Sincerely, The Puck Bunny (Totally Pucked #2)(32)

“Contract? You wanna talk about a fucking contract, Conrad? I will ruin you. Every fucking player in the NHL will know how fucking dirty you are. Keep trying me and you’ll lose every goddamn client you have. And if I hear you’ve breathed a word of my daughter being born to anyone, I will have you on blast all over ESPN within the hour. Not to mention, forging my goddamn signature is illegal as hell, and if you want to go there, I’ll sue you for everything you’re worth. Do not fuck with me. If you ever contact me, my family, or anyone on my team again, you can reap the consequences. I have nothing left to say to you.”

He sighs heavily, realizing the battle is already lost. “I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“Well, you were so far left it’s unfucking real. I’m done. Don’t contact me again.”

I end the call before the asshole can breathe another word. There’s nothing else to say. He’s lucky that I don’t show up to his office and beat the shit out of him for what he's done.

I make a vow to myself, and to Olive, that no matter what happens, I will protect her. Love her. Put her first in my life, and the first step in doing that is getting rid of someone that I can’t trust.

Fuck, I thought of Conrad like family, and here I am, yet again, being betrayed by my family.

Just like Beau.

It seems to be the recurring thing in my life: my family fucking me over any chance they get.

Good fucking riddance.





I can imagine the very last thing that Reed, Graham, Hudson or Asher thought when I texted them to come to the hospital as soon as possible, that they’d be coming to meet my brand-new daughter, who’s less than twenty-four hours old.

Hell, I can’t even believe it.

Actually, I’d bet my entire damn salary that they thought I’d done something to fuck up again, and I don’t blame them. I’ve put them through more shit than they deserve the last couple of years, which is why I’m so excited to have something… good. For a change.

I’m texting because of something amazing, not because I got drunk and fought a guy at a bar, or because I was point three under the legal limit on a breathalyzer and behind the wheel of my truck, needing a ride. Of all the shit I fucked up, I’m thankful to be on the other side. To have pulled my head out my ass and realize that life is worth living, even after having your beating heart ripped from your chest.

“The guys and I are going to go to the nursery and see her, if that’s okay?” I ask Maddison, who’s resting. Both her grams and Ty and Kyle visited just now, and she looks even more exhausted than earlier. I’m honestly in awe of her strength.

When you think of strength, most of the time you think of brute force. But today? What I witnessed Maddison do, now, that’s strength. The kind I’ll never possess, no matter how much I can bench, or how hard I can check someone on the ice. She’s fucking incredible.

“Get some rest and send me a text if you need anything. I’ll be back in a bit, okay?”

She nods, her eyes already drifting shut. I want to reach out and sweep the hair that’s falling on her forehead away, and drop my lips against the soft, blonde of her hair, but I won’t.

No matter how badly I want to.

I walk out into the hallway and shut the door behind me quietly, then make my way out to the waiting room, when I see the guys stroll through the doors.

“Wait, maternity ward?” Graham whisper yells, not fucking quietly whatsoever. “Why are we here? Am I being punked?”

“Shut up Graham,” Reed mutters.

When I finally come to a stop in front of them, all eyes are on me, full of questions.

“Thanks for coming guys. Uh, so I’m a dad. I have a daughter, and her name is Olive.”

Asher’s jaw literally drops. Graham looks like he might actually fall on the floor. Hudson’s eyes widen, and Reed looks absolutely shocked.

Then Graham laughs. He laughs so fucking loud that every head in the hospital wing turns toward him. It’s so hard that he’s doubling and then Asher and Hudson look at each other, and they start laughing too. Like dominoes, all falling together in a line. Reed shakes his head, in annoyance, and then he lets out a laugh of his own.

This goes on for at least a minute before Reed looks at me with wide eyes.

“Wait, you’re serious?”

Everyone stops laughing.

“Yep, my daughter was just born.”

Silence settles between us then Asher speaks, “Yeah, this is the last thing I expected. Thought you were joking.”

“Same,” Graham quips. “How? I mean like... obviously, I know how, but who? When? Where? You can’t just bring us here and then drop this fucking bomb on us.”

He’s talking so fast his words are running together.

“Let’s go out to the courtyard.”

I lead them out the double doors to the small outdoor courtyard that I called Conrad in earlier and they sit on the small concrete benches with their hulking frames. I start at the only place I can.

The beginning.

By the time I’m done, the shocked looks on their faces have only intensified, but fuck, it feels good to get it all out and off my chest to the only people in the world I actually trust.

The only ones who have shown themselves worthy of my trust.

I told them about the weekend Maddison and I spent together, and what happened with Conrad, and how he almost destroyed my life while using the facade of having my “best interests in mind.”