Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
After the game ends, I grab the duffle bag filled with merchandise and lead Lila and Max down to the locker room. I spot Marcel first. His dark hair is sticking up in dozens of directions, still wet from his shower.
Max points her finger up at him. “I know you.”
Marcel laughs. “Hey, Max.”
She squeals. “You know my name?”
Marcel and I hunch down to meet her height.
“Max, this is my friend Marcel.”
“I know who he is. I watch him on TV, too.”
“Will you sign my jersey?” Max asks with zero fear.
Most kids are freaked out when they meet us, but not Max. She’s like a twenty-five-year-old in a ten-year-old body. I like that she asks for what she wants. And she says whatever comes to mind. I can tell it sometimes embarrasses Lila, but it’s nothing for her to worry over.
Marcel signs the back of her jersey. I hand over the duffle filled with hats, pucks, and other memorabilia for him to sign. Benji and Lucas stumble out of the locker room a few minutes later. Max tells them random facts about hockey. They autograph everything I put in front of them, asking Max questions about school.
“I’m going to be a hockey player, too,” Max says, going on about her new youth hockey team.
“My sister played hockey in college,” I tell her.
“Do you think I could play when I’m in college?”
I cup her shoulder. “Sure.”
“Will you teach me?”
I glance up at Lila. “If it’s okay with your mom.”
Max’s face is glowing. “Mommy, can Duke teach me hockey?”
Lila looks away from Lucas, who she seems to know better than I had thought. “What, baby?”
“Duke said he’ll teach me how to play hockey. I want to be better than all of the girls on my new team.”
Everyone laughs. It’s hard not to when you’re around Max.
Lila looks at me. “Are you sure?”
“I have some time to spare.”
Lila smiles and then mouths, Thank you.
“It’s your job to keep our captain in line,” Marcel says to Max. “You think you can do that for us?”
“Yesss,” Max coos, her eyes wide with excitement.
Marcel, Benji, and Lucas say goodbye to Max. I promise to see them later at home. My dynamic with my team has been out of whack since my suspension. They’re rarely home, and when they are, I feel like an outsider.
After they disappear into the locker room, Max points her finger at me. “We have a lot of work to do, Mister.”
Chapter Twelve
DELILAH
On the way home from the game, Max wouldn’t stop talking about how she’s responsible for keeping Duke in line. I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time, and I’m terrified of what losing Duke could mean for her. He agreed to teach her how to play hockey. Ted’s given her some tips and quick lessons this past year, but an offer from Duke is a hard one to pass up, which also puts me in a very uncomfortable position.
I can’t take this opportunity away from her. Her father is hardly ever around and shows up when he feels like making time. Duke is my patient. He cannot be Ted's replacement.
Duke pulls into my driveway and surprises me when he opens my door with an adorable grin plastered on his handsome face. He opens Max’s door next, and she flies out of the SUV like it’s on fire. Still full of energy, she tugs on Duke’s hand and drags him up the walkway. He glances over his shoulder at me, and I wave them on.
“Mommy, I want to show Duke my room.”
“It’s late, Max. How about you show it to him some other time.”
“I’m not ready for bed,” she whines. “You said I could stay up later since I don’t have school in the morning.”
I look at Duke. “Do you want to come in for a drink?”
His face brightens. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
“Good,” Max says, threading her fingers between Duke’s. His hand is so big it dwarfs hers. “Come see my ant collection.”
Duke cocks an eyebrow at me. “Ant collection?”
“Max has a thing for bugs.”
He looks down at Max and rubs his knuckles lightly on top of her head. She peeks up at him and laughs.
“Are you giving me noogies?”
“Maybe,” Duke says as he repeats the same motion on top of her head.
She giggles as we step inside the living room. I can tell Duke likes Max. He's a natural with kids. During our sessions, I gathered that Duke misses taking care of his siblings, leaving a void in his life. A family might be what Duke is missing.
“I want hot chocolate,” Max says, leading Duke into the kitchen. She climbs onto the counter to grab the box from the cabinet and hands it to Duke.
“Give me a sec, baby. I’ll make it for you.”
“I can make it,” Duke offers. He tips his head toward the kitchen table. “Take a break.”