War (Boston Bolts Hockey #3)

34. Tyler

THIRTY-FOUR

TYLER

“How are things with the wife?”

Fitz and I have been watching film of Seattle to prepare for our next game. Brooks too, but he just stepped out to take a call. Goalies are some of the most dedicated players in hockey. They play far more than the rest of us. We’re subbed out every few minutes, but Brooks typically plays an entire game, and the stress is nothing short of incredible. That’s the reason I choose to do extra sessions with them when it doesn’t conflict with my own training. Every moment I spend with him makes me better at what I do and who I am.

Might be an odd choice for my birthday, but knowing I have to see Dory tonight has made it impossible to relax. I swear if she so much as looks at Ava the wrong way, I’ll lose it.

“She’s good.” I try to scrub the smile off my face, but it’s no use. “She met me for lunch. I swear I could sit across from that woman day in and out and be entertained. She keeps me on my damn toes, that’s for sure.”

Fitz chuckles. “I hear ya. Mel is like that. I could hang with her all day, every day and never get bored.”

“It’s special, right? I can’t help but feel like this isn’t normal. But then I think of you and Brooks and Aiden. We’ve all found women who are truly fantastic. Fuck, are we lucky assholes. ”

“You’re not wrong.”

I lean back on the couch in his office, legs spread wide. “How are things with Declan?”

Fitz’s already happy expression grows giddy. He’s so gone for his best friend. Probably always has been. “Grumpy as ever, but he smiles a fuck ton more now that Mel has moved in.”

“Does it bother you? That you have to be in Boston so often and the two of them are there?” I don’t think I could handle it. It’s bad enough that I have to travel as much as I do. I’d hate to be away from Ava or the kids even more.

Fitz shakes his head. “It would definitely be easier for me to stay in my apartment in Boston when we have early practices, but fuck easy. I drive home to them every night. I don’t remember the last time I stayed overnight at my apartment.” He chuckles. “That’s a lie. We had a sleepover here when Dec and Mel came to the game last month.”

Head tipped back on the couch, I huff. “Don’t want to know what the fuck you three do for your sleepovers.”

He laughs. “Right, because you’re such a saint.”

“Am now.”

He shrugs. “Guess we’re all changed men.”

“Speak for yourself,” Hall calls from the hallway. Folding his arms, he leans against the door. “Happy birthday, Cap.”

With a chin dip, I reply. “Thanks.”

“What are we doing to celebrate?”

Fitz’s chair squeaks as he falls back against it and barks out a laugh. “It’s funny you think you’re invited.”

“The fuck?” Hall groans.

“Don’t get him all worked up.” I rough a hand through my hair and grimace at Hall. “I’m having dinner with my family. We can celebrate in Seattle.”

Between one blink and the next, Hall’s sour attitude disappears. “Fuck yes. You’re actually going to come out for once?”

I side-eye Fitz. “If he does.”

Our coach rolls his eyes. “Fine.”

Hall is pumping a fist as Brooks returns, looking at him like the kid has lost his mind .

“He’s excited about having a boys’ night in Seattle.”

Brooks grunts. “Good luck with keeping Sara from showing up.”

“Sara can come. She’s more fun than you.”

My comment earns me the middle finger. See? This is why I came here rather than going home to relax alone. These guys are my family. Even if things go to shit tonight, I know I’ve got my kids, my guys, and the only woman I’ll ever need by my side.

“This isn’t awkward at all,” Brayden hisses out of the side of his mouth.

Ava is pacing around the kitchen, pretending to fluff the dish towels while Dory and my father sit in the living room watching Josie, who’s showing off what she learned at ballet this week.

“I think I’ll go check on Scarlett,” he says as he points to the stairs that lead up to where Scarlett, who is teething and whimpered through dinner, is already asleep.

I grab his arm so he can’t leave me alone in this purgatory. This was a bad idea. Dory has all-out ignored Ava since they walked in. She hasn’t said a negative word to her, though, so there’s that, I guess. If not for Josie’s nonstop chatter about ballet during dinner, I’m not sure we would have made it through the meal. If we can get them out of here without incident, I’ll count the evening as a success. Especially if it ends with me between Ava’s thighs.

The music playing in the living room comes to an end, and Dory and my father clap. “Okay, fighter. It’s time for bed.”

Brayden checks the time on his phone—eight p.m.—then eyes me. “Real smooth, man. It isn’t obvious at all that you’re trying to get them out of here.”

Before I can rough my knuckles over his head and give him shit for his snark, my father stands.

Instantly, a little of the tension drains out of me. Almost there. Just have to get them to the door, and then we’re home free. Josie doles out hugs, and then she turns to Ava. “Can you tuck me in?”

Ava runs a hand over her head. “Sure can, love bug.”

“Actually,” Dory says. “Brayden, can you take Josie up? I’d like to talk to Ava before we leave.”

My stomach plummets. Shit. We were so close.

For all his shit talk, Brayden looks at me for permission. With a small nod, I give him the okay. It’s better that we don’t put him or Josie through this. I can only imagine what Dory has to say.

Instinctively, I reach for Ava, motivated by the need to protect her. Her hand is shaking as I tighten mine around it. Dammit. Why the fuck did I put her in this situation?

“Xander says you won’t return his phone calls,” Dory starts.

My blood pressure spikes. Xander has been calling my wife? Why hasn’t Ava told me that he’s been bothering her?

My father nods toward the front door. “Son, why don’t we let them talk alone?”

Shoulders back, I lift my chin and eye him, then his wife. “I’m fine right where I am.”

Dory’s lip curls in a sneer. “You never could figure out when you were unwanted.”

My wife sucks in a breath so harsh, it sounds like a hiss, and suddenly, rather than cowering, she’s standing tall too. “What did you just say?”

Dory rolls her eyes. “This doesn’t involve you, Tyler. Go with your father. We both know that’s what this is about, after all.”

“What what’s about?” I take a step forward.

With an arm extended, Ava pushes me back slightly, kind of like my mom used to when she’d have to hit her brakes a little too hard. It’s protective. Loving. For a moment, I’m unable to move. My heart pounds out a warning that I need to protect her, but the pressure of her hand on my chest tells me she’s got this.

“You’re so worried about what I did or didn’t do to your son,” Ava says, her tone fierce. “But what about what you did to your husband’s son? ”

Wearing a snide smile, Dory tilts her head. “And what did he tell you I did?” She looks down her nose at me—a feat, seeing as how I’m close to a foot taller than she is—like I’m worthless. It’s how she’s always looked at me. “I took care of him when no one else would have put up with him. Tyler was a difficult child, and his hobby was ridiculously expensive. Do you have any idea the sacrifices we had to make so he could become this ?” She waves at me like I’m still nothing but a disappointment. “Meanwhile, my son is the one helping Chandler run his business.”

“I think we should say good night and talk about this another time, when we’ve had time to cool down,” my father says, grabbing Dory by the elbow.

My father may disappoint me, but I’ve never been angry at my father for his shortcomings. Tonight, though? Tonight I’m pissed. His wife came into my house and talked down to my wife, and all he has to say is let’s talk about this another time ?

“What you did,” Ava says, her attention returning to the original question Dory posed, “was nothing.” She lifts her shoulders and lets them fall. “You did nothing for your husband’s son . A boy who lost his mother.” Her voice cracks. “A boy who just wanted a family. You’re a disgrace. So don’t speak to my husband unless you can show him some damn respect. And love. Because that’s what a family does. They love one another.” Ava looks at me, her eyes full of emotion. I swear I can see it there. How she truly feels. My vicious wife is fighting my battles for me instead of fighting against me. It’s one more version of her I adore. The list of things I love about her just keeps growing. It’s a problem. I’ll likely get my heart broken because I’m not good enough for her, but god, I can’t force myself to protect my heart.

I grasp her hand, which is still flat against my chest, and squeeze it. Then I look at my father. “I think you should leave.”

With a screech, Dory smacks his arm. “Say something.”

My father blinks like he’s not sure how the hell things turned out like this. Then he sighs. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Tyler.”

Still gripping his wife’s elbow, he leads her toward the door. All the way, she argues with him. It hurts watching him leave with her. It hurts even more that he didn’t stick up for me or even try to understand. But I’m used to his indifference .

“I’m so sorry,” Ava whispers a heartbeat after the door shuts.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“I should have let her come at me, kept the fallout there. She’s not wrong. From the outside, it looks awful, how I jumped from Xander to you.”

Cupping her cheeks, I rest my forehead against hers. “No one has ever stood up for me. That was beautiful, Ave.”

“What?” She rears back, frowning.

I press my lips to hers. “It was hot, you being vicious for me like that.”

Lips curling, she huffs a breath. “Really?”

“Yeah. You’re unbelievably attractive when you yell at me. But fuck, yelling at others for me? That’s a whole new level of sexy.”

She giggles. “You’re a little insane. You know that, right?”

Lips pressed together, I nod. “Stupidly so when it comes to you.”

She brushes her mouth over mine, the kiss soft and far too short. “I know we started in a strange way, but I’m really glad I’m your wife. Proud, even.”

Warmth floods me as I drink her in. Damn, I think I believe her. “Good, because you aren’t getting rid of me.”

With a grin, she pushes her pinky between us. “Pinky promise?”