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

“Daddy!”

I drop my bag and brace for impact as Giuliana flings herself at me, Ellie not far behind.

“Hi, my girl. How do you feel?”

“Better.”

I hold her tight to me. “Yeah? Your belly doesn’t hurt anymore?”

“Nope. I haven’t frowed up since yesterday.”

I press my lips to her cheek. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here to take care of you.”

“It’s okay. I missed you, but Aarya helped me feel better.”

I step into the living room, and spot Annie on the couch with Dash. “Hey, Annie. How are you feeling?”

She smiles as she pushes off the couch. “A lot better than yesterday.”

I set Giuliana down, and she runs over to play with Dash. “I’m so sorry you had to handle all that while I was gone.”

I know better than anyone how tough it is dealing with a sick child, especially when vomiting is involved. I’m reeling from the guilt of not being here for her.

She waves me off. “It was mostly Aarya.”

I glance around the room. “Where is she now?”

Annie grimaces. “Poor thing isn’t feeling well herself now.”

My eyebrows lift. “She’s sick?”

She nods. “She’s been throwing up since this morning. I wouldn’t have known if I didn’t come by with groceries. I swear, she would’ve tried to take care of Giuliana by herself until you got home.”

I let out a sigh and run my fingers through my hair. More guilt pours into my gut.

“Why don’t you go and check on Aarya while I get dinner started? I don’t know how much she’ll be able to keep down, but the broth from the chicken soup might be a good start.”

I shake my head. “You don’t have to⁠—”

“Stop.” She squeezes my arm. “Go be with her.”

I nod before stepping into the hallway. I crack open Aarya’s bedroom door, and find her curled in a little ball at the edge of the bed with the garbage pail from the bathroom on the floor beneath her.

She can barely lift her head off the pillow as she peels her eyes open. “Alex, get out of here. Save yourself.”

I lower myself onto the bed, trying not to jostle the mattress too much. Her hair is damp around her forehead, and her skin is a sallow color.

“I’m so sorry you’re sick, baby.” I press my wrist against her hot forehead, glancing at the empty nightstand. “Have you had anything to drink?”

“I can’t keep anything down.” She covers her face with her hands. “Seriously, don’t look at me. I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”

“You need to drink and stay hydrated,” I say, ignoring her request to leave her alone.

“And you need to go wash your hands. You can’t afford to get sick.”

“You’re sick because you were taking care of my daughter. I’m going to take care of you now.”

“There’s nothing you can do for me. It just has to work its way out of my system.” She reaches down for the garbage and groans. “Seriously, Alex. Get out.”

I pull her hair back away from her face as she heaves into the pail. My chest aches for her, laden with guilt. After the wave of vomit is over, I place the pail back on the floor and wipe her mouth with a tissue off the nightstand.

She buries her face under the comforter. “I don’t want you to see me like this.”

“Like what, sick?” I peel back the covers and force her to look in my eyes. “We took vows, remember? In sickness and in health.”

“We also said until death do us part, and we know that was a lie.”

I heave a frustrated sigh. “You just spent the weekend getting puked on by my daughter—so I’m going to take care of you whether you like it or not.”

She pouts. “I don’t have the strength to argue with you right now.”

I clutch my chest. “That’s the best thing you’ve ever said to me.”

She lifts a feeble hand and flips me off.

I chuckle as I rise from the bed and take the garbage pail with me, closing the door on my way out. I rinse out the pail, and line it with a garbage bag so I can change out the bag each time she throws up. I grab a Gatorade from the fridge, and stick a damp washcloth in the freezer to chill.

Giuliana is helping Annie in the kitchen, stirring a spoon in the pot over the stove. “We’re making chicken soup for Aarya.” She frowns as she looks up at me. “I gave her my germs, Daddy. I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s okay, baby girl. It’s not your fault.” I ruffle her curls. “What do you say we have a daddy/daughter movie night tonight? I want to spend some time with my girl.”

She beams. “Can I pick the movie?”

“Of course.”

I return to Aarya’s room and place the cool washcloth on her forehead.

She groans. “That feels so good.”

“I want you to take a few sips of this Gatorade.” I twist the cap and bring the bottle to her lips, tilting it so she can reach it. “There you go, baby. Just a few sips for me.”

“God, why do you have to be so sexy right now when I look like roadkill?”

My eyebrow arches. “How am I being sexy?”

“There you go, baby. Just a few sips for me,” she mimics in a deep voice. “Jesus Christ. Now I have to change my underwear.”

I chuckle as I shake my head. “Well, for the record, you don’t look like roadkill. Now, get some rest and I’ll be in to check on you in a little while. And if you tell me I don’t have to check on you, I’m going to ignore you, so save your energy and your breath.”

She peeks up at me from under the washcloth. “Thanks, Alex.”

“Anything for you.”

And I mean it. Anything she wants, anything she needs…it’s hers.

Including my heart.

“Would you like more tea, King Alexander?”

“Why yes, I would love some more tea.” I hold out the tiny pink teacup, and Giuliana pretends to refill it. “This is a lovely tea party you’re hosting, Princess Giuliana.”

“Thank you, sir.” She beams as she sets down the teapot. “Do you think Aarya wants to play with us?”

“She’s resting, baby girl.”

I went in her room periodically to put a fresh cool compress on her head, and change out her puke bucket. I made sure she sipped the Gatorade I gave her, and laid with her so she knew she wasn’t alone.

“But listen, I wanted to talk to you about something.” I adjust my ass on the tiny wooden chair underneath me. “Aarya said you asked her to be your mother.”

Giuliana looks up at me with those big, round eyes. “Am I in trouble?”

“No, of course not.” I reach out and clasp her hand. “I love that you say what’s on your mind, and in your heart. It’s one of my favorite things about you. But I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about Aarya living here with us. She’s my friend, and now she’s your friend too. That’s all.”

She nods, looking down at the table. “Aarya said her mom wasn’t nice to her. Why did she do that?”

“I honestly don’t know. Some people aren’t very nice.”

“She doesn’t have a family.” Giuliana blinks up at me. “I think we should be her family.”

Emotion clogs my throat, making it hard to swallow. “Friends can be just like family.”

Friends. Because that’s all Aarya will ever be to me.

“Do you love her, Daddy? She said she cares about you a lot. I think that means she loves you too.”

I let out a soft laugh. My daughter the matchmaker. But before I can answer her question, the door cracks open and Aarya steps inside.

Her tired eyes bounce between Giuliana and me before her eyebrow arches. “I like the outfit, Big Man.”

I glance down at the red cape tied around my neck, knowing full well how ridiculous I look wearing a bedazzled crown. “That’s King Big Man, to you.”

She offers us a weak smile. “Having a tea party?”

Giuliana nods. “How does your belly feel?”

“I think I’m going to try to eat some crackers.”

Giuliana swings her gaze to me. “Can I have a snack too?”

“Sure, let’s go.”

We take off our tea party costumes, and head for the kitchen. They sit at the island eating crackers with jelly, watching me while I prepare Giuliana’s lunch for school tomorrow. My Spotify playlist plays on shuffle in the background, like it always does when I’m busy in the kitchen.

Then a familiar song comes on, slower and quieter than the rest of my usual songs.

Aarya side-eyes me. “This song? Seriously?”

I press my palm against my chest like I’m offended. “What’s wrong with American Pie?”

“Nothing. I just didn’t expect it in the middle of all the ragey rock music you had playing.”

“My father loved classic rock. He used to sing to my mom while she was in the middle of cooking.” I smile, remembering a specific moment from my childhood. “Anytime Brown Eyed Girl came on, he’d sing to her, and she would have to stop what she was doing and dance with him.”

Sadness pricks my heart, for the love they shared that was taken too soon. But a new sadness also settles into my chest.

A feeling of longing for what they had.

Longing to have that with her.

Aarya smiles. “That’s nice that you got to see them like that.”

Because she never saw anything close to that growing up in her childhood home.

Giuliana’s voice echoes in my head. I think we should be her family.

“Come on.” I wipe my hands on the dishtowel and hold out a hand for each of my girls. “Dance with me.”

Giuliana stands on the stool and climbs into my arms. Aarya stares down at my outstretched hand.

“Come on, spitfire. One dance.”

She pushes to her feet, and I wrap my hand around her waist, drawing her close. We sway to the sad song, and Giuliana gazes between the two of us, wearing a content smile on her face. And when the chorus comes on, Aarya and I belt out the lyrics, sending Giuliana into a fit of laughter.

It’s in this moment that it hits me for the first time: Aarya doesn’t need a prince or a knight in shining armor to rescue her. She’s so strong and capable, she can do anything she sets her mind to. What she needs is to feel loved. To feel safe. To be reminded of all that she is.

She doesn’t need a hero.

She needs someone to be her home.

I could be her home, if only she’d let me.