when I can take a blood test. And then we’ll have to find his mom.”
My jaw is in danger of snapping. Every time I think of Angela and everything she kept from me, I want to punch a wall. But I need good hands for my season.
“Do you… do you have doubts?”
Doubts? I have too many to list. The top of which is if I’m capable of this. I’m twenty-three years old. An adult in the eyes of the world and a star in the hockey world.
But I still like to hang out alone and stay up too late playing my Playstation that sometimes it also feels like I’m only pretending to be grown up.
And now to be in charge of a baby? Yes, I have too many doubts.
But is Angela a liar?
“I don’t think so. Angela, his mom, well, some guys on the team know her. I do not think she’d make this up. And…” I swallow my thoughts. Do I want her to know she’s the only woman I’ve been with?
A snickering sound comes from her and she looks like she’s holding back a laugh.
“What?”
“Nothing.” She waves her hand in the air but she seems to be laughing harder. “It’s just… well, your names and his. I mean, it sort of pisses me off she clearly named her son after her and then left him. But you two… together…”
“Me and Angela?”
“No. You and Angelo. The names fit.”
“I don’t… I don’t understand.”
Her smile grows as she notices my confusion and she lets out a giggle. “Well, your names. They sound like they go together. Like the artist. The painter? Michelangelo? That’s you two when you put them together. Mikah-Angelo.”
She laughs softly again and the sweet sound is contagious because I find myself laughing as well. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“It’s cute.” She presses her hand gently to the side of Angelo’s face, running a finger along his brow. I’ve seen her do this before. She’s very tender. “I like it. And him.”
She doesn’t mention me. But her eyes flutter to me and she quickly looks away.
I want her to know even if she thinks it’s strange.
“Angela is the only woman I’ve been with, um… have had sex with.”
It’s a bomb she doesn’t see coming and her green eyes flash.
“My birthday last year.” I clear my throat again. It’s suddenly gone dry and the longer she goes without saying anything, the more heat creeps up my neck.
“Well, wow. I suppose then from your side that would take away any doubts about him being yours.”
“He’s mine.”
Somehow, I know it. I might not be bonded to him yet and he is still a stranger. But I see me in him and in the blond fuzz on his head.
“My life has been hockey,” I tell her, because I want her to get it. I want her to know everything. “I worked hard all my life to get to the NHL in America. It was my father’s goal for me before it was ever mine and I never had time for anything else, or maybe it’s more correct to say I wasn’t given time for anything else.”
Her eyes soften and everything about her looks sad.
“Have you told your parents yet?”
“No. My father will be angry and my mom will take his side. I’ll let them know eventually. But not until everything else is settled.” I haven’t seen them since I moved here. I’ve had no desire to return to Denmark and I have not offered to fly them out. They could come if they wanted to with the money I send them, but they won’t.
In my arms, Angelo has fallen asleep. My clothes are still damp but I don’t want this to end.
“I should get going. I have early class tomorrow.”
It’s an excuse. I don’t know if I’ve scared her away by telling her I don’t have much experience, but I hope not.
She moves to step around me and there isn’t much space between her and the counter. I slide out my arm, stopping her, and my hand settles on her hip.
I have to look down at her, she’s so much shorter than me, and her head tilts back, eyes meeting mine. She doesn’t have the look of someone turned off by what I’ve said to her. She’s guarded, but her cheeks are pink.
Yes. I think she likes it when I touch her as much as I do.
“Thank you, for dinner and your company and your help. It’s your company I like the most,