Hockey Holidays Read online

  “Will I?” Angel asked bluntly.

  Vassoula cut her eyes in her husband’s direction, shaking her head. “Sometimes he is very stubborn—too stubborn. I don’t know why he is so set on Dmitri marrying a Greek girl, but Dmitri can be stubborn also. Eventually, Antoni will see that Dmitri isn’t a child and makes his own decisions. Then everything will be okay.”

  “I hope so. He’s so upset at the idea he might have to choose between his family and me.”

  “His family?” Vassoula raised her eyebrows. “Never. His father—eh, he’ll get over it, this is how old-school Greek men behave. But Dmitri will never lose me or his sisters. Don’t worry, everything will be all right.” She put a gentle hand on Angel’s cheek before moving off to talk to Ashleigh.

  Everyone but Antoni had settled into Brock and Ashleigh’s home with no problem, mingling with them and their friends as if they’d always known each other. Even Penny was in the middle of a card game with Bella and Toli’s stepdaughter, Raina. Ginnie and Tina were slightly starstruck being in the same room as two movie stars like Ashleigh and Rachel, Marlon was talking sports with Brock, Vlad and Toli, and Vassoula made the rounds between Angel, the women and the kitchen. Had it been any other situation, Dmitri would have been thrilled. Instead, he’d been keeping a wide berth from his father but had no choice but to acknowledge him when he came up behind him in the garage as he took out a bag of garbage for Ashleigh.

  “You’re going to marry Penelope, yes?” his father asked.

  Dmitri looked up wearily. “You already know the answer to that.”

  “There’s a baby,” he said, as if Angel wasn’t pregnant too.

  “Apparently, there are two babies but I’m only in love with one of the mothers and at this point, I don’t even like Penny.”

  “I didn’t love your mother when we got married but it was the right thing to do.”

  “For whom?”

  His father peered at him over the top of his reading glasses. “You marry a nice Greek girl and settle down. That’s what Greeks do. Then you finish this hockey business and come home to work with me.”

  This again. Dmitri didn’t know how to make his father understand hockey was his life and career, and when he wasn’t able to play anymore, he wanted to coach. He was never going home to Astoria to run the family restaurant; he shuddered just thinking about it.

  While his mother had embraced all the U.S. had to offer when she and his father moved here, his father remained a lot more focused on the Greek ways. Marrying other Greeks, living near other Greeks, owning a Greek-run business. Dmitri wasn’t sure how he’d gotten lucky enough to play professional hockey, but it was almost all because of his mother. His father had thought it was stupid and even when he’d gotten really good and the NHL had come calling, Antoni had been unimpressed by this life choice. He was impressed with his salary, for sure, but far too proud to admit it.

  “Baba, I make ten times what I would make at the diner.”

  His father scowled. “Money isn’t everything.”

  Dmitri burst out laughing. “That’s the least Greek thing you’ve ever said.”

  “You’re going to be the man of the family when I’m gone. How will you do this playing hockey?”

  “By making a lot of money and providing for everyone,” Dmitri shot back. “Besides, you’re not even fifty. You’re going to be around a while unless you know something I don’t.”

  The older man grunted. “You disappoint me, Dmitri.” With that, he turned around and went back into the house.

  This was a familiar argument and Dmitri wondered for the millionth time what it would take to make his father proud of him. In general, they were a tight-knit, fun-loving family. His father was a little old-fashioned but loved his children and had worked long hours to provide for their family without ever complaining. Dmitri didn’t understand why he seemed to be held to a higher standard than his sisters. There was no need for a head of the family these days. One sister was married, the other would most likely be married in another year or two, and if his father died first, there was no doubt he would make sure his mother was provided for. What else was there? Dmitri had money and wasn’t selfish with it. His parents had money. His sisters both worked at the family diner and Marlon made a good living as an engineer.

  He walked back inside as the doorbell rang and since he was closest, he went to open it. The person standing there was the last person he expected to see and for a minute he wondered just how far his father would go to manipulate him. Then he reminded himself he had a baby on the way—with a woman he loved—and there would be no manipulation. Especially not by his ex-best friend who’d slept with his fiancée at the time.

  Chapter Nine

  Dmitri didn’t want to make a scene that might upset Angel, so he stepped outside and shut the door. “What the hell are you doing here, Greg?”

  “I’m here for two reasons.” Greg stuck his hands in his pockets, hunching over a little.

  “How did you find me?”

  Greg shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Anyway, I know you hate me, and I get it, but I’m going to do you a solid to make up for what I did.” Greg shifted, digging something out of his pocket. “This should tell you everything you need to know.” He turned and started walking away.

  “Wait, what is this?” Dmitri wasn’t in the mood for games.

  “Look at the dates,” Greg called over his shoulder. He lifted his hand and turned back towards the taxi that Dmitri just noticed was waiting.

  “What. The. Fuck.” Dmitri stared at the ultrasound photo curiously. He read the details, trying to find something that stood out. Penny’s name, her doctor’s name, and the date of the ultrasound were at the top. There were some numbers he didn’t understand. Then he saw it. His eyes widened and his heart rate kicked up a notch.

  “Wait, dammit!” he yelled after Greg. “What’s the second reason?”

  Greg paused, hand on the door of the taxi. “While you were off doing the hockey thing, I was back home loving your girl. I tried not to—because I love you too—but when she finally got lonely enough to turn to me, I took the opportunity. Her parents aren’t down, though. They want her to marry the rich guy, the pro hockey player in Vegas, not the plumber with the bum knee in Astoria. But she’s my girl and that’s my baby and I’m not giving up without a fight.”

  “If she loves you, why does she care what her parents think?”

  “Why do you care what your dad thinks?” he countered.

  “I don’t.” Dmitri shook his head. “I still love him, but I’m not going to marry Penny. I love Angel. Period.”

  “Maybe it’s because she’s a girl, not a guy, but she’s afraid to walk away from her family.”

  “I’m not walking away from mine,” Dmitri pointed out. “I’m doing what’s going to make me happy and I have to believe at least my sisters and my mom will be there for me. I hope my dad comes around, but if not, it’s his loss.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m going to do my damnedest to make Penny see the light. We’re here in Vegas and could get married before we go back to New York. Then it’ll be done and there won’t be anything they can do.”

  Dmitri nodded. “Then maybe you should come inside. It’s cold out here and you can’t ask her to marry you from inside that cab.”

  Greg hesitated but then handed some money to the driver, grabbed his duffel bag out of the back and walked up to the front door.

  Angel didn’t know who the handsome man coming in with Dmitri was, but Penny’s gasp and the muttered curses coming from Antoni gave her a good idea. She exchanged a curious look with Dmitri, but he just winked before introducing Greg to everyone.

  Penny was on her feet, quickly approaching him, and they had a quick, huddled conversation before turning around and going right back out the front door. Angel slid her arm through Dmitri’s whispering, “What on earth is going on?”

  He grinned. “She lied. It’s not my baby—it’s Greg’s.”

  H