Living Proof (NHL)

Chapter Three

"Lily, come on love. We have to get going or we'll be late."

I had already packed up some things that would keep her entertained and stuff to eat and drink. I had bought her ice skates not to long ago so I packed those along with her helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads. She loved skating so I knew if there was a few minutes before or after practice I would let her.

The drive to the rink was short as I listened to Lily tell me stories. She had quite the imagination for a three year old. When we got there though, she was quite as we passed people she didn't know.

"It's okay Lily. You wanna go skate?" At her eager nod, I took her into the bathroom and started helping her put all her protective gear and helmet on. Ironically, she looked like a little penguin as she waddled her way out of the bathroom in her little skates.

I had to get into the locker room and get my skates but I couldn't take Lily in there with half naked men. Sighing I made her stay where she couldn't see in the door as I opened it. Surprisingly, Beau was the only one still there putting on his skates.

"Hey sunshine. Is everyone else already on the ice?"

"Yeah, practice started 5 minutes ago. We should probably head out." He said as he picked up his helmet and walked towards the door I was standing at.

Nodding my head, I grabbed Lily's hand and pulled her into the dressing room. I felt Beau's questioning gaze as I sat her down and started pulling on my skates. He didn't say anything though and continued out of the room. Instead of putting my helmet on, I put my hair in a messy bun, picked Lily up and headed out to the ice.

"Hey Cub!" A few guys shouted as I came down the walk way. I knew Beau and maybe even coach had told a few people that I had a daughter but it was still funny to see their reactions.

"Wait, Cub really has a Cub of her own?"

I laughed and put Lily down on the ice. She instantly grabbed onto my pant leg and hid behind my leg. She was peeking out at Flower who had crouched down to her level. "Lily love it's okay. They're nice."

"Hi Lily, I'm Marc-Andre Fleury but you can call me Flower."

"Flower? I like flowers." Everyone laughed as she blushed and shook his hand. "Mommy has flower on her neck with my name!"

I started rubbing the back of my neck where I had a tattoo of a lily and Lily's name below it. Nobody understood why I have a flower with the name of the flower under it but whatever. Some people are just stupid.

"Lily, why don't you come skate over here with me and Geno so your mommy can work for a little bit." I smiled at Sid as he held his hand out to her. I held her hand and pulled her on her skates towards him. She was still hesitant but grabbed his hand when I nodded and smiled at her.

The rest of practice went like that. Lily took turns hanging out with whoever wasn't practicing at that time. She was her normal, happy, talkative self and was very sad to leave when her grandpa came. After Coach told her she could come back whenever she wanted, she happily skipped away, my dad trailing behind her.

Twenty minutes before the game, my nerves got to me. I was geared up with my helmet on my head and stick tight in my hold. If I squeezed it any tighter it might actually break. I was in the hallway pacing while the guys sat in the locker room buzzing. They were all sure of the win tonight against the Anaheim Ducks and I definitely didn't want to screw that up.

"Kolby, do you think I could get an interview before your first game?"

"Of course you can Potash." I smirked as he stood next to me with his microphone in hand. I had already met Dan but have yet to pull a prank on him. I wanted him to think that I was nice and not expect anything so I could get him when he least expected it.