5. Sawyer

Chapter 5

Sawyer

It’s weird coming to the arena in the middle of the afternoon on Saturday, but I guess I shouldn’t complain about the fact that we have an early game today. It’s somewhat rare for the Aces to play in the afternoon, and equally rare that I’m in bed before midnight on a game night, so it’s a win-win.

But I’m also still not used to not having to panic about finding a sitter for Jake while I’m at the game. Granted, it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since Violet moved in, but even so, it’s going to take some time to adjust to having her there all the time. Not that I’m not grateful. It’s such a weight lifted to know that no matter what I have going on, planned or otherwise, Jake will be taken care of.

So, yeah, maybe Reese was on to something—although I know if I tell him that, it’ll go straight to his head.

I park my car in the designated area for staff and players, then head inside the arena wearing my usual pre-game suit and tie. Most of my teammates are already in the locker room gearing up when I enter, and I hurry to join them. I’m peeling off my tie when Reese strides into the locker room and catches sight of me.

“Ah, just the man I was looking for. How are things with Violet so far?” he asks with a beaming smile.

I can’t stop myself from grinning back. “Jake is head over heels with her already.”

Reese chuckles, running a hand through his blond hair. “Yeah, that sounds about right. I told you, bro, I haven’t met a person yet who can resist my sister’s charm.”

Violet’s easy smile drifts through my mind, along with the bright, airy sound of her laugh. She’s so enthusiastic about everything, and the way her eyes light up or soften as she talks to Jake is already one of my favorite things about her. She’s a great role model for him, as eager to explore the world as he is, but with a gentleness and empathy to her personality that’s just what he needs in his life. In a lot of ways, it’s hard to believe that someone so perfectly suited to spending time with my son just fell into my lap.

I haven’t thought at all about the vibrator that fell out of her bag as I was helping her unpack.

Okay, that’s a damn lie .

I’ve thought about it at least once an hour since it happened, questions that I will absolutely never ask her filtering through my mind. How long has her dry spell been? Has it been anywhere near as long as mine? And what the hell did she mean about a bucket list?

What’s on that bucket list?

Forcing my mind away from those thoughts for at least the dozenth time, I nod to Reese. “She and Jake have been getting along great. She’s going to be an amazing nanny for him, I can already tell.”

Maxim Federov perks up on the other side of the locker room where he’s sitting and lacing up his skates. “Wait, Violet’s in town?”

“Yeah, she’ll be here for the next few months until her new job in LA starts,” Reese explains. Then he frowns, narrowing his eyes. “But don’t go getting any ideas. You know you’re all forbidden from flirting with my sister.”

Maxim’s face flushes. “For fuck’s sake, that’s not why I?—”

“Sure it wasn’t,” Reese cuts him off with a teasing smirk, and Maxim’s face turns bright red. The rest of us laugh.

“Typical older brother behavior,” Theo says with a devious grin. “Overprotective and paranoid.”

“Hey, what can I say?” Reese holds up his hands. “We Suttons have superior genes. We’re hot commodities.”

“Bro, I don’t know if you’ve realized this, but Callie is obligated to tell you that kind of stuff,” Theo fires back, and the locker room erupts in laughter. Even Maxim is chuckling, despite his red face.

“Alright, alright. Focus up and get ready,” Noah says, raising his voice to be heard over the banter.

We all head out onto the ice a few minutes later to warm up, and as I skate toward center ice, I spot Violet and Jake in the crowd. They’ve got rink-side seats, and when Jake sees me, he stands in his chair and cups his hands around his mouth to call out something that I can’t quite hear over the rest of the noise in the arena.

Regardless, I skate up to the glass and bump my fist against it several times in greeting. Violet grins at me, and Jake throws his head back in laughter. He loves coming to see me play, but he doesn’t get to do it very often because the games usually run past his bedtime, and it’s hard to find someone I trust to bring him to the arena.

That’s another unexpected perk of Violet’s relation to the team.

“We brought something for good luck,” she calls through the glass, holding something small up in her free hand. It’s a four- leaf clover. “We found it outside when we were hanging out before the game!”

I give her a thumbs up. Jake is wearing one of the jerseys I got him earlier this season with my name and number on it, although he’s already outgrowing it a bit. And when I realize she’s also wearing an Aces jersey, my heart skips a beat—until I realize it’s Reese’s number emblazoned on it, not mine.

It’s silly, and I know it is, but a desire to see her wearing my number flashes through my mind momentarily before I shake it off.

Once our warm-ups are finished, we return to the locker room where Coach Dunaway gives us a quick speech, and then it’s back onto the ice. As we form up across from the Diamondbacks for the first puck drop, I take a few deep breaths, getting myself into the right headspace for the game.

The Diamondbacks are the second-best team in our conference after us, so this won’t be an easy win. But I feel confident going into the game with Jake in the stands, and who knows? Maybe the clover Violet brought will actually bring us some luck.

The ref blows his whistle, sharp and piercing, and the puck slaps against the ice as the rink turns into a chaotic blur of bodies all vying for it. I stick to the defensive line, the only thing standing between the Diamondbacks and Grant. But I don’t have much to worry about right now thanks to Theo, who’s already streaking across the ice with the puck firmly in his possession.

The Diamondbacks’ goalie is no match for Theo, who sinks the shot like it’s the easiest thing in the world. And embarrassingly enough for the other team, that’s how the whole rest of the game goes. Noah and Theo take turns scoring on them, and although the Diamondbacks manage to sneak one goal past me and Grant, we still finish the game 4-1.

The Aces fans in the stands show their support, even if it wasn’t a particularly exciting game, as we leave the ice. I hurry to change out of my gear and shower, eager to get to Jake in the family lounge. He’s going to be so excited, and I can’t wait to celebrate with him.

I don’t see him when I first enter the lounge, but that’s mostly because everyone in the room is taller than him. But he spots me and comes tearing through the small crowd of people.

“Daddy!” He jumps into my arms.

I catch him and spin him around in a circle, laughing at his excited expression, then plant a kiss on his forehead. He climbs onto my shoulders, where he sits with his legs dangling down my chest. Violet walks over to us, smiling and laughing.

“Great game. You all dominated out there tonight.”

I grin, unable to keep the slightly cocky expression off my face. “Well, they can’t all be nailbiters, right?”

She chuckles, her hazel eyes dancing. “Right. Jake and I had a blast.”

“I’m glad. And I think your good luck had a lot to do with our win. Was that your idea, bud?” I ask, craning my neck up to look at him. He nods eagerly.

“I found the clover in the front yard, and Ms. Violet said we should pick it and bring it to you.”

She beams. “It was adorable, honestly, but don’t let him give me any credit. It was all his idea.”

“If we have you to thank for that blowout, then I think celebratory burgers are in order,” Noah says as he comes up behind us and tickles Jake, making him squirm on my shoulders. “Assuming that’s okay with you?” he adds, glancing at me.

“Sure.” I hoist Jake off my shoulders before his excited squirming can make him topple off. “The Hideout?”

That’s our usual spot for post-game food and drinks, and since it’s technically a restaurant and not just a bar, I’m allowed to bring Jake—although it’s rare that I do, since he’s usually at home and I’m usually eager to get back to see him.

“Sounds good. Meet you all there?” Noah asks.

“You got it.”

We split up, since Violet drove her own car to the arena when she came with Jake. He sticks with me, although I can tell he’s genuinely torn about it, which speaks volumes about how much he’s bonded with Violet already.

When he and I pull up outside The Hideout, I wait in the car for a minute to make sure she arrived safely, and when I see her parking a few spots ahead of us, I open my door and get out, then help Jake out.

Noah and Theo are already there, with Margo and Becca by their sides, and they all greet Jake enthusiastically as soon as we enter. Noah scoops him up, settling my son on his shoulders the same way I did earlier as we make our way over to an empty table.

The guys all love Jake, and they’ve always been sweet to him, even though they don’t get to see him as much now that he’s in school. Noah and Theo re-enact their various goals and plays for Jake, giving him a first-person play-by-play, rocking him from side to side on Noah’s shoulders like some sort of roller coaster ride as Jake laughs.

The rest of our team filters in to join us as we settle in—or most of the team, anyway. I think Reese has some event for Callie’s school tonight, so he’s not here. And Grant is absent as usual, probably back at his place reviewing game footage or something. I swear, that man never fucking stops. It pays off in his game play, since he’s one of the best goalies out there, but sometimes I worry that he works too hard. Maybe it would be good for him to lighten up a little.

Then again, I’m probably not one to talk. Between keeping up with a professional hockey career and raising a kid on my own, I’m not exactly the lightest, most happy-go-lucky guy in the world either.

We all order food and drinks, and I get some onion rings for Jake since they’re his favorite. Everyone is in a great mood, and although I’m not drinking because I’ll have to drive Jake home in a bit, when I glance around the table and see that most of the glasses are close to empty, I stand up and announce, “Next round is on me!”

That elicits a few cheers from my teammates, and I make my way through the growing crowd in The Hideout as I head up to the bar.

I’m resting my elbows on the old wooden bar, waiting for the bartender to finish the batch of drinks he’s making, when something brushes against my arm. I turn to see a woman standing right beside me, and when she notices me looking at her, she flushes.

Her long, dark auburn hair is pulled into a stylish ponytail, and her acrylic nails are painted a deep blue color. She doesn’t have the usual look of a puck bunny, but the interest that flares in her eyes lets me know immediately that she recognizes who I am.

“I’m so sorry,” she says, resting her hand on my arm. “I didn’t mean to bump into you. It’s my first time here, and I had no idea this place got so crowded.”

“Yeah. It can get pretty busy on game days.”

I give her a polite nod, taking a subtle step to my left to put a bit more distance between us. Unfortunately, someone on the woman’s other side elbows up to the bar at the exact same moment, giving her the perfect excuse to move even closer to me.

“I’m Scarlett,” she says, tilting her head to the side a little and gazing up at me through her lashes. “And you’re Sawyer Townsend, right?” She laughs, pressing a hand to her cheek. “Oh god, it’s so embarrassing that I know that. I’m not a stalker or anything, I swear. I’m just a big Aces fan, and I really love the way you play.”

“Thanks.” I nod again, glancing around for the bartender. It’s not that I’m unaware that she’s hitting on me, and it’s not that she’s unattractive. If I were Maxim—or Noah, before he met Margo and lost interest in every other woman on the planet—I’d probably be flirting right back.

But I’m just… not interested. I’m not interested in dating or hooking up at all, really, and certainly not with some woman I just met at a bar while my son eats onion rings in the corner.

I turn my body more fully toward the bar, but Scarlett doesn’t seem to pick up on the hint. She moves in even closer to me, resting her arm on the bar in a way that shows off her ample cleavage.

“You know, I’ve never really believed in fate,” she tells me, leaning closer to speak into my ear. “But I almost didn’t even come out this evening, and if I didn’t, I never would’ve met you. So it seems to me that?—”

“Hey, babe.”

Another feminine voice—one I recognize—speaks from nearby, and a second later, Violet steps up beside me, wrapping an arm around my waist familiarly.

“Uh…” I blink down at her, startled into silence.

“I thought I’d come up and see if you need help carrying the drinks back to the table.” She grins at me, then rests her free hand lightly on my stomach as she tilts her face up, an unmistakably flirtatious look on her face. “Well, that and I just missed you.”

“You… uh…”

Jesus, Townsend. Say something intelligible .

Violet doesn’t wait for me to catch up. She just turns to look at Scarlett, and although the bright smile on her face doesn’t waver, there’s a tiny edge to her next words—a bite of possessiveness, the way she might have if she were defending her territory.

“Who’s your friend?” she asks.

“Oh, this is…” I have to swallow before I can continue, but it doesn’t quite clear the rasp in my throat. Violet’s entire body is pressed nearly flush against mine, and it’s making my brain short-circuit. “Uh, this is Scarlett.”

“Hi.” Scarlett’s seductive expression has faded away, and she gives Violet a weak smile as she leans back a little, clearly having gotten the unspoken hint. “It’s nice to meet you. I was just about to grab a drink before my friends meet me here—oh, actually, there they are.”

She waves to a group across the bar, and I have to press my lips together to keep from grinning. I’m honestly not sure if she knows them or not, but she’s clearly looking for a graceful escape from this situation.

“It was nice to meet you,” she tells me lamely before slipping away through the crowd.

Violet and I watch her go, and unconsciously, my own arm wraps around Violet, holding her against my body for a second. Then I realize what I’m doing and quickly let go. She does the same, stepping back from me, although I swear I can still feel the warmth of her palm where it pressed against my stomach through my shirt.

“I hope that was okay,” she says, laughing softly. “I actually was coming over to help you carry drinks back, but then I saw the absolutely miserable look on your face and figured you could use a rescue. I didn’t get in the way of your game or anything, did I?”

A laugh bursts out of me, and I shake my head. “No. I have no game. You can ask any of my teammates. And that was…”

Fuck, what was it? And why did I like the feel of her body molded to mine so much?

“It was appreciated,” I finish gruffly, glancing away as if I’m worried she’ll be able to read my thoughts through my expression.

Thankfully, the bartender finally has a free moment, so I put in the drink orders, trying not to inhale too deeply as Violet and I stand side by side to wait for them. Her scent, some intoxicating mix of almond and cherry, filled my nostrils when she wrapped her arms around me, and I have to fight back the urge to drag in another lungful of it.

When the bartender slides the drinks across the bar to me, I slap some cash down on the shiny wooden surface of the bar and then turn to Violet, giving her what I hope like hell is a normal smile.

“Thanks for the assist with the drinks. And—” I gesture with my chin in the direction where Scarlett disappeared. “With that.”

Violet smiles, and I notice for the first time that her lips tilt up a little higher on one side than the other, giving her smile an adorable quirk. “Anytime.”

We make our way back through the crowd, both of us holding several glasses, and when we reach the tables where my teammates have gathered, we’re met with raucous applause. We distribute the drinks, and when we take our seats, I’m careful to leave a bit of space between me and Violet.

I truly am grateful that she came to my rescue—and a little surprised that she picked up on my discomfort so quickly—but it’s messing with my perception of her even more. She doesn’t seem like just “Reese’s sister” anymore, and as much as I’ve been trying, it feels impossible not to be aware of her now in a way that I wasn’t before.

In a way that I never would’ve allowed myself to be before.

Thankfully, she ends up sitting at the opposite end of the table with Jake, Margo, and Noah, leaving me with Becca, Maxim, and Theo at the other. Before long, I get dragged into a discussion about our next game with my teammates, but not even our easy banter can distract me from the memory of what it felt like to have Violet in my arms.

And that?

That could be a very big problem.