Puck Pact: A Marriage of Convenience Hockey Romance (East Coast Series)

“And you haven’t heard from her since?”

I shake my head as I swing my backpack onto my shoulders. “Nope.”

“Have you tried calling her?” Jason asks.

“I don’t want to pressure Aarya to talk if she’s not ready to. She ran out of the house like she couldn’t get away from me fast enough. Meanwhile, Giuliana hasn’t stopped asking me if we can visit her art gallery.”

The kid is relentless.

“It’s been a week, man.” McKinley claps me on the back as we step off the plane. “You should reach out, just to see where her head is at.”

Trenton puts up his hood, flicking his eyes to mine. “Cassidy has been in the writing cave, so she hasn’t spoken to her much either.”

“That’s okay, I don’t want to put her in the middle. I’ll just give Aarya a call.”

“No harm in trying,” Jason agrees.

We say goodnight, and then I hop on my bike to head home.

Only, I don’t head home.

Being at an away game helped keep me distracted, but now that I’m back, I don’t think I can look my daughter in the eye while I lie to her about why Aarya hasn’t been back to see her room.

Aarya doesn’t have kids, so I don’t expect her to know that you can’t tell a child that you’re going to do something unless you plan on doing it. But she did, and now I need to end this so I don’t have to keep stringing Giuliana along.

I know Aarya wants to back out of our plan. I guess I just need to hear her say it.

After the twenty-minute ride into Jersey City, I park my bike in front of the gallery and pull off my helmet. Running a hand through my hair, I step onto the sidewalk and peer through the window.

Aarya is talking with a man at the front desk. At first glance, it looks harmless. But her arms are wrapped around her midsection, and her shoulders are hunched—nothing like the sassy, confident woman I’ve become accustomed to. Whoever this man is, he’s entirely too close to her, and something about the way he’s looking down at her has the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.

I rap my fist against the glass door, admittedly a little too hard, but it gains their attention, and I don’t miss the relief flashing in Aarya’s eyes when she spots me.

The man walks over and unlocks the door before cracking it open. “Gallery is closed. Come back tomorrow.”

I stick my foot through the opening before he can close the door. “I’m not here for the gallery.”

His head snaps to Aarya. “Do you often have visitors here after hours?”

Her eyes widen as she scurries over, clutching her purse to her chest. “No, I don’t. He…he’s…”

She stammers, so I step in. “I’m here to pick her up. We have plans.”

His eyebrows hit his hairline as gets a good look at me. “Oh, shit. You play for the Goldfinches.”

He knows me, so I need to be careful. “And you are…?”

“Carter Stevens.” He sticks out his hand as he puffs up his chest. “This is my gallery.”

Ah, so this is Aarya’s boss who’s been harassing her.

I crush his hand in a firm shake as anger spikes in my gut. “Nice to meet you.”

“How do you know Aarya?” he asks, pulling his hand back and rubbing it with the other.

Good. I hope it’s broken.

“She’s my girlfriend.” I slip my hand in hers and tug her through the doorway until she’s safely outside beside me, away from this creep.

Carter’s eyes narrow on her. “I didn’t know she was with anyone.”

“Well, now you know.” I tilt my head. “It was nice meeting you, Carl.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“It’s Carter.”

“Right, right.” I turn to face Aarya. “Ready to go?”

She nods, and offers her boss a quick wave. “Night, Carter.”

“We’ll finish our conversation tomorrow then,” he says.

“Sure.”

I can guarantee they won’t be finishing whatever conversation they were having.

I unbuckle the spare helmet attached at the back of my bike. “Put this on, and don’t argue with me.”

Aarya swallows as she takes the helmet and pushes it over her head. I tilt her chin to adjust the buckle underneath, lowering my voice so her boss can’t hear me. “Did he touch you?”

She eyes him over my shoulder. “No.”

I jerk the bottom of the helmet, forcing her eyes back to mine. “Look at me, Aarya. Did he touch you?”

“No. Just get me out of here.”

I shrug out of my leather riding jacket and put it on her, zipping it up to the top. It’s colder when you’re riding, the air temperature dropping the faster you go. Though we won’t be going too fast around the city streets, and the ride to her apartment will be quick, I make a mental note to get her proper riding gear as the winter temperatures continue to drop here in New Jersey.

I mount the bike and lift the kickstand, planting both my feet on the ground. “Hold onto my shoulders.” I reach back and flip down the passenger foot pegs. “Then swing your left leg over to the other side.”

Aarya does as I say, mounting the bike behind me.

“Now wrap your hands around me and hold on.”

Her hands slide around my waist, and I pat her hand. “You ready?”

“No.”

“I promise, I won’t go fast.”

She presses her body against mine, squeezing me tight. “Okay, I’m ready.”

I turn the key in the ignition, hit the kill switch, and press the start button. The engine rumbles to a start, and Aarya’s fingers dig into my ribs. It’s too loud to talk her through this, and I don’t have mics synced up through the helmets—another thing I add to my mental list of things I need to do. All I can do is get her home safely, and show her that riding with me won’t be as scary as she thinks it is.

I pull out onto the road, and she grips me so tightly that I can barely breathe. But I don’t mind the feel of her holding onto me like this. Like she knows I’ve got her. Like she trusts me.

I want to show her that she can.

I take it slow, easing around each turn and staying in the lane instead of splitting like I would if she weren’t on the bike with me. After whatever just happened with her boss, my only focus is getting her home and finding out what that piece of shit did.

Within minutes we arrive at Aarya’s apartment. I park and prop the bike on the kickstand before sliding off the seat and turning off the engine. I don’t take nearly enough time to appreciate how adorable she looks sitting on the back of my bike as I wrap my arms around her and scoop her off the bike. When her shoes hit the pavement, I tug her close so I can unclip the buckle under her chin and pull off the helmet for her.

Her chest heaves as she stares up at me, eyes wide and her wild hair all over the place.

“Well?” I pull off my own helmet and set both of them on my seat. “What do you think?”

“That wasn’t so bad.”

I chuckle. “I told you, I’m a safe driver. Maybe next time you won’t have to squeeze all the air out of me.”

She grimaces. “Sorry.”

“That’s okay. It’s still better than Mac. He jokes about putting his dick in my ass the whole time he’s behind me.”

That earns a smile out of her. “Not surprising.”

I stare down at her, needing to know what happened with her boss. “You okay?”

She averts her eyes. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Hey.” I tip her chin. “The truth.”

She heaves a sigh. “Carter wants to promote me.”

“Is that what you want?”

She hikes a shoulder, glancing around at the quiet neighborhood around us. “I’d want it if there weren’t any strings attached.”

My anger flares. “Did he imply that there were strings attached?”

“He always implies things. Maybe he’ll stop now that he thinks I’m dating the captain of the Goldfinches.”

“He’ll definitely stop if I put my fist through his teeth.”

“Easy, Big Man.” She pats my chest. “Never would’ve thought you’d be one for violence. Then again, it turns out that there’s a lot I don’t know about you. A bike. A daughter. Seems like there’s a lot you’re hiding.”

“Well, I’d like to discuss that with you.” I slip my hands into my pockets. “That’s why I came to the gallery tonight. I was hoping we could talk.”

She nods like she figured as much. “Let’s go upstairs.”

I lock up the helmets and follow Aarya up to her apartment on the sixth floor.

“I used to live in Cassidy’s building, but I’m trying to save as much as I can so I downsized.” She glances up at me as she turns the key in the lock. “It’s not a big fancy house in the suburbs.”

“It’s fine. I don’t judge.”

I glance around the small space as we walk inside. The kitchen and living room are open in one area, and the bathroom and bedroom are off to the side. The furniture is minimal, and there’s a small TV across from the dark-gray couch.

“I eat, I sleep, and I shower. This place serves its purpose.” She tosses her purse onto the bistro table near the kitchen and stuffs her keys inside it. “Fair warning, I have a cat. He isn’t friendly and he hates everyone, so don’t be offended if he doesn’t let you pet him.”

I glance around looking for him. “Giuliana has been begging me to get a cat.”

“How’s her arm?”

“The cast is a pain in the ass. She’s itchy and sore and uncomfortable.”

She nods. “I broke my ankle in middle school. That shit sucked.”

I shake out of my jacket and lay it over the back of the chair. “How’d you break it?”

“My mom was dating one of her asshole boyfriends at the time, and I got in between them when they were arguing. He pushed me and I rolled my ankle.”

“Jesus.” The more I hear about her past, the more I understand why she views men the way she does.

“My mom really knew how to pick them.” She shrugs like it’s nothing. “Want anything to drink?”

“No, thanks.”

She gestures to the couch, and we take a seat on opposite ends. I spot something furry and black moving along the back of the couch out of the corner of my eye.

“No sudden movements,” Aarya whispers.

I smirk. “Animals usually love me.”

“Well, you haven’t met this animal.” She watches her cat with caution as the cat approaches me. “Dash must’ve had a bad experience with a man because whenever he’s around one, he⁠—”

Dash, the vicious monster that he is, climbs his way down my shoulder, along my chest, and curls up in a fluffy ball in my lap.

Then he lets out a singular meow.

I run my fingers along Dash’s silky fur. “You’re a secret sweetie pie just like your mom, aren’t you?”

He nuzzles his head against my arm.

“I…” Aarya’s mouth hangs open. “Is he purring?”

I let out a low chuckle. “He sure is.”

“I have never seen him like this before.” Aarya shakes her head. “You’re like the animal whisperer.”

“I think maybe you haven’t been around the right kind of men.” I lift my gaze to hers. “The cat and the woman.”

She rolls her eyes. “Says the man who lied about being a father.”

“I didn’t lie.” I scratch behind Dash’s ears. “I just…kept her a secret from everyone for a long time.”

“Why?”

“I chose to be a hockey player, and the spotlight comes with the territory. But Giuliana doesn’t need to be put through all that. Plus, it’d only raise questions about her mother.”

“And where is her mother? Why isn’t she here helping you raise that little girl?”

I let my head fall back against the couch as I stare up at the ceiling. “I’d had a little too much to drink one night after an away game, and I went home with someone I’d met at a bar. I wasn’t careful. It was foolish, and reckless. I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t think I’d hear from her again until she showed up at my door and told me she was pregnant.” I swallow, choosing my words wisely. “She wanted no part of being a mother. I wasn’t ready to be a dad either, but I couldn’t let that baby go. So, I made sure she had everything she needed until Giuliana was born, and then I never saw her again. She signed the contract my lawyer wrote up, terminated her rights, and it was like she never existed.”

It’s not a lie. I just omitted specific details, not ready to share them with Aarya yet.

Aarya stares down at her hands in her lap as she listens. “Do you think she’ll ever change her mind?”

“No.” I hike a shoulder. “Will she ever regret it? Maybe she will. Maybe she won’t.”

As I watch Aarya’s face, it dawns on me that this might be a sore subject for her, whose father made the same choice to leave his child behind.

I lift Dash in my arms, and scoot us to the other side of the couch. He jumps into Aarya’s lap and paws at her while he stretches.

Aarya’s eyes are on me while I lower myself beside her, and take her hand into mine. “Whether your father thinks about you or not, I can tell you with absolute certainty that he’s missing out on you.” She averts her gaze, but I tip her chin and bring her right back to me. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Giuliana. I hope you can understand why. I’m just trying to protect my daughter.”

She nods, the questions swirling in her dark eyes as they bounce between mine.

“I know this isn’t what you signed up for when you agreed to fake marry me, so I get it if you want to back out.” I offer her a small smile. “Giuliana and I are a package deal.”

“She’s the reason you want to keep the villa, isn’t it?”

“Now that she’s old enough to remember it, I want to take her there. I want her to have the same kind of memories I have. I want her to feel close to my parents, even though they’re not here to meet her.”

Aarya covers my hand with hers. “They’re with you both every day.”

I stare down at our contact, emotion constricting my throat. “I just want Giuliana to have a full, happy life. She doesn’t have a mother, or grandparents. I’m trying to be all of that for her, but it’s hard sometimes.”

She squeezes my hand. “You’re doing better than you think.”

I huff out a laugh. “She hasn’t stopped asking me when she’s going to see you again. The kid has the memory of an elephant.”

Aarya frowns as she stares down at the sleeping cat in her lap. “I don’t know if I’m cut out to be a step-mom. Even a fake one.”

Disappointment sinks into my gut. Though I already knew what her answer would be, it still stings to hear her say it out loud.

“I get it,” is all I can say at this point. “Thank you for hearing me out.”

I push off the couch and move toward the table for my jacket.

“What if I’m not good at it?”

I turn around and meet Aarya’s worried gaze. “What?”

She places Dash on the couch before she stands, and wrings her hands in front of her. “I don’t want to mess up your kid.”

I tilt my head. “How would you mess her up?”

“I don’t know.” She holds her arms out wide before letting her hands fall and smack against her legs. “I don’t know the first thing about kids, or how to change a diaper, or what they eat. I curse a lot—I know you’re not supposed to do that around them—and I definitely don’t watch Disney movies. The color pink repulses me. I’m not motherly at all, in case you haven’t noticed.”

Affection warms my chest at her concern. “Giuliana doesn’t wear diapers, so you’re in the clear there.”

“I don’t even know how old she is.”

I take a step toward her. “She’s four.”

“What if she chokes on her food? Or on a toy? Google said kids put things in their mouths, and I won’t know what to do if she’s choking.”

I take another step toward her. “You Googled it?”

“Yeah, that’s why I haven’t called you all week, because I was trying to learn as much as I could so that I could convince you that Giuliana would be safe around me. But there’s so much you need to know, and I don’t know if I’ll be good at any of it, and she was really sticky that day with the syrup, and⁠—”

I close the distance between us and wrap my arms around her, pulling her against me.

“Why are you hugging me?” Her voice is muffled against my chest as her body stiffens.

“Because I can’t stand here listening to you tell me all of this and not hold you.”

She tries to push out of my grasp. “This isn’t necessary. You don’t need to comfort me.”

“This is more for me than it is for you.”

She stops squirming, but doesn’t lift her arms around me.

We stand in the silence of her apartment, with Dash weaving through our legs, and I hold onto the only shred of hope I have of keeping my parents’ villa.

I rest my chin on the top of her head. “I didn’t know the first thing about children when Giuliana was born, so it’s been a learn-as-I-go experience. Annie has been a huge help. I’m not sure I would’ve survived some of the harder days without her. But you’ve put more thought and care into being with Giuliana than her own mother did, so I’d say that’s a good start. Plus, she’s already obsessed with you.”

Aarya pulls back and looks up into my eyes. “Really?”

“For the last week it’s been, Aarya’s hair is so pretty; can you do my hair like Aarya? Can we visit Aarya at her gallery? I’m going to paint a picture for Aarya so she can hang it in her gallery. Is Aarya coming over today? I want to show her my room.” I shake my head. “It’s been exhausting.”

A slow grin spreads across her face, like she’s happy to hear that Giuliana has been talking about her. And something deep inside me settles into place.

Maybe this can work after all.

I cup her face, my thumb stroking her cheek. “All you have to do is be yourself. That’s the only version of Aarya I want. But if you don’t feel comfortable with this, then there is no pressure. You can tell me no, and I’ll walk right out your door, and we’ll go back to being friends.”

She arches a brow. “Friends?”

“Your best friend married mine. I’d like to think we’re friends now too.”

She chews on her bottom lip giving me a sly look. “We’re about to become a lot more than friends, Funnel Cake.”

My eyes widen. “Does that mean…?”

She nods. “I’m in.”

Relief crashes into me like a tidal wave, and I scoop her up into my arms and spin her in a circle. “Thank you.”

She grunts as I set her down, and shoves me away. “That’s two hugs in one night.”

“The spitfire doesn’t like hugs?”

She squares her shoulders. “Hate them.”

Dash paws at my leg, missing out on the fun. I pick him up and he nuzzles into the crook of my neck.

Aarya shakes her head. “Looks like Giuliana is getting that cat she’s been wanting.”