“So what did your honey say to you?” Ryker asks, and I can tell there’s a little bit of brother-in-law intention to embarrass the newest family member by putting her on the spot.

Lexi gives Ryker a secretive smirk as she reties the bow around the bear’s neck. “That’s for my eyes alone.”

“Why didn’t he stay?” I ask Georgia.

“I don’t know,” she says with a shrug. “Just said to give it to Lexi and that he had to run.”

My gaze slides over to Lexi, who pretends that question wasn’t asked as she fiddles with her water bottle, and I sense some discomfort on her part, despite the happiness I just saw on her face a bit ago.

“Lexi,” I say to get her attention. When she looks up at me, I ask, “Why didn’t Roman join us tonight? You told him he was invited, right?”

“Um, yeah,” she says as she nervously tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. “I invited him, but, um…he um…”

Her words trail off and she glances at Georgia nervously, who now has a look of understanding on her face as she stares back at her.

“Lexi?” I prod, adding a note of fatherly concern to my tone.

Finally, she looks up at me and holds my gaze. It reminds me of how she looked at me right before she told me she was my daughter. With her shoulders squared, she says, “He wasn’t comfortable.”

“Wasn’t comfortable?” I ask dumbly.

Lexi nods. “He was a bit uncomfortable because things are tense between him and Gray, and also…well, he’s not really had much of a family life, and these family situations are just a little awkward to him. Given that this is all new with us, and we’re just getting to know each other, he took a pass on tonight. It’s nothing personal.”

And yet it is, because while I can get not wanting to impose on a personal family moment with us all getting together to celebrate Lexi joining our family, there’s clearly something personal going on with Roman and Gray.

My eyes first dart to Ryker, as I’m curious to see if this is news to him. His face is knowing, so apparently I’m the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on here.

“What tension between Roman and Gray?” I ask lightly and still speaking as a father, not as an owner of the team who is finding out there may be a problem between my general manager and a player.

Lexi’s eyes dart down again, but Gray steps into the conversation. “I’ve had to counsel him on his behavior. We’re not seeing eye to eye on things.”

With this simple explanation, Lexi’s head snaps back up and she seems relieved.

Almost too relieved, and that lets me know that there’s something more to the story, but Lexi doesn’t want me dragged into it, and if my gut is right, she doesn’t want to cause waves with her sister.

“Well, let me get back to work,” Georgia says as she looks around the table, effectively ending the conversation about Roman. Unfortunately, she’s covering for Lexi’s waitressing and barista duties, so I can’t have the pleasure of her complete company tonight. She then turns to Lexi. “You want anything else, doll, besides that water before you go back up?”

“No, thanks.” Lexi beams at Georgia and then pops off her stool as she says to the entire table, “But I do need to use the restroom. Anyone want anything else while I’m up?”

We all decline and Lexi seems fine as she leaves, a bounce in her step as she walks toward the bathroom. I note that pink bear still clutched tightly in her hands and I’m guessing she’s not going to the bathroom but stepping somewhere private to call Roman. I smile to myself, as my youngest seems to be falling hard for a man, who by all appearances seems to really, really like her.

As soon as Lexi is away from the table, I turn to Gray and ask bluntly, “What’s the deal with Roman?”

Gray goes into full business mode and her spine stiffens. “I had words with him a few weeks ago when that article was in the paper about the woman who tried to blackmail him. Just trying to rein him in a bit as far as publicity goes. And we also talked about the amount of suspensions he’s had, and to try to curb that as well.”

I nod in understanding, as that’s what any general manager would do. I think professional players are usually mature enough to handle these types of talks with a grain of salt. Still…there should be no residual tension.

“But there’s more to it,” I say. While I won’t ever second-guess the way Gray handles things as a general manager, I do want to fully understand the situation, since we know Lexi is in our life to stay, and Roman might be part of the package with her.

Gray looks at me with a measure of sad frustration and nods. “I’m sorry, Dad. But you know how there are people that you just don’t click with?”

I nod in understanding.

“Well, Roman is one of them,” she admits while holding my gaze. “He’s one of those reckless players who makes no apologies for the way he is, and frankly, he’s borderline disrespectful at times. He’s definitely got control issues and bucks against the system at every turn.”

“So it’s personal to you?” I ask so I make sure I’m getting the true gist of what she says.

“Yes,” she says in complete candor. “Part of it is personal with me, and now that he’s seeing Lexi, it’s become even more so. There’s a part of my irritation that comes from being protective of Lexi because he’s a known player.”

“But maybe he’s changed in that respect,” I point out. “I mean…he dropped a pink teddy bear off to her tonight to let her know he was thinking of her. That doesn’t scream player.”

“I know,” Gray huffs out. “And maybe you’re right, but it’s hard for me to give him the benefit of the doubt when I don’t know him.”

“So get to know him,” I suggest.

“How, when he won’t come to family events?” she counters.

“I bet he’d be willing to perhaps go on a double date with you and Ryker,” I offer. “That’s not as pressure filled.”

“Maybe,” Gray says grudgingly.

“I’ll start reaching out to him more,” Ryker says to his wife. He’s our goalie coach and doesn’t have anything to do with the defensemen, really, but he does travel with the team and is there during all practices. “We should probably try to get to know him if Lexi’s getting serious.”