“Depends on if you’ve been good, eh?” Rook lifts a bag over his head so Jack can’t reach, he might be tall for his age but there’s no way he could get close to Rook’s six-one frame.

“I’ve been so good. The goodest I promise.” Jack flops his limbs around. Even Edge looks excited for Jack to get on the ice with all his own gear for the first time.

“Ruin has Jack been good enough to get his own skates?” Rook asks, but I know that even if Jack had been a terror he would get them anyway; he has us all wrapped around his finger.

“Yes, I have. I have. Tell him, Dad.”

Silence falls over the parking lot.

Jack must not have heard what he said because he is still jumping up to get Rook’s bag.

I’m stuck in a stunned silence.

I know Jack wanted me to be his dad, but I didn’t think the day would come where he actually called me his dad. I mean, I guess I’m the only man who’s been in his life to this degree, and I know I wish he was my son, but hearing him say the words stops me dead.

The guys must see how emotional I am because while I stand there fumbling for words, Anders slaps me on the back and Rook coughs before giving Jack his bag.

“Here you go, bud,” he says not looking away from me. Edge opens the door for us and Anders all but walks me into the lobby.

“Yesssss!” Jack sings gripping the skates close to his chest with a megawatt smile on his face.

“I was going to ask if you’re ready to become a dad but it looks like you already are.” Anders laughs lightly, testing my mood, but my heart feels like it’s outside of my chest. Jack has it in his hands.

Everyone around me is talking, asking Jack if he has all his kit and helping him get pads on, but I just watch them all.

My friends are helping my son.

My son.

We are teaching him how to play hockey, buying him skates and sticks and a top-of-the-line helmet. Not because we are trying to buy his affection but because we all want him to be safe – he is mine to keep safe. In my mental future where me and Ellis are married, I always pictured Jack and Ellis sharing my surname but until right now I didn’t think Jack would see me as anything other than his stepdad at best. But in his heart, in my heart, he is already mine.

To protect, to teach, to love.