Cross Checked (Shots on Goal #2)

by Kristen Hope Mazzola

  “What a fantastic idea.” She grabbed my hand and we went into the foyer to find Myla huffing in a corner.

  “Hey sis, you ok?”

  Her face was beet red and she frantically wiped the tears away from her face. “They hate me.”

  Karla hugged Myla as I tried to think of something better to say than what I already had. “Coach hates everyone. I think that’s how he shows how much he actually cares about someone.”

  Myla tried to laugh a little. “I don’t think that’s how it works. He fucking loves Grif, but for some reason, Gavin and I are treated so poorly.”

  “Don’t let him get the better of you. The only way to beat him is to show him that he doesn’t affect you. I am not trying to defend Gavin’s foul remark, but at least he made light of it and moved on.”

  Myla threw her hand in the air. “How embarrassing was that though?”

  I huffed. “You’re telling me.”

  “Not helping,” Karla barked as she glanced up at me. “Now let’s go back in there and make the best of the rest of this dinner.”

  “Do you see now why I begged you to come?” Myla put her hand on her hip, looking up at me.

  I nodded. “Yeah, I get it.”

  Gavin was standing toe to toe with his dad at the head of the table. “You are going to apologize to Myla right now.”

  “For what?” Coach bellowed, spit leaping from the corners of his mouth. “You’re the one making smartass comments.”

  “Only in response to your ignorant questioning.” Gavin looked like he was about to punch his father in the face.

  Myla raised her hands in the air. “Can we all blame that on the alcohol and get back to having a pleasant evening? It’s Gavin’s birthday and I haven’t even given him his present yet.”

  We all took our seats, Gavin and Coach still all puffed up, pissed off to all hell.

  Myla pulled a few cards out of her bag and handed one to me, one to Griffin, and lastly, one to Gavin. “Open,” she instructed.

  I started to read the handwritten note, in complete disbelief as to how awesome my sister was.

  “Well?” Mrs. Hayes asked.

  Myla explained, “Gavin didn’t get a bachelor party and Brayden is about to be a dad, so I figured a guys’ trip was in order. There’s a ticket for Sean too. The four of you are going to Costa Rica to fish for black marlin, and while the boys are away, Karla, Jordan, McBee, and I are having a spa weekend. It’s all set up for three and a half weeks before the baby is due.”

  Gavin leaned over, kissing his wife’s cheek. “How’d you pull all of this off?”

  Myla smiled sweetly at him then to me. “Simon is an amazing resource and a master at planning stuff like this. You should really be thanking him.”

  Epilogue

  Karla

  “Myla!” I cried out in pain. “Myla!” I grabbed my gigantic belly as the sharp pain started to subside.

  It’s time.

  She’s coming.

  Reaching over, I started to shake Myla’s shoulder, frantically trying to wake her up. “How the fuck do you sleep so damn hard?” I yelled.

  “What?” Myla rolled over, stretching.

  Jordan groaned. “Are you ok?”

  McBee jumped out of bed, flipping on the light in our hotel room. “Karla?” she asked, concern lacing her tone.

  Right then, a huge rush of water came from deep inside. “Holy fuck!” Ripping back the soaked sheets, I started to push up from the bed as another wave of pain twisted my insides into knots.

  “The baby is coming. This is fucking happening.” I tried to breathe through the pain, but holy hell it was hard. No one could have prepared me for this. I was a damn nurse for fuck’s sake; I knew my water had broken and that I needed to get to the hospital right away, but dammit, Lilly was coming three weeks early.

  Jordan grabbed the hotel phone as Myla sat up. “What’s going on?” She rubbed her sleepy eyes, yawning.

  Jordan’s panicked voice shrilled into the phone. “We need an ambulance. My friend just went into labor and I think her water broke.”

  McBee jumped into action. “How far apart are your contractions?” She got down on her knees in front of me.

  “I think about six or seven minutes.” I cried out as another one came on strong.

  Myla jumped out of bed. “That was faster than six minutes, love. Let’s get you downstairs.”

  Jordan pulled on her robe. “Go. I will meet you there. I am going to pack up all of our stuff.”

  “Thank you.” I squeezed her hand as she helped me out of the bed.

  “Myla!” I started frantically looking around the room. “Where’s my phone?”

  She grabbed it from the desk where she had put it to charge the night before. “Got it.”

  She handed it to me as Jessica started to help me get my shoes on. I dialed Brayden’s number and it went straight to voicemail.

  “Hi, you have reached Brayden Cox. Please leave a message.”

  After the beep, I yelled, “She’s coming and you’re not here. Brayden! Our baby is on her way!”

  Myla grabbed my hand. “I will keep calling all the guys until I get through, don’t worry. Let’s just get you to the hospital before McBee has to deliver your little girl in the bathtub.”

  Brayden

  I woke up to Gavin frantically shaking me. “Brayden, wake the fuck up man.”

  Sean and Griffin were already up and moving around frantically, but it took me a couple moments to process what was going on. “What? What? I’m up.”

  “Karla is in labor. Myla was able to get us on the next flight out.” Gavin’s words hit the air but they weren’t processing.

  “Excuse me? What the fuck?” I lunged for my phone, hitting the button over and over. “Fuck, my phone died.”

  “There’s plenty of time to charge it later. Get the fuck up and get some clothes on. We have to leave in five minutes to make our flight.”

  “She’s three weeks early!” Panic started to set in. I knew our baby was healthy, but being early was something I had always been told was not a good thing.

  “It’s going to be ok, man. Let’s just get to her.”

  Gavin’s phone started to ring again and I ripped it from his hands. “Karla?” I yelled.

  Myla’s sweet voice came from the other end. “No, this is your sister. Hold on.”

  “Brayden?” Karla’s voice sounded so far away. “Baby, are you on your way to the airport?”

  “We are just about to leave.” I hopped on one foot, trying to hold the phone and get my jeans on.

  “Hurry. She’s coming fast.”

  “I will be there as soon as I possibly can.”

  We sprinted through the tiny airport, barely making our flight. It was the longest four hours and fifty-four minutes of my life.

  When Gavin, Griffin, Sean, and I bolted into the maternity ward at Flushing, a nurse glanced up from behind the nurse’s station. “Mr. Cox?”

  I threw my hands onto the counter. “My girlfriend is in labor.”

  She smiled sweetly at me. “Actually, she isn’t anymore. Congratulations, you’re a father to a healthy little girl.” She pointed to the room right in front of us. “Just be quiet when you go in. I think they’re all sleeping.”

  I rushed into the room to see Karla sitting up in the hospital bed, staring down at the pink and white bundle in her arms. Jordan, McBee, and Myla were all sleeping in chairs around the room, their luggage from the spa trip piled high in the corner.

  Tears started streaming down my face as I took in the view for a few seconds. I never wanted that memory to fade. Those simple moments made me feel complete, and right then I knew exactly what it meant to love someone—or multiple someone’s—unconditionally, even I hadn’t even met one of them yet.

  “Hello, gorgeous,” I whispered, walking over to Karla’s side.

  Her face lit up. “Brayden, I’d like you to meet your daughter, Lilly Marie.” She lifted our sleeping baby, re
sting her in my arms.

  I was speechless. I just stood there staring into the most precious face I had ever seen. She was so tiny and fragile but strong and mighty, all rolled into a perfect little package.

  “Hi, Lilly,” I whispered. “Sorry I was late, but you decided to surprise us a little early.”

  I knelt down, looking Karla in the eyes. “I love you so much.”

  She put her hand on my cheek, wiping away an escaped tear with her thumb. “You have no idea how much I love you, Brayden.”

  Our lips connected and a rush of emotion flooded me. It was the best kiss of my life—simple, quick, perfect. It was a kiss that started the rest of our lives together, a kiss that made my life complete.

  The end.

  Want more of Cross Checked’s Characters?

  They’re coming back…

  Jessica Mcbee and Sean Whistler are NYPD - read their story in Bleed Blue 69!

  Bleed Blue 69 - Twenty-Five Authors...One Sexy Police Station

  Remember Hook & Ladder 69?! The authors are at it again and it's bigger and better than before!

  25 Authors. One SEXY Police Station. All for Charity.

  Spend your holidays with the brave men and women of Precinct 69 protecting citizens and stealing hearts in the Big Apple. Twenty-five authors have joined forces to bring you their stories—some sweet, some dangerously hot—but all for a great cause. These NYC police officers will keep you warm on a winter’s night, make you sweat in the most delicious way possible, and have you wishing for your very own set of cuffs. Only further begging the question: Can anyone resist a hero in uniform?

  Multiple authors have come together to give you one police station where all proceeds from this collaboration go to families of fallen officers.

  Contributing Authors: Alexis Noelle, Josie Bordeaux, Rebecca Brooke, Emme Burton, MC Cerny, Sarah M. Cradit, Chelle C. Craze, Jami Denise Author, Lisa Edward, Mary Catherine Gebhard, Z.B. Heller, Vanessa Marie, Glenna Maynard, Kristen Hope Mazzola, Morgan Jane Mitchell, Jenni Moen, Alexis Alvarez, Rochelle Paige, Brandy L Rivers, Katherine Rhodes, Emerson Shaw, Kacey Shea, M. Stratton, Madison Street, & Felicia Tatum

  Grab your copy now!

  Did you enjoy what you just read?

  RATE IT: If the answer is yes, you did enjoy Hat Trick, please consider putting up a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Writing a review for an author is like tipping a server at a restaurant, even the bad ones are better than nothing.

  SHARE IT: Please help spread the word about Hat Trick. Tell your friends and family about it or share it with them. Sharing is caring, after all.

  STAY CONNECTED: Follow Kristen Hope Mazzola on facebook.com/authorkristenhope or twitter.com/khmazz to stay up to date about new releases, giveaways, and so much more! Join Kristen’s email mailing list for her monthly newsletter: kristenhopemazzola.com/mailing-list.html and there is always Kristen’s Street Team to join on Facebook: Kristen Hope Mazzola’s Rockstars!

  STAY TUNED: Sneak peeks for Hat Trick, a Shots On Goal Standalone hockey romance.

  Hat Trick

  Sneak Peek

  Hat Trick is a standalone sports romance.

  Synopsis:

  One accident - a freaking car crash.

  That’s all it took to send my brother’s and my life into a tailspin with no end in sight. I was going to be something. I was going to be the best. I had the Olympics in my sights. And it all went to shit in one flash. Brayden wasn’t ready to raise a younger sister when I was thrown into his lap. He had his life and everything going for him. Thankfully, he was still drafted to his dream hockey team. The same one dad played for when we were growing up.

  It took time, but I started to get better, started to open up, started skating and even dating again. I even thought I found the perfect guy for me.

  Isn’t it funny how guys hit on you when they know you’re not available, but when you’re single they won’t give you the freaking time of day? I guess the game is more fun that way. And for the captain of my brother’s team, that’s exactly what I was. A hat trick is three goals in hockey. Some say three is a crowd and they might be right.

  I was Gavin Hayes' unobtainable goal.

  *A No Cheating Standalone*

  Praise for Hat Trick

  "Definitely one-click worthy." - SweetSpotSisterhood

  "Fast paced and entertaining" - Hot Books and SassyGirls Book Blog

  "A beautiful and perfect read! [Kristen] has become my go-to author!" - Pure Textuality

  "Oh man, I am sucker for a great romance andKristen delivered." - Romance BookWorm

  "Must Read!" - Socially Awkward Book Nerd

  "5 stars for sure!" - East Coast Book Chicks

  "I could not put this book down. Excellent read an emotional roller coaster ride for the reader." - Goodreads Reviewer

  "What do you get when the captain of a hockey team fallsfor his teammate's sister? One steamy read that is! Hat Trick is exactly that...Kristen Hope Mazzola knocks the puck in the net with this one!" -Dayna,Ana's Attic Book Blog

  "Definitely a must read to all hockey romance lovers oranyone who loves to read!" - Naughty Smutty Book Blog

  Dedication

  To anyone that has been kicked in the balls by love and still believes in it, this one is for you.

  Prologue

  Myla

  Deep slow breaths.

  I could feel every muscle in my body getting ready.

  See the jump.

  Know how it is going to go.

  Feel every movement.

  Visualize.

  One…

  Two…

  Three…

  I could fly. In those few seconds, I could actually fly.

  Pushing myself to limits I never thought possible was incredibly liberating, and pulling off the perfect flying camel was always my favorite. There was something so peaceful about being alone in the rink. My skates gliding over slick, smooth, polished ice…the chilly air nipping at my cheeks and filling my lungs…it was like coming home. I knew I was meant to be there.

  Skating around, listening to my Spotify playlist full of angsty punk rock music—it was the best way to fill an afternoon. Right as Blink-182 started singing about going away to college, my skates left the ice and I was in complete bliss.

  After landing my best inside axel ever, my eyes snapped to the bleachers to find my mother’s smiling face. She was absolutely radiant, practically glowing as she jumped to her feet, clapping and cheering.

  “Do a stag for me!” She beamed as she cupped her hands around her mouth to project her voice out to reach me.

  I rolled my eyes, yelling back to her, “Why do you like splits so much? I just don’t get it.”

  She giggled, shrugging. “What can I say? I just do.”

  “As you wish,” I teased, sticking my tongue out at her as I skated backward to get enough room to pull off her request.

  I set myself up, taking a few slow, deep breaths, counting to myself. Within seconds I was flying again, smiling at my mother as she collapsed where she stood up in the stands. I crashed down onto the ice as a blaring horn drowned out my music.

  My eyes burst open. Lights were all I could see—bright lights barreling toward us. I was strapped into the passenger’s seat. The windshield wipers were frantically trying to keep up with the pouring, freezing rain.

  I screamed as I realized what was actually happening. “Oh my God, Mom! A truck!”

  Crash.

  Darkness.

  Stillness.

  Nothing.

  Chapter 1

  Brayden

  “So, doc…” My eyes traveled down to the blue-gray speckled white floor of my sister’s hospital room as I gripped her hand tighter. “How bad is it, really?” I knew from how mangled the car was that I was lucky she was breathing—even if it was with the help of a machine—but I needed to find a shred of hope that she’d see morning.

  Watching Myla’s tiny frame clinging to life in that hospital bed damn near broke
me. Most of the time, I prided myself on being the tough one in the family, but right then and there I was crumbling into a pile of useless emotions, praying for this to all be one sick, twisted nightmare that I needed to wake from.

  The young doctor with a thick red beard put his hand on my shoulder, frowning. “We’re going to do everything we can to save her, Mr. Cox. Go home and get some sleep. We will know more in the morning.”

  I nodded, willing my eyes to travel up my sister’s bedside. The site of a breathing tube coming out of her mouth and the beeping of the machine that was acting as her lungs made my stomach lurch. The cuts and scratches that dappled her fair skin didn’t do the severity of the crash justice. Both of her eyes were black and blue, her cheeks were swollen, and too many bones in her body were shattered. It was purely a miracle that the first responders were able to get her out of the car, let alone stabilize her enough to get her to the hospital and into surgery in time, but they managed it somehow.

  I squeezed her hand one last time, bending down and whispering into her ear, “Myla, if you can hear me, please fight. Please be strong. You’re all I got left. I love you, sis.” I cursed the tear that rolled down my cheek onto hers as I kissed my little sister’s temple.

  Squeaking sneakers sounded behind me. Turning slowly, I locked eyes with a short nurse in purple scrubs sheepishly walking into the room. Her petite figure reminded me of Myla’s, and she had a tiny bounce in her step that made her short, stick-straight hair sway side to side with every step. “Sorry, I just need to check on her.” She bit her bottom lip, looking down at Myla’s chart near the foot of her bed.