Chapter 18 – Breaking the Ice Novel (Easton & Caroline) Free Online

“Hey, guys, did you hear that?” Cedric shouted gleefully, getting everyone’s attention. “Big E, here, is treating us tonight. Eat up and enjoy!”

Cheers went around the table. I sighed. I’d known my time was coming. Kaden and Steele had already covered a couple bills. My turn. Next year we’d have our shot at torturing the next group of rookies.

Cedric and Rush raised their hands to get the waitress’s attention and ordered steak and the best Scotch in the house. I rolled my eyes, even as I was resigned to my fate.

When I turned my attention back to Ice, he was scrutinizing me with one of his patented intense expressions.

“How’s Avery doing? I notice she’s not here tonight,” I asked, hoping to shift the subject away from my bad night. Ice’s wife was a horse trainer and a really nice, down-to-earth person. She was also my cousin Coop’s sister-in-law. He was married to her sister.

Ice looked around and lowered his voice. “Can you keep a secret?”

“Yes.” I hid my astonishment that he was confiding in a lowly rookie.

“She’s pregnant. Only a few people know. We’re not ready to announce it yet. Anyway, she isn’t feeling too good tonight.”

“Wow, dude, that’s cool. The baby on the way, that is.” I hoped he didn’t notice the odd tone in my voice. Seven years ago, I would’ve been the one announcing to my teammates that I was having twins. I frowned, unable to visualize how such an announcement would go down among my teenage hockey-playing cohorts. They’d have either congratulated me or told me to pray for my sanity while kissing any chance at an NHL career goodbye.

Maybe things had worked out for the best in the long run. The odds would’ve been stacked against me when it came to having a successful professional hockey career while supporting twins and a wife. Hell, I’d had two years left in high school. Most likely, I would’ve been forced to quit hockey, and possibly high school, and gone to work at the local grocery store or something, and our marriage would’ve failed within the year if I’d married Caro.

Ice beamed at me, and he rarely beamed at anyone. “Yeah. Our first. Pretty damn excited about it.”

“I can imagine.” He had no idea. “Congratulations, man.”

“Thanks. Being a dad is probably going to be the toughest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”

“Yeah, I’m sure it is.” I wasn’t being patronizing. I believed what he was saying based on my short experience being a father.

He winked at me. “Later.” Ice stood and walked over to Cedric and Rush, leaving me alone with my own thoughts regarding parenthood.

I was a father.

I had to behave like one and set a good example. I had two little lives depending on me. Looking up to me. Maybe even idolizing me. A thrilling yet scary thought. I’d idolized my firefighter father. He’d walked on water and was invincible in my eyes until that fateful night when he’d gone into a burning apartment building to rescue a baby. He’d handed the baby out the window to a waiting firefighter just before the roof caved in on him. He’d died a hero, but he’d left a heartbroken mother and three children behind. God willing, I’d always be there for my kids.

What kind of father would I be compared to mine? I’d been ten when he’d died. He’d played junior hockey but never been good enough for the big leagues. My mom had played college hockey, so my brothers and I came by our talent naturally. I recall my dad being gone a lot, but he’d devoted time to us whenever he was home. Juggling firefighting and fatherhood had to be a challenge, just like juggling hockey and fatherhood.

Losing my father at ten had made a lasting impression on me, probably in more ways than I realized. Kids had a tendency to blame themselves no matter how crazy that might be. For a long time, I wondered if there was something I could’ve done to make him stay home that day. He’d covered a shift for another guy. He wasn’t supposed to be working. I’d learned early in life the mortality of those you loved, and I’d avoided close relationships from that point on other than my family. Yeah, I’d had the same college girlfriend for three years, but we’d stayed together out of convenience, not necessarily a deep, burning need for each other. I’d needed Caro way more, despite our short time together.

My mom had never remarried, never been interested in another relationship. She often declared that my father had been the love of her life. She’d been lucky enough to find a good man once, and she wasn’t messing with her perfect record.

What effects would losing Mark have on my kids long term? Did they feel guilt like I did and blame themselves or even their mother? Was there anything Caro and I could do to help them through it? I truly had no fucking idea. I was ill-equipped for fatherhood.

I scanned the crowd and found Brick. He’d found out a few years ago he was a father to a little girl. Brick had been the ultimate party boy until Macy appeared on his doorstop—literally. She was a figure skater too. He doted on her and was constantly showing anyone he cornered countless pictures of her.

I wondered if picking his brain would make him suspicious, or maybe I should tell him the truth? I didn’t plan on keeping my fatherhood a secret, but I hadn’t figured out when or how to tell the rest of my teammates, friends, and family.

Shoving my chair away from the table, I walked over to where Brick sat with several of the veterans. I wedged a chair between him and Matt LaRue, who was also a dad to two boys. Maybe they’d both impart some advice to a new father.

They shot daggers at me. I was a rookie, after all, pushing my way into their conversation. Not normal or accepted rookie behavior, but I’d never been a rule follower or even cared about shit like that.

“What the fuck, rookie?” Brick growled, while Matt said nothing but cocked his head to indicate interest.

“Sorry, but I need some advice.” I lowered my voice so only they could hear, though I did notice team gossip Ziggy leaning across the table to eavesdrop. If you wanted anything spread to every member of the team, he was your go-to guy. He loved to be in on everything and the guy in the know.

I glowered at him with a silent mind-your-own-business warning, and he smirked at me. Ziggy wasn’t easily intimidated, but that held true of just about everyone on the team, or we wouldn’t be professional hockey players.

“Advice? Take off your skate guards before getting on the ice,” Brick said and elbowed Matt.

“Don’t put your helmet on backward,” Matt laughed. The two of them fist-bumped as if they were fucking comedians. I rolled my eyes.

“Fuck you both. Funny. Really funny. I don’t need hockey advice.”

“You sure as fuck needed it tonight,” Brick pointed out, and I cringed. The goalie didn’t seem to care he’d dealt a near knockout blow. Hockey players were harsh like that. Either develop a thick skin or get out of the game.

I shot him a glare before continuing. “I need dad advice.”

Their smirks slid off their faces in record time, and they gaped at me in open-mouthed disbelief. I’d delivered the ultimate sucker punch. They hadn’t seen that coming.

“Dad advice?” Matt recovered first, shaking his head as if to clear it.

“What kind of dad advice?” Brick choked on the word.

“I found out a few days ago I’m a father to six-year-old twins.”

Brick jerked back in his seat like he’d been slapped. Matt furrowed his brow and continued to stare at me with confusion. I glanced at Ziggy, who was all ears, his eyes as wide as pucks. Great. Within an hour, the team crier would notify the entire team. I ignored him. I didn’t have any other choice.

I dived into the story, telling them what I knew. Brick and Matt listened intently, along with Ziggy and our backup goalie, Jacques, a.k.a. Jock, who’d joined the conversation. Jock had five kids, so he knew a little something about parenting too.

After I finished, the table was silent as my teammates digested the information I’d given them.

---