Page 133 of Taking Sides

“Thank you.” I still can’t believe it myself. I’m going to be a dad.

Penn is next. Then D-Low.

Travis is the only one who hasn’t moved.

“You okay?” I ask him, a little concerned as he just stares at me. Is he upset? The last I knew, he and Hannah weren’t planning to start a family for a few years, but maybe that’s changed.

“We’re having a baby?!” His mouth finally curves into a wide grin, and his brows lift. “I’m going to be an uncle again?”

Penn chuckles softly under his breath.

“Yeah, man. We’re having a baby,” I tell him.

Trav skates forward with his arms raised over his head. He hugs me, then pulls back and talks fast. “I am a great babysitter. Whenever you and Whitney need some alone time, I’m your guy. I cannot wait to teach little Shep all sorts of things. Do you know what you’re having? I bet it’ll be a little girl. Boys are fun though. Can I buy their first hockey stick? Can I teach them to skate?”

I’m taken aback by him, but it’s Trav, so I really shouldn’t be. I smile back at him. It’ll be good to have him in my corner, but babysitting? “Uh . . . we’ll see.”

“I’m so stoked,” Trav says, seemingly unfazed by my reply. “Uncle Trav and Little Shep. We’re going to have so much fun.”

“It’s certainly going to be fun to watch,” D-Low says, side-eyeing me with a knowing grin.

“Hey,” Trav fires back. “I’m a great uncle. Tell him, Galaxy.”

“He is,” Galaxy assures me, but he’s chuckling too. “Mostly.”

“What do you mean mostly?!” Trav asks him.

While they’re going back and forth, D-Low skates closer to me.

“I hate to break up the happy moment, but look who’s here.” He lifts his stick to point toward a spot off the ice. D-Low glances at me. “Were you expecting him?”

“No, but something tells me he’s here to see me.” I skate forward and call over my shoulder. “Keep the rest of the guys here, yeah?”

“I’ll try.”

I step off the ice and walk on the rubber mat to Victor.

“You’ve got some balls showing up here,” I say to him.

Victor rolls his eyes at me.

“I obviously didn’t come alone looking for a fight.” He shoots me a small grin. “I would have brought at least one other guy.”

I promised Whitney I would try to get along with him and that’s what I’m going to do. But damn if he doesn’t get under my skin like no one else.

I let out a breath and force some calm into my tone.

“What’s up?” I ask dryly, then freeze. “Is Whitney okay?”

“She’s fine,” he says quickly. I appreciate that he doesn’t keep me in suspense long.

My shoulders fall, and my body relaxes.

“I have to go back to Houston.”

I nod. I guess that means they aren’t going to trade him. Speculation around the league has been rampant since his suspension.

“Whitney says you’re happy about everything,” Victor says with a slight frown. If I had to guess, I’d say he isn’t thrilled I’m the guy that knocked up his sister.