Page 27 of Scoring Chance

“You can have five,” Des says.

“Can I be Agent Thunder?”

“Sure.”

Lulu pats my face. “Are you still my real daddy?”

I pull her close. “Always, bug.”

“And Des is like…my pretend daddy?”

Des squats down in front of her. “If that’s okay with you.”

She beams and wraps her arms around his neck, a moment of sweetness amid this chaos that squeezes at my heart.

I blink, a little stunned by how easily that just happened.

“Are we gonna have pretend holidays?” Dean asks, bouncing now. “Because I’ve got some ideas. I think we should have a pretend Christmas once a month.”

“Keep dreaming,” Lena says.

“It’s hard to dream when your perfume is choking us,” Davy shoots back.

Lena squirms on the couch arm. I didn’t want to say anything. She’s been wearing a lot lately. She’s fourteen. New to high school. Trying new things. Makeup, perfume, new hairstyles. It’s all new terrain for me that makes me wish her mom were still here. Katie was effortlessly gorgeous, and she’d know the right shade and style and scent for our daughter. I feel so out of my depth with Lena, and this fake marriage will only magnify that.

“What do you think?” I ask her. “Honestly.”

“I think it’s kinda weird, Dad. Uncle Des is now my dad. He’s going to be living here? How long is this going to be for?”

“Only a few weeks⁠—”

“At least through the end of the year.” Des cuts me off. His eyes meet me, letting me know there’s a reason here. I don’t question it.

”Do I have to tell all my teachers that I have a new stepdad?” Lena asks.

“No.” I truly hope this lie does not spread that far. “Only if anyone asks, which they shouldn’t. And Uncle Des won’t be here for long. A few months.” I rub her shoulder. Lena is wise beyond her years. I’m grateful that my first born turned out so mature. She’s been through so much, and she’s handled it all with grace.

“You’re asking us to lie.” A gotcha smirk comes on her lips.

“It’s for a good cause?” I offer a weak smile. It’s the best I got. “One day, when you get older, you’ll value having good health insurance.”

“I’ll try to keep the others in line,” she says, always looking out for her siblings.

Des points at her, something he’d do on the ice when I scored a goal. “Thank you. I’m buying you a car when you get your license.”

“Des!” I turn back to Lena. “No, he’s not.”

He mouths yes I am to Lena. She nods once, not exactly approving but not storming out either. Which, from a fourteen-year-old, is high praise.

“You’re all cool with this?” I ask, checking in with each of them. “Really?”

Davy gives two thumbs up. “Des can help me prepare for the hockey traveling team tryouts. I’ll have two coaches at home.”

“You’re so delusional,” Lulu says with an eyeroll. I assume that’s a yes.

“Dean?” I glance at my son.

“It’s Agent Thunder,” he says with a wink.