One Baby Daddy (Dating by Numbers #3)(63)

Worst fucking record.

It’s not like this trade was an upgrade for me. It was a kick to the goddamn balls.

Sitting in my high-rise apartment, my legs kicked up on my coffee table, I survey the smog-soaked air, going over an interview I had this morning at a local TV station. Good Morning, Malibu. The hosts, Noely and Dylan, were nice, both huge hockey fans, super excited about me being here. Hell, every Quakes fan is ecstatic, and it’s nice to be welcomed so warmly. We talked about random things; Dylan seemed to want to get me to talk more to Noely but luckily, before things could get super awkward, I had to leave for another radio interview.

Could have been worse. Could have been like the interview yesterday where the girl tried to grab my crotch when I went in for a handshake.

Sighing, I unlock my phone and bring up Adalyn’s contact information.

What is she doing right now? Working? Hanging out with Logan?

That fucking shithead. He couldn’t have given me the chance to tell Adalyn myself? No, he had to be the turd that he is and open his mouth. Just goes to show you the kind of guy he is. And the look on his face at the hospital. He was gloating. Especially when he walked away prophesying Adalyn wouldn’t be my girlfriend for much longer. He knew what he was doing. Clearly he knows Adalyn better than I do too, because he was spot on. Not even twelve hours later and she was gone.

And do you know what’s driving me insane? How different my outcome would have been if I had been the one who told Adalyn. I don’t think she would have had the chance to doubt what we have, to convince herself this was a fling.

Would we still be together? Fuck, at this point I’m going to say no. She won’t answer my calls. She won’t acknowledge any of my texts, not even when I told her I made it to LA safely. It’s like she’s completely forgotten about me.

Maybe I read her wrong. Maybe I really was a fling to her.

Fuck.

Leaning my head against the back of my sofa, I sit in silence.

Alone.

So fucking alone.

Bringing my phone to my eyes, I press on Calder’s name, calling it for the third time this week.

“Hey man, how’s the sunshine?”

“Shitty.”

“Still not feeling it?”

“I don’t know, man.” I drag my hand over my face. “I’m in such a fucking funk right now. Training starts next week, and if I don’t show up on the ice ready to prove myself, none of the guys are going to think I’m worth the paycheck the Quakes forked out.”

Yeah, the trade came with a nice pay rise, but that’s meaningless to me. How could I enjoy more money when I have no one to share it with? I couldn’t care less about the money.

“Is it Adalyn?”

“Fuck . . . it is.”

“Hayden, dude, you have to let go. It’s been weeks and she’s said nothing to you.”

“I know. I know.”

“Go on a date. That morning show you were on earlier. Rachel was telling me the girl is part of this dating app called Going in Blind. Sounded like something pretty legit. Maybe you should try it.”

This makes me laugh. Straight up throw my head back and laugh.

“I’m serious. You might meet someone.”

“On a fucking dating app? Dude, I am so not a dating app kind of guy.”

“Really? Because I could totally see you doing it. The excitement you get when you’re matched, treating the girl out to a nice meal, acting like the goddamn gentleman that you are.”

He has a point. But a dating app? In a city where I know no one? Not a good idea.

“Calder, I could easily get shanked. Is that what you want? For me to get shanked now that I’m your competition?”

“Why do you immediately think someone is going to try to kill you?”

“Hmm, I don’t know,” I say in a condescending voice. “Maybe because I’m a professional athlete, maybe because yesterday some random girl tried to grab my balls, maybe because the dating circuit is crazy and you never know who you’re truly meeting. For all we know, the person could have a clean record, look absolutely normal, but in real life, she collects the heads of cats and pets them every night before she goes to bed.”

There is silence on the other end of the phone before Calder says, “Wow, way to exaggerate. You took it straight to headless cats. Dude, you need to get out more. Hence the dating app.”

“I’m not doing a dating app. That is one of the worst ideas you’ve ever had.”

“Suit yourself. But I’m going to tell you right now, it would help me out.”

Stretching my neck side to side, I ask, “How would it help you out?”

“Because, instead of having to sit here and have hour-long conversations with you on the phone, you could be out on a date, sweating over if she’s going to shank you or not.”

Chuckling, I ask, “Getting sick of these phone calls?”

“Not me. Rachel.” Lowering his voice, he adds, “She now refers to you as my secret lover.”

“Sounds about right. No offense, but it’s either you or my mom at this point, and my mom ends up crying every time I talk to her.”

“And your brothers?”

“They have their heads so far up their asses, I’m not sure they know what the hell is going on around them.”