Chapter Twenty-Six

When Trevor’s skates touched the ice, he wasn’t worried about anything except getting the puck into the net. Giving himself over to the screams of the crowd, the yells of his teammates, Trevor did his best to drive the game forward, throwing as many shots as possible at the goaltender. They still had weeks ahead of them on the road to the playoffs, but if they could secure the top spot in their conference, Trevor wanted to be a part of that. Again.

He had a little more to prove this season; a single father with a daughter nobody knew anything about. A nanny attending a game and the speculation that went along with that. He was just grateful that so far in this thing with Nick, he hadn’t managed to get himself into a slump, something he had practice with and wasn’t looking forward to ever repeating.

“Fuck yes!” Pears yelled, slamming into Trevor as one of his pucks sailed past the goaltender’s left shoulder and into the back of the net. The rest of his line mates piled in and Trevor took their congratulations, elation at finally sinking one of his many shots.

Trevor’s face was hurting from grinning so hard as he bumped fists with the bench and looped back out onto the ice. He still had a little more time to go on his shift and settled into his spot for the faceoff, staring down the opposing player who was trying to intimidate Trevor with expression alone. Trevor quirked his lips, both at the assumption that he could be intimidated at all and at the idea that someone on the ice could fuck Trevor up as much as his home life had managed to lately.

Ten minutes later they were talking down the tunnel, one more goal securely under their belt.

“What’s got into you?” Pears asked, looking delighted by whatever it was Trevor was using as motivation.

Though Trevor hadn’t scored again, hadn’t even managed an assist, but he’d had more shots on goal than anybody else. He shrugged, rolling his shoulders to loosen the tension. He hadn’t realized how hard he’d been holding his body. “Nothing. Just playing the usual game.”

“Sure,” Pears said with a raised eyebrow. He let the subject drop though, preceding Trevor into the room. The guys hollered back at him, drawing Trevor into back-slapping hugs. They were only one up, but apparently, Trevor’s attitude was enough to have them yelling for the win.

As long as they carried that out with them onto the ice, Trevor was happy to be the catalyst.

“Peeks,” Jetty said, something he hadn’t called Trevor in ages. “How does it feel to be a one-man team?”

“Fuck off,” Trevor said good-naturedly, bumping his shoulder against Jetty’s. “Maybe I’m just happy.”

Jetty narrowed his eyes, giving Trevor the once over, and Trevor could see the moment he understood what it was that had Trevor grinning like an idiot. “So, you and Nick–?”

“We talked,” Trevor offered, not wanting to go into any more detail than that. “We’ll work it out somehow. I still need a nanny recommendation.”

“About that,” Jetty said, scratching at his nose. “Abby said she’d help out.”

Trevor raised his eyebrows sharply. “Seriously? She already has two kids, Jetty, I’m not dumping a third on her.”

“First,” Jetty said, mock-scowling. “You wouldn’t be dumping Gabrielle anywhere. Kelly and Sadie love her. Besides, it takes someone who knows the hockey lifestyle to understand the last-minute thing.”

Trevor was reluctant to accept, knowing that Abby was already under strain. “I don’t wanna put her out.”

Jetty sighed. “If it makes you feel better, she’s here tonight. You can talk to her yourself, but she’ll say the same thing I am.”

“I’ll think about it,” Trevor promised, knowing he would give in the instant Abby started talking. Jetty liked to think that he wore the trousers in the relationship, but Trevor knew better. Maybe if he could avoid talking to her, he wouldn’t have to make a decision tonight.

Jetty looked like he might have said something else, but thankfully they were due back on the ice and Trevor took the out gratefully, following Haddy and Adam down the tunnel. It was a strange feeling, to be settled but simultaneously nervous about what was to come. He couldn’t help but feel a little worried. Being with Nick had been easy because he didn’t have to date him. They’d gone from friends to sleeping together, and though Trevor had never wanted to be that guy, it had been easier.

If he and Nick were going to make this work and date, there would be moments they would both find it difficult, but Trevor knew ultimately it would be worth it.

He was jolted from his reverie by someone almost stumbling into him. He took a seat on the bench, sliding down it, eyes on the ice as the starting lines got ready for the puck drop.

He wasn’t given the chance to think about anything else but the game over the next two periods. They had to dig hard for the win, the defensemen keeping their goal off-limits, and trying to steal back the puck when they made stupid turnovers. Trevor managed to get another goal and an assist, and by the time the final buzzer sounded in the third period, getting first star seemed like a small thing against the pride in his teammates.

Enduring their cheers and ribbing throughout changing and showering, Trevor was just glad nobody was staring at him strangely. He doubted that anybody would use it against him on his own team, but that didn’t mean they were comfortable with him, or that they weren’t harboring their own prejudices that could drive a wedge between teammates.

Trevor was sure Pears would never let it get that far, but it paid to be vigilant and not have to wait for him to step in. Grabbing his gear from his locker, Trevor gave a wave to the guys, who let out another cheer, and had just passed through the door when Jetty cornered him with a hand to his elbow.

“Going somewhere?”

Trevor let out a sigh, having honestly forgotten Jetty had wanted him to speak to Abby but allowed himself to be dragged to where Abby was waiting, decked out in jeans and a number 10 jersey. He rolled his eyes. “Still choosing this loser to support, eh?”

“You know,” Abby said, waving her hand back and forth. “I’m not always one for favoritism, but I need his help with the kids now and then.”

“You wound me,” Jetty said, clutching a hand to his chest. Then, serious, he nudged Abby. “Trevor wants to refuse your offer of looking after Gabrielle.”

“I didn’t refuse,” Trevor said, holding up his hands at the look on Abby’s face. “Three kids, especially three under six, is a hard ask.”

Abby shrugged easily, adjusting her bag on her shoulder and folding her arms across her chest. “Not a problem,” she said easily. “She and Sadie are the same age, and it will give Sadie someone to play with when Kelly’s at ballet and her other classes.”

Trevor still wasn’t sure it was the right idea. He knew it was mostly because he was afraid of spending less time with Gabrielle than he did now, especially if she spent the night with Abby for convenience. He had to break himself of the habit; being a single father didn’t mean he had to become selfish. What had Nick said? She’d only had the two of them for so long. The Halloween party had been a good chance for her to make friends, and yet she hadn’t spent much time with any of them.

“All right,” Trevor said eventually, biting down the urge to refuse.

“I know it’s hard,” Abby said, stepping forward to give him a quick hug. Trevor was startled but let it happen, hoping his smile was genuine when they parted. “If you’re not happy after a couple of weeks, you can come up with a different solution.”

Trevor nodded. Satisfied with that at least, he let Jetty lead his wife away and pulled his car keys from his back pocket. Hopefully, Gabrielle would be happy with the arrangements, and though Trevor knew she would prefer Nick, not having to search for another nanny was at least a relief.

The drive back to the house was mostly uneventful but given everything that had happened to him during the day, he was relieved to pull into the driveway. His bed was calling, and Trevor wanted nothing more than to faceplant onto it and sleep until the next evening.

There were no lights on in the house and Trevor was grateful that he wouldn’t have to speak to his mom. She would no doubt want to talk to him given Gabrielle’s penchant for talking a mile a minute about everything, including the fact that she would have spoken to Nick on the phone. His mom would be in his corner no matter what he decided, no matter how she personally felt, but that didn’t mean Trevor wanted to hear what she had to say before he had worked through his emotions himself.

There was elation, obviously. Apprehension. Fear. Dropping his forehead to the steering wheel, Trevor let out a groan. After a good night’s sleep, his mind wouldn’t have the opportunity to try and highlight the many ways it would go wrong.

Shaking off his melancholy, he dragged his gear from the trunk and kept as quiet as he could unlocking the door and shutting off the alarm. It was a pain in the ass having to shut off only to reset it, but his daughter’s safety was much more important than worrying over how many times in the span of five minutes he had to think about home protection.

“Getting hung up on stupid shit,” Trevor muttered to himself, heading through to the kitchen. Grabbing a shake from the fridge – and he was going to have to get the recipe from Nick to restock – he leaned against the counter checking his phone. There were a couple of emails, messages from his sisters, and one from Nick.

Bess: Trevor! Mom said you’re back with Nick?

Laura: W H A T

Erica: You better not mess with my niece, asshole

Trevor rolled his eyes. He loved Erica, but sometimes her lack of faith in his ability to do what was best for his daughter was a pain in the ass.

Trevor: I am. As if, Erica. Faith would be nice ☹

Dots appeared almost immediately, and Trevor was surprised any of sisters were still awake.

Erica: Given what she’s been thru, can you blame me?

Bess: You don’t tell me anything anymore ☹

Sending them both a skeptical emoji, he brought up Nick’s message, hoping it was one he wanted to answer with more enthusiasm than his sisters. They meant well, Trevor knew that, but they weren’t particularly tactful or respectful in their phrasing with him. Trevor probably deserved it, but he had been a lot better with Gabrielle in his life.

Nick: Told you you’d be awesome. If you’re not too tired tomorrow, I could come and see you?

Suddenly, Trevor wanted to sleep right through until the next evening. He shot back an agreement and shut off the lights in the kitchen. Bed beckoned, and he was going to be well rested before facing Nick.