Page 64 of Power Play
“Riley’s sassy and sure of herself, but not in a self-centered kind of way. Like she knows what she wants and goes after it.” Although lately, her entire world has been childcare and playdates. I don’t know that she has any time for herself when I’m not there to give her breaks. “She built up a successful career in Arizona and left it at the drop of a hat to take care of my kid. Our kid. And fuck, man, she’s so good with Emmy. That baby adores her. She should. I know I do.”
My face flushes and I clamp my lips together. Shit. I wasn’t supposed to say that.
His loud laughter draws attention in the small coffee shop, and I pull the brim of my cap lower, hiding my face. I’m not ashamed of being seen with him, but hockey gossip will label me a traitor for daring to spend time with a guy on the rival team off the ice.
“Do you have photos?”
I stare at him. “You want to see pictures of my kid?”
His grin stretches from ear to ear. “Yeah. She’s basically my niece, isn’t she? Babies are great. Don’t want one right now, but eventually, I want an entire hockey team.”
“Start with one and see how it goes,” I warn, pulling out my phone. I swipe to the album and hand it over.
Chuck hums as he flicks through the first few photos. “Cute kid. She has your eyes.”
“She’s so sweet. And smart. And she has this little cackle laugh that—” I cut myself off. “I could go on all day about her.”
“As you should. If a man can’t be proud of his kid, he’s a shit dad.” Chuck hands me back my phone. “You’re doing good, man. You were thrown for a loop and you stepped up. Yeah, marrying the baby mama, if that’s what you want to call it, is an extra step, but you did what you had to do for your family.”
Shaking my head, I debate glossing over the details, but the truth is going to get out one way or the other. I can’t ask Tony and Viv to hide the circumstances from their family. “Riley’s not the baby mama, but she is Emmy’s mom now. I couldn’t separate them even if I wanted to.”
“So don’t.”
Frustration simmers right below my skin, and I sigh, rubbing my forehead. “Except when I suggested we table the divorce, she freaked out.”
“The divorce that isn’t supposed to happen for another year or two?” He gives me a knowing grin.
My eyes narrow as I glare at him, even though he’s not the one spilling secrets. I want to punch the smug look off his stupid face. “Just how much is Cari telling you?”
“Like I said, we talk. She’s a nice kid. Fits right in between Frankie and Janine.”
His two younger sisters. Janine is a few years older than Cari, and Frankie is about a year and a half younger. Five of the six Gallagher siblings are professional athletes. His twin, Perry, plays football, and only the youngest sibling, Bradley, isn’t involved in sports.
“Well, I’m glad she has you looking out for her.” Even if I’m peeved about her sharing details she shouldn’t be giving out so freely. Then again, there are worse things than Chuck Gallagher knowing my business. I know he would never use it against me.
“Maybe Riley needs some time to get used to things. It can’t be easy to leave everything you’ve ever known for some guy who travels half the time, settle into a routine in his house, taking care of his kid, and he suddenly wants to flip the script. Keep doing what you’re doing. Take her on dates. Go out without the baby, do stuff as a family…” He shrugs. “Fuck if I know, I don’t have a kid or a wife. Can’t convince anyone to stick around long enough to try.”
Running my thumb over the ring on my left hand, I consider his advice. “We go out when I’m home. Or, I suggest it, but she never initiates anything. It’s all me.”
“She’s probably afraid of getting turned down,” he says slowly. “I mean, you know our schedules. Even our days off aren’t truly free. And then coordinating it with the baby’s routine… If she’s the slightest bit uncertain how she feels, it makes sense for her to withdraw.”
I sigh, running my hand through my hair. “I want her to want me, even half as much as I want her.”
“Is it only physical? Or do you actually have feelings for this woman?”
“It’s not physical. Not purely, at least.” The attraction simmering in my veins whenever I see her is only part of the puzzle. How do I act on it without scaring her away, or worse, ruining the fragile relationship we have? “I want us to be married for real. I want us to be a family, and not just for the cameras.”
“You want your happily ever after, and you’re trying to push the misshapen pieces into a mold that might not actually fit.” Chuck stares at me, then lets out a short laugh. “Have you tried simply dating your wife? Taking it one step at a time.”
I can’t tell if he’s being sarcastic or genuine, but I’ll take his advice at face value.
“That’s what I was trying to do. We spent the day together, then I cooked for us and did the candles and wine thing, and she shot me down. I put myself out there. She’s not interested.”
He cocks his head. “Did she say that, though? Or did she just need to think it over?”
“I… I don’t know.” Too blindsided by the hurt of her turning me down, I can’t remember the exact phrasing she used. Just the way she recoiled.
“Take it slow. Don’t rush into it,” he says. “You already got married in the blink of an eye. What’s the harm in taking it one day at a time?”
“The divorce?” It’s heavy on my mind, making my stomach sink every time I think about Riley walking away. Even if it’s not happening anytime soon, it feels like a ticking time bomb, reminding me that one day, this will end. I have no right to ask her to stay forever, but I already don’t know what I’m supposed to do without her.
Not as Emmy’s nanny. Not even as her mom. Just… her. In my life, being my wife.
“You said it’s a year or two away,” he says patiently. “When the time comes, you can decide how you feel. It might run its course by then. Playing house might get old by then.”
I glare at him. “It’s not playing house when my kid is in the picture.”
A triumphant grin brightens his face. “Then you better treat your wife right. Start by backing off, and then talk about things rather than springing them on her. You might have more luck that way.”
