24. Tate

Iforce myself not to look at my phone. Keep my eyes on Mallory. After all, she looks amazing. That dress she has on hugs every curve and shows just a sliver of cleavage at the neck. It”s driving me insane. Her long blonde hair is loose and the layers that frame her face hold a delicate wave. She”s wearing more makeup than I”ve ever seen on her, but not in a bad way. Her eyelids shimmer and her skin is kind of glossy. Her eyelashes were thick and dark and they fluttered when I reached down and took her hand as we walked into the restaurant.

I need to focus on her. But when she excuses herself from the table to go to the restroom, between the appetizers and the mains, I yank my phone out of my back pocket and check the avalanche of messages.

There”s a team chat, with my friends from the Quake that has forty-two messages, all about Landon. I scan them all only to learn that we don”t know anything solid yet. He”s awake. They”ve performed a battery of tests on him. His parents have come into town and so has his uncle and aunt. Landon is another second-generation hockey player. His dad and his uncle played around the time my dad did.

Then I scan the sixty-two messages on the family chat. Sixty-freaking-two. My family is nothing if not chatty. But I get it, I have a child. It”s a big deal. And Mom dropped the bomb with a selfie of her, Dylan, and Dad and the words ”Meet Dylan Garrison!” That reminded me, I need to get back to the lawyer with a middle name. Diana never gave him one and I”d like to get one on the birth certificate.

The highlights from the family chat have me smiling despite my concern over Landon.

LIV: Wait. What. Who? HOW?

CALLIE: Honey we had this talk when you were twelve.

LIV: MOM! GOD! I know but TATE?

MOM: It’s shocking but happy news.

DAD: I’ve aged twenty years but, honestly, the kid appears to be worth it.

CON: My mind is blown but congrats Tater.

AUNTIE R: I can’t wait to snuggle him and kiss those fat cheeks!

GRADY: No fat shaming Auntie Rose.

GRAMPS: I’m going to the garage to find Tate’s old baby skates. Grandma says congrats. She’s crying so she can’t type.

THEO: He’s cute. Must get that from the mom. And WHO is that?

DAD: That’s a long story. Tate will explain more in person. After he wins a Cup.

And then the next fourteen messages are Grady, Conner, and Theo arguing about who has better odds than the Quake of winning the Stanley Cup.

I grin and finally break my silence because I haven”t responded to any of this.

Thanks, everyone. There”s a lot to explain, Mom and Dad (AKA Pops and Nan) will fill you all in when they get home. Or you can wait until I get back this summer, with my gf, my son, and the Cup.

CON: GF? That has to stand for gluten-free not GIRLFRIEND.

GRADY: He has a girlfriend too? It’s the apocalypse.

THEO: You are NOT getting that Cup before me, Tater Tot!

“Everything okay?”

I look up and Mallory is sliding into the other side of the booth. I don’t know why I picked this restaurant. I mean the appetizer was good enough. But… it’s fancy. Way fancy. I’m in an untucked, slightly wrinkled button-down and jeans. Mallory definitely blends in but I don’t. And it feels stuffy in here. And too quiet.

“Yeah. Good,” I reply. “Family stuff and checking on any updates from the team on Landon.”

“Anything?” She looks genuinely concerned and I love her for it… I mean not love-love, but…

”He”s awake and they”re running tests,” I tell her. ”Crew says the coach is still at the hospital with Landon”s family who has arrived. They live in San Francisco so luckily it was a quick plane ride away.”

“That’s nice of the coach to stay.”

“They’re family,” I explain. “Coach Braddock played hockey with Landon’s dad and his uncle. They won two Cups together and Landon’s mom is one of Coach Braddock’s sisters.”

“Oh crap.” Mallory looks stricken. “And he was there when his nephew collapsed.”

“Yeah, and so obviously he canceled our afternoon meeting,” I explain. “And the PR team is in crisis mode trying to control the press around this, at least until they know what’s wrong with Landon. So I decided telling them about Dylan can wait until tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I understand.” Mallory nods and brushes her hair behind her shoulder. “I hope he’s okay? You guys must all be so shaken.”

“We are,” I admit and it feels really good to have someone to share this with. Mallory is my rock. I didn’t know I needed one, but now… I can’t imagine my life without her to confide in. “Some of the guys are at our local hangout now, waiting for news together.”

“Where’s that?” Mallory asks.

“A bar called Musica’s down by the beach,” I explain. “The owner, Rich, opens it whenever we get home from a road trip, no matter how early or late. He’s got a bunch of pool tables, crispy wings in forty flavors, and a bunch of the cheesiest nineties movie memorabilia on the walls.”

“Like what?”

“Behind the scenes stuff from movies like Freddy versus Jason and pages from old scripts like Clueless,” I say that movie, and her whole face lights up like a Christmas tree.

She grips the edge of the fancy table. “Clueless? Like Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd”s timeless classic Clueless?”

“I wouldn’t exactly call it that, but yes, that Clueless.”

She gasps. So loudly that a couple of tables nearby turn and stare. She shrinks into herself, cheeks turning pink. I smile at her. “Don’t be embarrassed. These people all look like they could use a good gasp moment.”

She grins. “It’s a very nice place.”

“Yeah…” I shrug and catch her eye. “Too nice.”

She leans forward. “I agree. They have an attendant in the bathroom and she corrected me when I washed my hands, like I used the wrong soap or something. There were six soaps in there. And she instantly refilled the teeny amount I used from the lime one.”

“Lime was the wrong soap?”

”She said I should have used the melon-scented one.” Mallory shrugs.

I lean closer too so now we’re whispering across the table at each other. “Do you want to go see the Clueless script? It has shooting notes on it from the director. And rumor has it Rich also had an outfit worn by the lead. I’ve never asked because…”

“Because you don’t care, because you have horrible taste in movies?” she quips without blinking or a hint of sarcasm.

“Let’s go.” I start to slide out of the booth and she follows.

I feel so much better as I leave a fifty for the food we won’t be consuming and make our way to the front door.

“Tate,” she says as we pull out of the parking lot and I turn the car toward Venice and the bar I know and love. “Am I overdressed? Are your buddies going to be there? Am I going to meet them?”

“No, yes, and yes,” I reply. “Is that okay?”

“If it’s okay with you.”

“Baby girl I am happy to show you off,” I assure her. “Especially in that dress. I can barely look at you you’re so hot.”

I steal a glance and she’s smiling. I reach over and take her hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t mention Emmett. I can’t believe you ran into him.”

“I should be paying attention to my brother’s schedule. And yours,” she replies.

I turn into the parking lot of Musica’s. I recognize a ton of the parked cars. I slip into one of the few remaining spots and rush around the car to help Mallory out. I take her hand and keep holding it even after we walk into the place and every set of eyes seems to turn and stare at us.

”Garrison!” Crew calls out, walking up to us while the rest of my teammates just gawk at us like we”re exotic zoo animals. Jesus, is it that weird to see me showing a woman affection?

Crew slaps my shoulder and turns to Mallory. “Hi again! Good to see you.”

“You too. How is your teammate?”

“Still waiting to hear about test results,” Crew replies. “And thanks for asking. And coming here to hang with us. I know it was your first official date.”

“Tate and I are doing everything in our own unique way,” Mallory announces. “Why should this be any different?”

Crew grins and looks at me. “I like her.”

“Of course you do.” I tug her closer to my side. “Who doesn’t?”

”Hey, pretty lady and Garrison, my round. What are you drinking?” Nash calls out from the corner by the bar.

“Mal, you up for a margarita?” I ask with a wink and then lean down and whisper in her ear. “Like old times?”

She just bites her lip and nods. It’s adorable and hot as hell all at the same time. I kiss her, which gets the guys to all make stupid noises. Rich, the owner, laughs. “Leave the kid alone. No wonder he hasn’t brought her by here before.”

“Rich, you got some Clueless stuff to show Mallory?”

He smiles and nods. “Be right back!”

Two hours later, Mallory is tipsy and happily explaining every single aspect of Clueless to Nash who for some insane reason actually seems interested in it. I’m humiliating Collingwood at a game of pool. My parents have sent fourteen photos of Dylan, the last five are of him sleeping. I finally had to text my mom back and tell her to leave him to sleep and just stare at him on her phone app instead. I love the way she’s already obsessed with him though.

“Look, they’re talking about Casco!” Nash calls out and points to the muted TV above the bar. “Rich, turn it up!”

We all turn to the television and Rich grabs the remote and pumps up the volume. It”s a reporter standing outside the arena with a somber look on her face. ”The Quake is at the top of their division, guaranteed a playoff spot but off the ice, the team seems to be in turmoil.”

“That’s a bit dramatic,” Crew grumbles.

“Forward Landon Casco collapsed on the ice during practice today, just one day before the last game of the year against the San Francisco Thunder,” she goes on. “The cause is still unknown but we’re told he is in stable condition now. And just an hour ago, TMZ Sports broke a story that star forward Tate Garrison has a secret baby.”

“What?” Collingwood balks and starts to laugh. Loudly. He looks over at Mallory. “You’re a tiny woman and not that tall, but surely they don’t think you’re a baby.”

It’s a joke. It’s not funny.

I stare at the television, my body frozen in shock. I hear Mallory say my name but I just keep staring. The image changes from the reporter outside the medical center to a picture of me and Mallory outside the townhouse, I’m carrying the stroller down the front steps and she’s standing there with Dylan in her arms. Her face is blocked by her hair. Dylan’s face is in full view and a wave of rage washes over. He’s a kid and he didn’t agree to have his face plastered everywhere.

“The mother is unknown. According to sources who live in the same complex as Garrison in Venice Beach and supplied this exclusive photo. Garrison is not only keeping the child secret, he’s leaving it to be raised by nanny Mallory Echolls, who is also the sister of San Francisco Thunder defensemen Emmett Echolls.”

“How…?”

I finally look at Mallory, but I don’t have time to say anything as my phone is blowing up. Text message alerts and telephone calls. Coach Braddock, Adam from Communications, Christine. Crew exhales loudly beside me. “I thought you told the team? And your parents?”

“Parents yeah, they’re with Dylan now. But my meeting with the team management was canceled when Landon collapsed,” I mutter.

“Wait… this is true?” Collingwood balks.

“You knew?” Nash says, staring at his twin with a shocked expression.

“I don’t tell you everything,” Crew snaps at him. “Just like you don’t tell me everything.”

Crew turns away from Nash and back to me. “The townhouse complex is going to be swimming with paparazzi. Good thing we switched houses.”

I nod. I grab my phone and call the person I know is the source, my neighbor Tara. She works for TMZ. She answers on the first ring. “Hey. Do you want to make an official statement?”

“How about fuck you,” I snap at her. “I thought we were friends but you just wanted a story.”

“Oh come on, Tate, we were never friends,” Tara replies, her voice carefree because she gives zero shits she just complicated the hell out of my life just as things were finally on the verge of getting easier. “You were nice to me because you wanted to fuck me. And that’s still on the table. But I can’t sacrifice a good scoop for a potentially good lay. And he contacted me.”

“Who?” I demand.

“The nanny’s brother,” Tara replies. “Anyway, you’re a hockey player. This will blow over quick. L.A. is a basketball town. Relax. Now do you want to tell me your side? Clarify any of this?”

I hang up. Mallory has moved and is standing directly in front of me. I look down at her, but I don’t really see her. I’m just furious. “You told your brother.”

“What?” She blinks and her whole face changes. Her eyes are heavy with guilt. “I…”

“You told your family and they told the tabloids,” I tell her and run my hands into my hair, frustrated. I start walking toward the door. “Fuck, Mallory! You knew this was private!”

“I told Emmett. I mean, he figured it out on his own, but you had already told your parents,” Mallory explains, her voice high and wavering. “And you were supposed to have already told the team. I didn’t think?—”

“No, you definitely didn’t.” I start towards the door. “We have to get home. I have to call Coach and Adam back and?—”

The door flies open and Christine is standing there. She is still in her work clothes, and her expression radiates fury even from across the room. Her eyes hone in on me immediately and I walk toward her. Mallory, I realize, is scurrying along behind me. “Christine, I asked for that meeting today so I could tell you.”

“A kid?” Christine says, her voice hard but also confused. “You? Jesus Christ Tate, you should have told us the second you found out.”

“It was complicated at first and I had to sort some stuff out,” I explain. She shakes her head.

”All you had to do was tell us. Do you think this is what we want now? One game from the end of the season, when we should all be focused on Landon and the playoffs, we have to deal with your trailer park drama.”

“Christine…” Crew says warning her of the lines she’s crossing.

”No one asked you, Crew.” She holds up a hand in his direction. Then her eyes land on Mallory. “You proud of yourself?”

“Me? I…” Mallory sputters. “I didn’t want this to happen.”

“Then maybe you should have kept your mouth shut,” Christine snaps at her. “And your legs. Because I’m guessing you aren’t just in this for the baby.”

“Whoa.” Nash walks up. “That’s uncalled for.”

“She’s the reason we’re in this mess,” Christine replies without an ounce of remorse in her tone. “And FYI, my source at TMZ says this was a paid tip. They paid someone to spill this shit. How much did you get?”

Mallory shakes her head. I turn to Crew. “Can you take her home? Can she stay with you for a night? I have a lot to deal with.”

“I don’t… Tate. I can’t stay with Crew,” Mallory replies, her voice is shaky now. Her eyes wide with fear or confusion, but I’m drowning in a lot of very hard, horrible emotions myself and I can’t. I just can’t.

“I have to get home to Dylan,” I reply. “And I have to sort out a statement and stuff with Christine and… I just can’t with you right now.”

“I…” She blinks and tears flood her eyes.

Crew puts a hand on her shoulder. “Come on.”

Mallory looks devastated. “I didn’t do this on purpose.”

“But you did do it,” Christine points out and grabs my arm. “Let’s go, Tate.”

“Tate!” Mallory says, her tone pleading.

”I”ll talk to you later,” I say, my tone ice cold. Everything in me is running cold, my blood, my thoughts, my mood. I want nothing to do with anyone. I just want to go home and see my son but instead, I have to deal with this and then maybe I will be able to thaw my heart and handle whatever is left between Mallory and me.