When It's Right

by Denault, Victoria

  I collapse on her, burying my face in her neck and kissing my way from her collarbone to her lips. She kisses me back, her fingernails grazing lightly, pleasurably across the back of my neck and into my hair.

  “I have to shower again,” I say softly, almost apologetically, because I don’t want to leave her, but I’m precariously close to being late for work.

  “I can help with that,” she tells me with a wicked little grin. “I’m trained in bathing people.”

  I laugh. She carefully pulls herself up, so I slip out of her, and then she wiggles her way out from under me. Hopping out of the bed, she takes my hand and pulls me to my feet and toward the bathroom.

  While we’re in the shower, she asks me about the custody hearing. I tell her how nervous I am. She kisses my shoulder and wraps her arms around me, hugging me from behind as the water pours down on us. “No judge in their right mind is going to upset a happy kid. And Charlie is happy, Griffin. That means you’re a good dad.”

  I hold onto her words and let them give me hope. She has to be right. I have a little more than a week to wait until I find out, but now that I have Sadie back in my life, it will be easier. Everything feels better already. After we get out of the shower and get dressed, I drive her home and head straight to the arena. I’m about twenty minutes later than normal, but nobody notices, or if they do, they don’t say anything. I head straight to the locker room to check on Eli. He’s not there.

  “He’s in the trainer’s room,” Jude informs me, and I feel panic. Is something wrong? “He’s says his left quad is tight. He told me to tell you it’s nothing.”

  I chuckle. “How considerate. But I’ll believe it when I talk to the trainer myself.”

  I know Eli’s history like the back of my hand. I did a lot of research before I took the job. I’m aware he struggled his first season because of PTSD and he butted heads with the goalie coach before me because Eli wouldn’t admit what was happening with him and didn’t want help. I feel like that might have been an isolated incident now, but I still feel the need to double-check. It’s almost playoffs. Players tend to push through stuff they shouldn’t right about now.

  “He told me you’d say that too,” Jude replies as he pulls on his red Under Armour shirt. He meets me with eyes the same color as Sadie’s. “I wanted to say thanks. For telling Eli that Sadie was…unraveling.”

  “You’re welcome.” Jude isn’t turning back to put on the rest of his equipment, so I feel like he has more to say. I wait.

  He rubs the back of his neck and looks a little sheepish, and I know he’s about to bring up Sadie. More specifically my relationship with Sadie. So I do it for him. I take a couple steps closer, so the guys wandering in and out of the room while they get ready don’t overhear too much.

  “Sadie means a great deal to me,” I tell him honestly. “I will always look out for her and go out of my way to try and help her. She’s an incredible woman, and she’s going through…fuck, you’re all going through a really painful time.”

  He seems stunned by my candor, and I feel a little bit victorious. I know from playing him on the ice that Jude doesn’t get stunned easily. He’s usually the one doing the shocking things, not being shocked. “We are,” he agrees when he finally manages to speak again. “That’s why I have to tell you, if you do anything that puts her in more pain—”

  “Oh, good, the older brother speech,” I interrupt and give him a cocky grin. “I figured you were the type of guy to threaten your sisters’ boyfriends with physical violence. You like to play a douche canoe on the ice, but turns out you’re just a big old softie.”

  Jude laughs, which is exactly the reaction I was hoping for. “First of all, it’s ‘extremely talented douche canoe.’ And secondly…there is no secondly, just don’t break her heart.”

  I pause and grow serious. “I can’t promise that. But I can tell you that if I have to, it will also break mine.”

  He considers my words. “I don’t like that.”

  “Neither do we, but we’re going for it anyway,” I reply. “And we both think it’s worth the risk.”

  Eli appears in the doorway. “Hey, Coach!”

  “How’s the quad?” I ask, turning to him.

  “A-okay. Just a little tightness from practice,” Eli assures me and then looks to Jude and back at me. “What’s up with you guys?”

  “Jude is just threatening my physical safety for getting back together with Sadie,” I reply with a wry grin.

  Eli’s whole face lights up. “You guys are going to give it a go? That’s fucking awesome. Maybe a little awkward because you’re my coach and now I’ll be seeing you at family dinners, but still awesome.”

  “Not your family yet,” Jude reminds him. “And if you screw up, I’ll hit you too.”

  Eli turns to me, ignoring Jude completely. “You’re going to love watching the girls take him down a peg every thirty seconds. It’s truly an art form.”

  I laugh, and Jude rolls his eyes. “I’ll let you get to it.”

  I head out of the locker room, smiling, but the grin and the good feelings that have been building in me evaporate as my phone rings. It’s Hunter, and as soon as I say hello he says, “Lauren’s lawyer asked for the hearing date to be moved up. It’s tomorrow at noon.”

  And just like that, everything feels dark again.

  25

  Sadie

  The shift is going painlessly. We’re not slammed with patients, and everything is manageable. I’m working with Shelda again, whom I adore, and I’m floating on a post-orgasm high.

  For the first time in a long time, I chose me. Griffin fills a void in my life, brings me joy. And like my dad said, it already feels way better to know I’ve made the decision to be with Griffin for as long as I can, regardless of how long that is. And to be there for him and let him be there for me.

  Dad was napping when I got home from Griffin’s, so I couldn’t thank him for his advice, but I decide I’ll call him on my break. As soon as I walk into the nurses’ lounge, I pull my phone out of the pocket of my scrubs to dial our home number, but I see a text from Griffin and open it instead.

  Hunter just called. Somehow Lauren’s lawyer got the court date bumped up to tomorrow.

  My heart plummets. He may find out tomorrow. I just took a chance at happiness and I might already be getting shot down.

  Deep breath, Sadie. Think positive. Or don’t think at all and just work. Whatever happens, crying about it now isn’t going to change it.

  I eat my lunch, but I don’t really taste it. As I’m finishing my turkey sandwich, Griffin texts again.

  No matter what happens. Even if I end up in NYC, I am not letting you go. Long distance sucks, but it’s better than losing you.

  I wish he were right, but I look at Winnie and Ty, and I think it’s a fate worse than death. Maybe we would be different….

  I throw out the rest of my sandwich and start to text him back, but the lounge door bursts open and little Shelda is standing there huffing like she ran a marathon. She puts a hand to her chest dramatically. “Oh, sweet baby Jesus, I am not a sprinter.”

  “Is something wrong? Did we get a rush of patients?” I ask, standing up. “A car wreck?”

  She shakes her head. “Only one new patient. A suspected drug overdose.”

  That’s tragic but not unheard of or worthy of sprinting through the hospital to get me. She struggles to stabilize her breathing, and when she manages it she explains. And it makes my heart clench in fear. “That little girl. The adorable one that belongs to your stud muffin? She’s here.”

  “What?” She’s mistaken. It’s another kid who looks like Charlie. Why would Charlie be here in the middle of the night and Griffin doesn’t know? She’s got to be wrong.

  “Came in with her mama, who is here for the overdose guy,” Shelda explains. “I know it’s her, Sadie. I even said hello to her and she remembered me.”

  “Oh, God, no.” My pulse is racing, and my blood feels cold. “
I have to tell Griffin.”

  “You can’t,” she argues. “Privacy policy.”

  My heart plummets so fast I almost gasp. “Shelda, I have to tell him.”

  She looks at the clock. “That’s why you’re sick.”

  “What?”

  “There’s enough of us on and it’s been a slow night, so I’ve decided, as head nurse, that you should go home and take care of that cough of yours instead of working through it.” She drops her voice to a stage whisper, even though no one else is in the room. “If you walk through the ER lobby and see her as a citizen and not an on-duty nurse, you can call him.”

  I look at the clock. It’s almost twelve-thirty in the morning. The game is over and he’s home, and I know he’s up because he just texted me. I rush over and hug Shelda. “Thank you.”

  “You’re most welcome.” Shelda pats my back. “Now get that kiddo with her hot little daddy. Clearly Mommy is making some questionable life choices. Also, she’s a bit of a bitch. She yelled at me when I told her she couldn’t be in the room while they work on the patient.”

  Shelda leaves, and I clock out and change into my street clothes so fast that my dress is on inside out, but I don’t care. I grab my purse out of my locker and almost run to the waiting room. Seconds before I push open the swinging doors, I take a moment to compose myself so I can look relaxed. I walk into the waiting room, my eyes sweeping the whole area instantly. Charlie is on one of the chairs in the corner playing with the zipper on the jacket she’s wearing over her pajamas.

  Look up, kiddo. Look up!

  I scan the area again, trying to find someone who might be Griffin’s ex. There’s a tall, pale brunette at the desk arguing with Kina about something. That’s got to be her. I glance back at Charlie, and she’s finally looking up. She spots me and recognition makes her expression brighten.

  I wave enthusiastically, like I have no idea why she’s here and I’m just happy to see her. “Hi, Charlie!”

  I walk over to her casually, but my legs ache, they want to run to her so badly. I bend down in front of her chair. “I’m Nurse Sadie. Remember me?”

  She nods. “My daddy likes you.”

  “I like him,” I reply calmly. “And you. Do you have another raisin problem?”

  She shakes her head with gusto. “No. I’ve been good about ignoring stupid dares from stupid boys. I promise. My dad is going to get me bow and arrow lessons if I stay good. Like Merida in Brave.”

  Oh, my heart. She’s a tomboy just like I was. And Griffin embraces it just like my dad did.

  “Archery? That’s great! You’ll be good at that,” I tell her and pause, giving her my best silly, overexaggerated perplexed look, and she smiles. “So why are you here tonight so late? Is your dad with you?”

  “No,” she says sadly. “My mommy’s friend got sick so we’re here.”

  “That’s too bad,” I say and try not to grit my teeth, I’m so angry. Thank God she’s naïve about it and isn’t overly traumatized—yet. “Have you told your daddy yet?”

  “Excuse me!” I twist to look behind me and see the brunette. “Why are you talking to my daughter?”

  I stand up and face her. She’s pretty. It’s one of those stupid things I can’t help but notice. Like model pretty. “I’ve met Charlie before. I just wanted to say hello.” I extend my hand. “I’m Sadie Braddock. My brother plays for the Thunder, and I know Griffin.”

  She blinks—a lot and fast. It’s like watching a computer pinwheel spin to process information. “What are you doing here in the middle of the night?”

  “I was wondering that about Charlie,” I say, sidestepping her question. I look down at Charlie. “We should call your dad.”

  “She’s with her mother. That’s all you need to know. Excuse us.” She gently takes Charlie’s hand and guides her across the waiting area to another row of seats. I head outside to the parking lot and call Griffin.

  “Hey,” he says, and his voice is low and gravelly, and I worry he was already asleep.

  “Griffin…Charlie is fine, one hundred percent, but she is here at the hospital with her mom,” I say. “She is perfectly fine,” I repeat. “I just talked to her myself.”

  “What? Why? I’m on my way,” he says, and I can hear the panic. “What happened? Is it Lauren? Why didn’t anyone call me?”

  “Lauren is fine. I’ll explain when you get here,” I promise. “Just hang up the phone and drive safely. I will meet you in the parking lot.”

  He gets here way faster than he should have, but I don’t call him on it. He jumps from his Range Rover and rushes to me. “Where is she?”

  “She’s in the waiting room,” I explain, holding his biceps because I’m worried he’ll just bolt before I can explain everything. “I can’t tell you why they are here because it would violate my work rules, but I can tell you neither of them is hurt in any way. They’re just in the waiting room.”

  He’s confused and frustrated, but I think he gets it, because he just nods at me, pulls away, and starts stalking toward the building. I chase after him. Everyone in the waiting room looks up as soon as he enters. His energy is dark and fills the room even more than his hulking physical presence. Well, everyone except Charlie, who has curled up on her chair and fallen asleep with her head in her mom’s lap. His ex’s face falls as soon as she sees him. She looks like a kid who was caught stealing the car. It would be funny except it’s so completely not.

  Griffin walks right over to her. He starts to scoop up Charlie.

  “Daddy!” she says in sleepy elation and wraps her arms around his neck.

  “I’m going to take you to the boat, okay, kiddo?” She nods, eyelids still heavy.

  The ex opens her mouth, but Griffin’s intense stare steals any sound that she might have made. He speaks, calmly. Too calmly. “I’m going to take her to my place to sleep in her bed. You’re going to follow me to the parking lot.”

  “But—”

  “Lauren.”

  She nods. He turns to me and hands me his car key fob.

  “Can you help me out and take Charlie and get her settled in the car, please?” I nod, and Lauren makes a face. Griffin sees it. “We need to have a private conversation. Sadie will keep an eye on her at my car while we talk across the lot.”

  Lauren still has a look of pure hate on her face, but I ignore it, and we all walk out together. Griffin puts Charlie down and squats to her level. “Charlie, honey, Nurse Sadie is going to walk you over to the car and get you settled. Mom and I will be right over there.”

  He points to a spot a few cars over, and she nods. I take her hand and walk her over to his SUV. A couple minutes later she’s strapped into her booster seat and already nodding off. I keep the back door open and lean against the side of the car and keep an eye on her.

  I try not to glance over too much, but when I do I see a lot of angry expressions and gesturing arms. Their voices start getting louder and louder as they talk, and I start to hear everything, but Charlie is asleep so she, thankfully, doesn’t.

  “My boyfriend is sick and you’re punishing me by taking away my daughter,” she says heatedly. I bristle at the idea that she is turning this around and blaming Griffin.

  “What is he sick with, Lauren?” Griffin snaps.

  “I don’t know why Cale is sick, but I do know you won’t get away with this,” she yells.

  Something in me snaps, and I can’t stay silent. I gently close the door to the car and take a step toward Griffin. They notice and both turn to face me at the same time.

  “She knows why he was brought in, and so do I,” I can’t help but interject. My eyes narrow on her face. “And I will tell him if you don’t, even if it costs me my job.”

  Lauren hates my guts. That is clear in the look she gives me. And if I get my way, this woman will be in my life for a very long time, because Charlie will be—because Griffin will be—but if the price I pay is a lifetime of bitchiness and death stares from her, then so be it. “He has to know
if it affects his daughter, and clearly it does,” I remind her flatly.

  “Who the fuck are you?” Lauren hisses.

  “Sadie is my girlfriend,” Griffin explains.

  “How the fuck does she know anything about my life?” Lauren demands.

  “Why is my daughter in an emergency room waiting room in the middle of the night?” Griffin asks her in a dark, deep voice so serious it’s almost menacing.

  “They said Cale overdosed, but I don’t believe them,” Lauren says, but the quick, furtive way she’s talking means that deep down, she does believe them. “I know he’s been under a lot of stress, because he wants me to move to New York with him and you’re making that harder than it needs to be. But he’s not like a serious drug user. It’s got to be a mistake. He has the occasional joint but never anything hard. I wouldn’t be with him if he had a real drug problem.”

  Griffin takes a deep breath. He’s much calmer looking than I probably am, and it amazes me. “I’m taking Charlie home. She’s spending the two days I’m away for the road trip with Hunter and Mia. You are going to call your lawyer and cancel the custody hearing tomorrow.”

  “I can’t. I won’t!”

  “Lauren.” Griffin’s voice suddenly sounds so tired. “She’s our baby. She can’t move to New York with a drug addict. I know you love her.”

  “We don’t know for sure that’s what happened tonight!” She is so desperate that I almost feel bad for her.

  “Lauren, it’s this plan or I go in there tomorrow and tell the judge all of this,” Griffin explains. “And you’ll have a lot more to worry about than whether you go to New York.”

  Lauren starts to cry, but she nods. “Fine. I’m going to need time to deal with this anyway. But I want to see her while she’s with Hunter and Mia.”

  “Of course,” Griffin replies. “I will never keep you from your child.”

  Oh, my God, I love this man. I love this man.

  Lauren storms past me to the car and opens the door to the back seat. Charlie is still out cold. She strokes her hair and kisses her forehead before glaring at me one last time and turning and heading into the ER without another word. Griffin turns to me, grabs my face in his hands, and kisses me feverishly. When he pulls away I’m breathless.