Stick Play (Boston Bucks #4)

8. Ash

8

Ash

W hat the ever-loving fuck is my dad doing at Gina’s café. I tear off my glove, tap on the window, hard, and his head lifts. “What are you doing?” I ask even though I’m sure he can’t hear me through the glass.

He gives me a wide, innocent look—but I know him well enough to know he’s up to something and that something is no good. I shake my head, and swear to God if he’s messing around in my life, and of course he is, I’m going to strangle him.

My gaze leaves his and meets Gina’s as she walks toward him. Her steps slow, and when her eyes go wide with worry, I remember I have two tissues shoved up my damn nose. Dad just shakes his head at me, barely worried, because it’s nothing he hasn’t seen before.

Gina comes running to the door as the kids press their lips to the window and blow. They’re laughing and joking and Tate is practically falling over from exhaustion, as the door flings open and Gina stares at me in shock.

“Ash. What the heck? Are you okay?” She rubs her arms as a gust of cold wind rolls down the street.

“Yeah.” The only thing hurt is my pride. Okay, and my nose. It fucking hurts too, but I’m too embarrassed to admit it. That’s what I get for acting like a big kid, but dammit, the sledding looked fun.

She steps closer, her head bobbing around as she examines me. “Is it broken?”

“No. Yes. I don’t know.” I’d broken my nose before, numerous times, and it always hurt like hell. Probably more than it hurts right now. I touch it and wince. “I don’t think so.”

“Come in, come in.” She ushers us all in, and the kids kick the snow off their boots before they trudge inside, bringing a burst of cold air with them. The delicious scent of coffee reaches my nose and I guess that’s a good sign that I can still smell…and breathe.

“I want hot chocolate.” Tate’s eyes are drooping in their sockets and I’m a little worried he’s going to faceplant on the floor any second.

Gina points to the corner. “Yes, you three grab a booth and get out of your wet coats.”

They all collapse at a table, and Gina calls for Carla, asking her to bring three hot chocolates and a glass of water with ice.

She examines me again going up on her toes, and her breath is so warm on my face, it makes me sleepy, and aroused. “What happened?”

“A bump happened,” I grumble, more focused on my grinning father than Gina’s concern. He’s going to hear about this from me when we’re alone. What does he think he’s doing anyway? When I went to his place and he wasn’t there, I should have known he was up to his meddling ways. I never should have called him last night to let him know I had to stay over at Gina’s.

He wipes his mouth with his napkin and stretches his arms over his head, like he’s not in a hurry to go anywhere. Seeing me with a nice woman and a handful of kids is all he’s ever wanted.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“Ash,” Gina scolds. “He’s a customer. Can you remove those tissues so I can have a look.” She takes my arm. “Actually here. Sit down.” She guides me to the table beside my father’s and starts lightly pressing my nose.

I try to jerk away. “It’s fine.”

“Stubborn.” Dad chuckles. “Told you so.” He leans toward me, to examine my nose.

“What’s that?” Gina asks, her eyes narrowed in on me, as she picks up a napkin, and dabs it in the water Carla just set down.

Dad taps his head. “Hardheaded.” He laughs. “Must get it from his old man.”

As soon as the words leave his mouth, Gina’s head lifts. I stare at her, and the moment her eyes go wide, I realize she’s put two and two together. “Yeah, that’s my dad.”

“You’re…Ash’s dad?”

“The one and only. Who knew I’d run into him here today.” He narrows his eyes. “I don’t think it’s broken. Not like when you were playing street hockey and ran into that street sign.”

I refuse to let him change the subject. He knew damn well he’d run into me here today, and I’m not letting him off so easy. “Give it up, Dad.”

“Give what up, son? I simply went out for a walk. You know I love my walks, and saw this café. I thought I remembered you once told me it had great food. Thought I’d check it out for myself, and I’m happy to say you were right.” He winks at Gina and I grumble at his blatant nosiness. “Great company too.”

“Out for a walk?” I arch a brow but the movement hurts my nose. “Is that why your truck is parked down the road?”

He gives a sheepish look. “Saw that did you?” He taps his head. “Getting senile. Must have forgotten I drove.”

There’s not a damn senile thing about him. “Yeah, and since when do you walk ten miles?”

“I drove for a bit and then jumped out and walked the rest of the way. Slipped my mind.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Gina says, hands up, palms out and all eyes turn to her. “Grant is your father?” Her gaze goes back and forth between the two of us. “I thought there was something familiar. I should have guessed.”

“He’s my father and he’s here sticking his nose into my business—where it doesn’t belong.”

“If I remember correctly, you called him earlier wanting to know where he was. Doesn’t that mean you were sticking your nose into his business too?” She winks at my dad. She actually fucking winks at my dad, like they’re co-conspirators. What the hell is happening in my life?

“That’s right,” Dad bursts in. “Right mad that I wasn’t home where he left me. All up in my business, wasn’t he, Gina?”

“That’s the way I saw it.” She leans into my dad. “But that’s a good thing because it’s nice when family worries, right Grant?”

“Yeah, you’re right.” He turns his attention to the corner table. “Those your kids?” he asks and stands. “I thought you only had one.”

“I do, the one in the corner.” Gina gestures with a nod to Zoe, who is tugging on the braid I’d put in her hair this morning. I did a damn fine job of it too. I’m a man of many talents . Okay, no time to be thinking of talents Gina appreciates when your dad is watching, dude. A boner is the last thing I fucking need.

“I’m babysitting the other two for a friend,” Gina explains.

I grumble under my breath, and I’m about to tell him it’s time for him to go home, when he crosses to the kids, and drops down next to Tate.

“Gina,” I begin.

“Let’s just get this nose taken care of and then we’ll deal with your dad, okay?”

“Fine.”

“Do you want to tell me what happened?” She carefully washes my nose, and I wince as she runs her finger along the bone. “I don’t think it’s broken. We can go get an x-ray to make sure, though.”

“No, I’m good, and don’t worry, the kids weren’t hurt.”

She inches back and her eyes meet mine. “I wasn’t worried about that. They look completely exhausted and happy. It’s you I’m worried about.”

My stupid heart pounds a little harder in my chest. It’s crazy that I like that, right? Didn’t I say I wanted to take care of her and now here she is, worrying about me, and taking care of my stupid fucking nose.

She fills a napkin with ice, and gently holds it to my nose. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”

“No,” I grouch.

“Mommy,” Zoe burst out as she comes running over, bending to try to look up my nose. “He went on my sled, and he didn’t fit, and he hit a bump and he punched himself in the face with his knees.”

Gina stifles a laugh and I glare at her. “It’s not funny.”

“No, not funny at all.”

“You’re visualizing it, aren’t you? Me on a small kids sled with my knees at my chin and then ‘punching’ myself in the face.”

“No, but I guess technically it’s kneeing yourself in the face.”

“I’m going to get you a cinnamon roll. They always make me feel better.” Zoe darts into the kitchen and when she’s out of ear shot, I reach for Gina’s arm.

“You’re fucking laughing,” I say my voice low, for her ears only as I pull her toward me. Her hair falls forward, framing her beautiful face, her eyes bright with laughter as she bites her lips to keep them from curling upward. Jesus Christ, it’s all I can do not to kiss her. But with everyone watching, that would send the wrong message and forget about the kids getting the wrong idea, my dad would cling to that like dryer lint to cotton.

“How about we get the kids upstairs. I actually think they could all use a nap.”

Zoe comes running back with a plate of cinnamon rolls. “Here you go Ash, this will make you feel better.”

“Thanks,” I grumble and accept it. I carefully bite into one. “You’re right, Zoe. I do feel better.”

Gina waves her hands. “Okay, kids, time to head upstairs.”

“Why don’t you go ahead, too?” Carla suggests. “Andre and I can finish up here, and lock up.”

“Are you sure?” she asks, already going for the ties on her apron.

Carla leans in. “I think you have your hands full.” She gives a playful wink full of mischief. “And if they aren’t, they should be.”

“I’m right here,” I say, and Carla lets loose a laugh and throws a tea towel over her shoulder as she walks away.

I catch Gina’s eye. “I thought this was supposed to be a secret.”

“It is, she’s only speculating.” I look around her.

“She’s not the only one,” I grouch.

Gina follows my gaze, and grins as my dad plays some game where he holds his thumb up and index finger out on one hand, doing the opposite on the other and switching. The kids keep trying, only to fail, cause it’s damn hard and took me forever to get it.

“I like your dad. He’s really nice.”

“Yeah, well, be careful or the next thing you know he’ll be wanting to walk you down the aisle. He likes to meddle in my life.”

She laughs. “Nope, not going to happen.” She crinkles her cute nose.

“I should have left him in Colorado.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“I know.”

She laughs. “Come on, let’s finish these upstairs.” She picks up the plate of cinnamon rolls. “Come on kids. Time for a nap.” They all grumble about not wanting a nap as Gina ushers them toward the stairs. She stops and glances back as I walk toward Dad, who’s tugging on his coat and hat. “Grant, would you like to come up for a cinnamon roll?”

I groan under my breath, and Dad smiles at her. “That’s a lovely offer, Gina, but I must get going, though. I have an errand to run.”

Gina makes her way up with the kids, and Dad grins at me. “I can see why you like her.”

“Dad, I’m helping out a friend. She was stuck in a bind.”

“A bind? Like with ropes?”

“Oh, my fucking God.” His playful grin tells me exactly where his mind has gone and no I’m not going there with my dad. Sometimes I wonder who the adult is in this relationship.

Dad puts his hand on my shoulder. “No need to cuss, son. I get it, you were helping her out with the kids. Lovely kids they are, too.”

“Yeah, lovely. Why don’t you head home, and I’ll come have dinner with you tonight. I’ll grab us something. How about Italian from that little café you like?”

“I think this is my new favorite café. Gina packed me chicken pot pie to go. Besides I don’t want to take you away. Seems like you’re needed here.”

“You’re not taking me away from anything. I help out during the day while Gina is working and now she’s not working. I’m free to do whatever I want.”

He snorts out a laugh and pokes my forehead. “If you’re choosing to spend that free time with me, maybe you might want to check to see if you have a concussion. You did take a hard hit in your last game.”

“Dad, you know?—”

He waves his hand and cuts me off. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Head in the game, no complications.” He takes a step toward the door. “Although it might be a little too late for that.” Whistling like the damn cat who ate the canary, he walks out the door with a little more pep in his step.

As I watch him go, my heart pinches. Honestly, all the man wants is to see me happy, with a family and kids of my own. After his heart attack, I promised him I’d give him what he wanted. Those words were spoken in the heat of the moment, when I thought I might lose him. Now, after the stunt my ex pulled, and with my coach down my neck, I reneged on that promise. Who can blame me, and again, even if I wanted something more with Gina, she made it perfectly clear she wasn’t going down that path again.

Before I head upstairs, I follow my dad out. One, to make sure he makes it to his truck okay, and two, to make sure he actually goes to his truck and doesn’t go snooping around.

“You don’t think I can find my way to my truck?” he accuses.

“I don’t think that at all. I just forgot something in Gina’s car.”

He grumbles, knowing the truth and once he’s safe in the cab of his truck, I walk to Gina’s car, and fuss around in the back seat, pulling out some random toy. My father rolls his eyes at me as I head back to the café. I understand he likes his independence, and I knows he loves the relationship we have, and he realizes that I simply care about his well-being. He just likes to grump about it.

On the sidewalk, I run into Callie. Or rather she runs into me, literally. I slide my hand around her waist to keep her upright when she slips and nearly lands on her ass. “Whoa, are you okay?”

“I was hoping to run into you.”

“Looks like that happened.”

She laughs, and I note she’s still not wearing a coat. Does she realize she’s no longer in California? “My grandmother told me about a local Scottish pub, Kilting Around. Want to join me for a drink?”

“Oh, I can’t.” I glance over my shoulder as Dad pulls from the curb. “Having dinner with my dad tonight.”

She pouts. “Be careful, Ash…” her gaze goes to the café and I follow it, and spot movement in the upstairs window. Was that Gina? “…or you’re going to be old before your time and tied down playing bingo.” She laughs, turns, and gives a little shake to her ass as she heads back to her grandmother’s. “Another time then.”

Once she’s gone, I head inside the cafe and go upstairs. It’s quiet when I enter the apartment. I walk to the kitchen and find it empty. Whispered voices from down the hall reach my ears, and I tip toe, stopping outside Zoe’s bedroom door. I find Tate fast asleep in one bed, and Gina reading to the girls in the other, both of them desperately trying to keep their eyes open. I guess I really did wear them out on the hill. I stifle a yawn. I could probably use a nap too.

I’m about to step away when Gina’s eyes lift and meet mine, and as I take in the warm, cozy image before me, it triggers something deep inside, awakens something long ago buried. What the hell is going on with me?

It’s wrong of me to get involved with a single mom. Getting tied down with her when I’m supposed to be staying away from women? Out of the question. Let’s face it. Lessons learned have taught me women don’t stay, and if they do, it’s only until they get what they want from you.

Why then do I suddenly feel like playing bingo?

Maybe Dad was right. Maybe I did take a hard hit to the head last game.