me. And completely, utterly selfish. What a fucking mess. “Mom, just keep me in the loop as to how you’re doing, okay?”

I can practically hear her smile on the other end of the phone. “Tristan, you go make us proud, and I’ll see you soon. Okay?”

I nod. “Sure. Love you.”

She hangs up, and I slump against the bathtub, wondering how and what I’m going to tell my coach. I need to get out of here. My kids didn’t come first last night. But they sure as hell will today.

* * *

There’s a knock on the bathroom door, and I look at the time. Shit, we should be getting ready to head down to breakfast and out of here.

“Come in.”

Faith’s dark eyes appear as the door creaks open slowly. I’m sitting on the edge of the bathtub, but I stand up immediately at the sight of her, feeling silly about the way I’ve treated her to date. I don’t even know her, and already I’ve left my kids with her, taken advantage of her kindness, and then offended her by offering her money.

“The kids are ready to go to breakfast. I need to go.”

I’ve been such an asshole to her, and yet she’s still looking after my kids, going above and beyond when I’ve shown little appreciation. “Sure, of course. We really need to be going home, too.”

She shuts the door behind her, locking us in the tiny space together.

“But you have a game in Colorado. How come you’re going home?”

I find her statement a bit strange. She lives in Boston. I thought she’d follow her home team, not the opposition.

“I know, but there’s no one to look after the kids since Isobel…” I can’t even say it out loud. “Since she did what she did. I need to put those two first.” A sigh escapes my lips. “I shouldn’t have left you with them the way I did last night, Faith. I know that. And I’m sorry. I really do mean that. It was an asshole thing to do. Especially when I didn’t even thank you for looking after them during the game, seeing as Isobel couldn’t be bothered to do it herself.”

She nods her head, and I can’t read her expression. “From what I’ve been told, it seems like Isobel wanted to get with you, not look after your kids.”

“Who told you that?”

“Darcy.” She grins, as if she knows my daughter as well as I do.

“I just thought Darcy’s overactive imagination was running away with her,” I admit, sheepish.

She shakes her head. “Seems not. Guess that’s why it was so easy for Isobel to run out on them.”

A hollow laugh bubbles up in my throat. “I caught her in my bed once, but I just thought she made a mistake with the rooms in our house. I decided to sleep in her bed because of it. Shit, I’m so blind.”

Faith points to me, an eyebrow arched high. “You caught her in your bed, and you didn’t think something was wrong then?”

Now, I feel like a complete idiot. “I just didn’t—”

“Tristan, if you want help, then I can help you out.” The offer is out of her mouth quickly. “Dad can mind the concession stand. I’m sure my aunt would help him out, so I can stay with your kids until you play your next game.”

I take a step closer to her. Where the hell did you come from?

I don’t even know her, and yet she put my kids first even when I stupidly didn’t, and brought them to the hotel and stayed with them. Now, she’s standing in front of me in jeans that hug her hips in all the right places, fresh-faced and not needing a hint of makeup because of her natural beauty, offering to help me again despite how I’ve acted up till now.

Maybe I’m just emotional, but I lean forward, gently pressing my lips against hers. She gasps, and her chest heaves, but she doesn’t protest about the kiss or try to push me away. My hands find her arms at her sides, holding her there with only a featherlight touch, and I bask in the electric-like heat that emanates between us.

The chemistry between us is so strong that, one moment I’m just kissing her, feeling her lips against mine, and the next my face is crushed against hers, my tongue exploring her mouth greedily.

I can’t remember the last time I kissed a woman like this, and I worry that I’m rusty or made the wrong move. But Faith’s reaction is anything but disappointment, and she wraps her arms around my neck, letting my tongue tease her mouth desperately.

She’s kissing me back as she moans softly against my lips, letting me know she wants this just as much as I do. Then, without warning, there’s a thump on the bathroom door. It opens just as Faith pulls away from me. Darcy’s on the other side, her head peeking in at us with a suspicious eye.

The look brings me back to reality, and I grin at her. “Good news, Darcy. Faith’s going to babysit you and Ferguson for a little while.”

I steal a glance over at Faith, and she’s still trying to get over the kiss as the kids barge into the little bathroom, wrapping themselves around her hips and legs. She presses her fingers to her lips, as though she can still feel my mouth on hers, then gazes over at me and smiles.