War (Boston Bolts Hockey #3)

44. Tyler

FORTY-FOUR

TYLER

In the stands on the other side of the rink, Ava pulls Trisha into her arms. My heart stutters at the sight. Of course my fucking wife would befriend Brayden’s mom. That’s the person she is.

When I first spotted Trisha talking to Ava, my stomach twisted itself into painful knots. Trish mentioned that she might come today, but I didn’t tell Bray, for fear of getting his hopes up, only for them to be dashed. She looks good, though. Better than I’ve ever seen her. I just hope she stays this way.

We had a long talk this week, and when she asked if Brayden could stay with me, I jumped at the opportunity, promising that he could stay for as long as she’ll let him. I didn’t expect her to suggest that he remain with me until he graduates, but I can’t deny it’s what’s best for him. Thankfully she knows it too.

Making it through high school can be incredibly difficult for even the most well-adjusted kids. Brayden deserves to feel settled and to know that he can rely on us. One day, I hope Trish can do that for him too, but if she’s offering to allow me to be that person, I won’t turn it down.

I don’t have to ask to know that Ava will feel the same.

Now we just need to make sure Bray’s on the same page.

My wife is understandably quiet when we’re finally setting the table for dinner after the game. We’ve yet to get to talk about her chat with Trisha since the kids have been around, but while the kids are distracted, I corner her. Pushing her up against the kitchen counter, I glide my hands through her hair, tugging like I always do, until her eyes are on me. “Hi, wifey.”

She smiles. “Hi, husband.”

“Did you have a good day?” I press a kiss to the spot to one side of her lips, loving the feel of her skin there as she breaks into a smile.

“Yes. Did you?”

“I got to spend the day watching my guy play hockey, and now I have my wife in my arms, so what do you think?”

She shakes her head, brushing her lips against mine. “You’re a smooth talker, Daddy War.”

I scoff out a laugh. “Not you too.”

“It’s a great nickname,” Bray calls from the living room.

Ava shakes with laughter, the sensation vibrating through me.

“God, I love that sound.”

Her eyes soften. “You going to tell me what’s going on with Bray?”

“You going to tell me what you and Trish talked about?”

She shrugs, but that smile remains. “I want him to stay with us,” she whispers.

I kiss her lips. Fuck. I love this woman so goddamn much. It’s incredible, how in sync we are in so many ways. It’s the best feeling in the world, knowing that I have someone on my team.

“Come on, guys. Dinner is ready,” I holler. Then, with one more kiss to Ava’s lips, I head for the table.

Scarlett’s been crying on and off all day, so I’m not the least bit surprised when Ava sets her on her lap rather than putting her in her highchair. Our girl snuggles into her mama’s chest, uninterested in eating and rubbing her eyes like she’s just about ready for bed.

“So you’ve got a break coming up next week,” I say to Brayden.

“Me too.” Josie pushes closer to the table, her face lit up, demanding attention.

Her constant state of elation hits me straight in the heart. She’s been through so much, yet she never stops smiling. “ I know, fighter. I noticed that Brayden has four days off from hockey, and it turns out that I do too.”

Ava peers at me, a furrow in her brow. “Oh yeah?”

Brayden shrugs, stabbing his fork into a too-big bite of chicken. “Since we don’t have school and a lot of kids will be out of town with their families, we don’t have any games scheduled.”

I arch a brow at Ava in silent communication, and when she responds with a tip of her chin, I move forward. “What would you guys think of coming to my game in Orlando, then heading to Disney for a few days?”

The squeal that Josie lets loose startles Scarlett, but Ava calms her with a gentle kiss. “Shh, it’s okay, my little love.”

Bray eyes me, swallowing audibly. “I saw my mom at the game today. Is this like a goodbye trip? I’m going back to live with her when we get home?”

He’s so skeptical. Fuck, do I get it. Time and again, he’s been let down by the one person he should have been able to rely on. It makes sense that he’d think Trisha wouldn’t put him first this time, and though I wish he could trust us completely, I can’t blame him for worrying that maybe I didn’t really mean it when I said he will always be welcome in our home.

“If you want to go back to Boston with your mom, we can talk about it and figure things out, but if you’re comfortable here,” I reach for Ava’s hand and squeeze it, “we’d really like for you to stay.”

Brayden’s attention drops to our hands on the table, and without looking up, he says, “I’m comfortable here.”

On the ice, he’s incredible. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes pro one day. But right now he is very much a kid who is unsure of just about every aspect of his life.

He reminds me so much of myself it hurts.

“Good. Because this home wouldn’t be the same without you,” I tell him.

“I agree,” Ava says, her smile wobbly but her eyes bright.

“Me too,” Josie adds. “You’re the best big brother ever.”

Brayden finally looks up, giving Josie his first smile .

“What would you think about having your mother over once in a while?” Ava asks.

Brayden pushes back in his chair, those piercing blue eyes swimming with wonder. “You wouldn’t mind?”

“Not at all,” she promises.

With a shrug, as if it’s no big deal, despite how much it means to him, he says, “Yeah, okay. That’d be cool.”

I meet Ava’s gaze, my heart hammering.

“Hey, Jos,” Brayden says, his grin growing. “Did you know that Zombies is made by Disney?”

She pops up out of her chair. “Oh my gosh, can we meet them?”

And with that, Brayden manages to once again turn the focus away from himself. But I don’t miss the big smile he wears for the rest of the meal.

“So Disney, huh?” Ava asks as she walks out of our bathroom, toothbrush in hand.

Damn, I’m a lucky man. My wife stands in the middle of the room in one of my T-shirts, no pants, her gorgeous red hair loose, her face bare, and her freckles—so many fucking freckles—on display.

“You disapprove?” I remove my shirt and toss it toward the laundry basket and miss.

Rather than pick it up, I shuck off my pants and stalk toward her in nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs.

“I don’t—” She shakes her head, clearly having lost her train of thought. “You,” she says, pointing a finger at me. “You’re very good at distracting me.”

I grab her by the hips and pick her up, pulling a squeal from her, then carry her into the bathroom. “I like distracting you.” I kiss her neck. “And fucking you.” A kiss to her chin. “I like just being near you. So yeah, Disney for a few days with my favorite people. That okay, wifey? ”

At the sink, I set her on the counter. Then I pluck my toothbrush from the holder. The two of us stare at one another while brushing our teeth, big smiles on our faces. Even mundane tasks like this are fun with her. I never could have imagined a life like this one.

When we’re finished, she tilts her head, studying me. “How come you didn’t tell me Trisha was the woman from that night?”

With her brush and hair tie in hand, I guide my wife to our bed. Then, once she’s seated in front of me, I gently drag the bristles through her hair.

“I tried. That night.”

Ava peers at me over her shoulder. “You know what I mean.”

I kiss her neck, then get started with the braid. “I honestly didn’t think it mattered. You wrote me off after that, and I was sure nothing would change your opinion of me. I was just happy that you were willing to be their mom. That felt more important than explaining an encounter from two years ago.”

“It would have mattered to me,” she says softly, tilting her face down. “But also, I’m glad I know now. I always hated thinking of the night we met.”

I drop my chin to her shoulder and inhale her sweet scent. “I’m sorry, baby. I really did want to be on that date with you. I’d never been so taken by anyone in my life. Still haven’t. But Bray needed me.”

She presses her back against my chest. “I’m glad he’s staying.”

“Me too. Maybe this summer we can take the kids up to Canada. I’d love to show them where I grew up. Visit my mom’s grave.”

Ava turns now, completely ruining the braid I’ve almost completed. Legs straddling me, she wraps her arms around my neck. “I’d like that.”

“We could visit your family too. I’d love to see where little Ava grew up. Maybe you can introduce me to your ex-boyfriends. I can show off how much better I am than all of them.”

She lets out a little laugh but looks away immediately. She does that any time someone mentions her family. It kills me, not having the ability to make it better for her. It’s like she’s hiding a whole life from me or maybe hiding us from that life. More than anything, I want to have every piece of my wife just like she has every piece of me .

Grasping her chin, I force her to meet my eye. “Hey, Ave.”

She tries to blink away the tears, but I don’t miss them.

I stroke beneath her eye, catching each one as it crests her lashes. “I love you. I’m always going to love you. And I’m always going to want to know you. So when you’re ready to share whatever is going on in that pretty head of yours, I’m right here.”

She blinks like she can’t believe I’ve finally said it. I can’t really either. Only because it feels like I’ve been saying it over and over again to her since the day we met. Telling Ava I love her is as easy as breathing.

“I love you,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to her lips. “I love you.” A kiss to her chin. She lifts her neck, and I run my teeth against her jaw, then nip her neck. “I love you.” She falls backward, her legs falling open for me, her hips lifting, searching for comfort. I glide my hand down her hip and then press my thumb to her clit, rolling it once. She bucks up against it and moans. “I love you,” I tell her over and over as I begin to fuck her with my fingers and then my tongue. Only after she’s come twice do I sink inside her, kissing her slowly as I make love to her, promising that I’m her safe space. That I’ll always be her safe space. And as I come apart inside her, I whisper into her mouth that I’ll always love her. No pinky promises needed. She finally knows I’m a man of my word.