Page 149 of Ruin The Friendship
“I have no idea what that means.” I stride over to Lydia and lean in for a kiss. “Want me to take her?”
Lydia shakes her head. “No, she is going to want more, I think. Can you make a formula bottle? I don’t think my boobs are doing it for her right now.”
“Of course. Two ounces?”
“Please.”
I kiss her one more time and head into the kitchen to make the bottle. A minute later, I’m back in the nursery, but instead of handing Lydia the bottle, I reach for Thea. “Let me. Go take a shower, or rest.”
Lydia nods, passing Thea to me. I take my little bundle into my arms and help Lydia slowly stand. She winces a few times and walks slowly out the door while I sit in the glider. I put the bottle to Thea’s lips, and she starts guzzling it down immediately.
Before Lydia leaves the room, she stops in the doorway, turning around to face me. “I missed your call before the game today.”
I glance at her, furrowing my eyebrows. “You did, but you were sleeping. I talked to my little ladybug instead.”
“Do you call me before every game for a reason?” she questions curiously.
A chuckle bursts through my lips. “You really never figured itout, did you?”
“No?”
“You’re my good luck charm, Lydia Ward.”
She scoffs. “No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. I call you, or when you’re at the game, I have to talk to you somehow before every game, because something about hearing your voice makes me play my best. I can’t say goodbye, though. Only see you later or talk later. If I say goodbye, it messes it all up. It started back in college, and when I noticed a pattern, I stuck with it. Can’t do a game without it. Well, until today, that is. Our little girl stepped in and did a phenomenal job, if you ask me.”
“So, what you’re saying is, I’m your superstition?”
“Yep. Not your average superstition, but it works for me.”
“You still lose games, though.”
“Yeah, but I play better if we talk. It’s a thing, baby. Go with it.”
“Alright.” She laughs. “Well, if it works, it works. I’m going to shower.”
She walks away, leaving me alone with our daughter. “I don’t think Mommy gets it, but it’s okay. You do, don’t you, my ladybug.”
64
ONE MORE CHANCE
FLETCHER
The locker room is silent tonight, a quiet focus and calm falling over the space. We lost the last two away games in overtime, and the game the day before yesterday. If we lose tonight, we’re done. I rub my hand over my growing beard in an attempt to slow my racing heart.
I just got off the phone with my girls, and I need to get into the right headspace, but the only place I’d rather be is at home with them. Maybe Crowley was onto something when he retired early to be home with his kids. I shake off the thought before it takes root. I’m not ready to retire, no matter how much I want to be at home with them. I still have years left in me.
Do I want to win the championship? Of course. But it hurts being away from them. I’ll never get these moments with Lydia and Thea back. She’ll never be this small, and I dread missing even a second of it.
I turn my focus away from them and toward the men in the locker room. I stand, calling for their attention. “Alright. I know we’ve had a rough few games, but I wanted to say afew words. We are all ready for this game, and win or lose, we’re a team, and we are in it together. Never forget that.”
Each of my teammates nods and claps. Calvin lets out a whoop, and the rest of the team follows until everyone is on their feet, cheering and hollering. We all have a pep in our step now as we head out onto the ice for warm-ups.
Habitually, I skate to my favorite spot on the ice and glance up, a pang of disappointment sinking in my chest knowing that Lydia isn’t in the crowd. She wanted to come tonight, but there was no way she could have. She’s still in quite a bit of pain and isn’t ready to bring Thea out into the germ-infested world quite yet. Neither am I, to be honest.
In the suite is Zoey with her fiancé, and Grace with her parents, Mabel and Stan. My mom is home with Lydia, of course. Trigg’s family is watching at home in Norway. It feels good, knowing we have everyone’s support.
