Overtime(138)

As he threw his Gatorade back in its place, Karson’s hand came down hard on Jordie’s shoulder as he said, “Fuck her.”

Exactly.

“Yeah,” Jordie agreed, nodding his head, and he was ready to win this game. His feelings, his worries, and his hurt were all a thing of the past, because Stacey Thomas was nothing to him anymore. This moment proved it. There she was, on her phone, no cares at all for him. But then he glanced up at the box his real family sat in and saw they were all still standing, Kacey screaming her ass off. It was crazy how quickly things could change. Ten seconds ago, he’d wanted his mother’s approval; now, he just wanted her to disappear. Because he had his approval. It was in the form of a beautiful, tough girl with brown eyes, who loved him with all the fierceness in the world—along with her family who had taken him in.

Stacey Thomas may have his last name, but she would never have his heart again.

Not when Kacey King owned it.

Swallowing hard, he knew he was right, he knew he was making the right choice. As he looked up, he was ready to do what he did best: win. But the minutes weren’t his friends and they ran fast, thankfully with no score from the Canucks, which meant they were going into overtime.

Jordie was at his best in overtime. The feeling of losing it all if you didn’t score first gave him such a rush. He loved the all-or-nothing feel of it, and he kind of associated his recovery with the feeling that overtime gave him. He either won or he lost, there was no in-between.

And damn it, Jordie Thomas always wanted to win.

But even though they lost the game after a sick wrister from one of the twins on the other team, Jordie knew he wouldn’t lose in his quest for sobriety.

No matter what, he was going to win.



Kacey was almost bouncing on her heels in the parking garage as she waited for Jordie to come out. She was so proud of him, but she knew that even though he had scored, he’d be bummed they lost. It was a sick-ass shot though from one of the twins that caught Tate off guard. Still, it was a great game and he should be proud of himself. It was his first goal on home ice of the season and he was rocking it.

Even with his mom at the game.

Kacey had watched her the whole time. She only came to her seat every once in a while, but when she was there, she was looking at her phone the whole time. Kacey wanted to march down and kick her in the face, but her dad wouldn’t let her. Said she wasn’t worth it. She knew this, but she was pretty sure she’d feel better if she had. Turning to her father, she smiled as he leaned against Jordie’s truck, playing on his phone.

“Daddy, you don’t have to wait with me. It’s way past your bedtime.”

He laughed sarcastically before waving her off. “I’m not leaving you alone in a parking lot. I’ll catch a ride home with Karson, since your ma took Lacey and Mena home.”

“Okay,” she sang, leaning against the truck. “Thanks for waiting.”

He smiled over at her, tucking his phone in his pocket as he reached out, wrapping his arm around her neck and bringing her in tight. “How ya doing?”

“Good,” she answered, looking up at him, smiling. She loved her daddy.

“How’s my grandbaby?”

“Growing, I pray,” she said hopefully and he nodded.

“She’ll be good,” he promised and Kacey smiled, but then her smile dropped when she realized that he didn’t know about the miscarriage. No one did.

Clearing her throat, she asked, “Daddy, if I told you something, would you promise not to get mad and not to tell Ma?”

He eyed her and then nodded. “Yeah.”

Taking in a deep breath, she held on to his arms as she admitted, “This is my second pregnancy. The first one, I lost. That’s why I’m so nervous.”

His face didn’t move, and she wasn’t sure he was breathing as seconds passed. “When?”

“Right before the Olympics,” she said quietly, and he nodded.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t tell anyone. I just let it be. I had a medal to win, and I didn’t want you guys worrying about me or telling me to wait.”

He nodded once more. “That’s understandable, I guess, but I would have been there for you.”

“I know,” she answered softly. “But I had it.”

“My prideful, headstrong, bratty-ass little girl,” he said fondly, shaking his head. “Okay, fine, but you let that go, you hear me?”

She nodded. “I am trying.”

“Try harder,” he demanded. “The stress will eat ya alive, and you don’t need that.”

“I know.”

He then let out a long breath. “Was it Jordie’s?”

“Yeah,” she whispered and she felt him tense up.

“Man, that boy is lucky I love him,” Karl muttered and Kacey smiled.

“He’s not that person anymore.”

“Oh, I know,” he agreed. “’Cause if he was, he’d be dead.”

Kacey laughed at that as her daddy smiled, holding her closer. He kissed her temple and whispered, “You know you’re my favorite, right?”

She scoffed. “Liar.”

He grinned. “You are. So is Karson.”

She rolled her eyes, giggling until she heard a voice that she did not want to hear say, “Karl? Is that you?”