Heart and Snow (Texas Highlanders Ice Hockey) Read Online Free

him questions about the upcoming game. He had stock answers for most of the questions reporters asked. Most of the time they asked the same ones.
    His phone blared from his pocket. Stepping back from the crowd as he pulled it out, he hunched over and plugged his other ear. “Hello?”
    “Cody, I’m sorry. Okay?” Jo’s voice was full of pain.
    Panic infused him, pumping fear into his bloodstream. “Jo, what’s wrong? Is it the baby? Are you okay?”
    “No, the baby is fine, I think. As far as I know. Hell, I don’t know.” She let out a big sigh over the phone.
    It surprised him how much that relieved him. Well, maybe not surprised. Regardless of whether he wanted to be a father or not, he’d still be worried about his wife, and the unborn child she carried.
    “Then what is it?”
    “Well, I was… talking to someone, and I realized that we never talk anymore, and that’s my fault.” Her voice was shaky, like she’d either been crying, or was close to it. She’d been crying a lot lately. Her normal self-control, the strength he was used to seeing from her, had somehow degraded. “I should have told you right away about the baby.”
    “Now isn’t really the time to talk about that, Jo.”
    “Well, I don’t know when else to talk about it, Cody. But I was thinking about it, and I wanted you to know that I love you. I’m sorry that things haven’t worked out the way we wanted them to. I really am. And if you want me to give this baby up, I’ll do it… for you.” Her voice cracked, and Cody had the distinct impression that she’d be devastated if he did ask her to give up that child.
    The idea of being a father was terrifying. What did he know about being one? Nothing, that’s what. His father’s drunken antics were ridiculously well publicized. He didn’t want to continue that messy lineage. And his mother—Well, there was no hope of Jo being anything like his mother. Jo had a good head on her shoulders.
    “Listen, Jo, we’ll talk later. I’m not going to make you do anything about this baby you don’t want to.” He cleared his throat, steeling himself for his next words. “We will do this together, no matter what.”
    He did mean those words. He and Jo had always been able to work things out before.
    “Thanks, Cody. I love you.”
    “Love you, too.”
    “I’m sorry I bothered you at practice. I just… I needed to say—”
    “It’s okay. I always have time for you.”
    “Bye.”
    He ended the call and turned around. He thought about his last sentence to Jo as he signed the next jersey. I always have time for you . Except not lately. He hadn’t given her the time of day lately, and hadn’t offered one syllable of explanation for it either. He was just so angry… He was a shitty husband. That’s all there was to it.
    His phone rang again, and he looked at the caller ID. He gripped the phone tightly as he recognized the number. Dad. He wasn’t in the mood for his father just then. He hit the volume button to silence the call, and shoved it back in his pocket. He needed out of there. The fake public smile just was too hard today.
    He caught John Charbonneau’s eye and pulled him to the side. “John, I need to get out of here.”
    “Joey sick again?” The older man asked, his hands on his hips like he was talking to a reporter. It was his default pose most of the time. The team captain probably didn’t even realize he did it.
    “Maybe. We… She’s pregnant.” It was the first time he’d voiced it, and it felt strange… and terrifying. He was going to be—Nope. He couldn’t go there yet. He wasn’t ready to say that word.
    “That’s fantastic, Cody!” Charbonneau said, smiling.
    “We hadn’t planned on children. It was kind of a surprise, and we haven’t really had a shot at sitting and talking about it in the last few days. Especially since the trip to Anaheim and San Jose last week.”
    “And you want to do that now.”
    “Yes.” Cody paused. “Unless, it’s