“Listen, Huey is a happy baby, and he loves you already. He lights up when you’re around. In a couple of short weeks, you’ve become his safe space. The rest we’ll figure out on the way. We’ll make mistakes, but in the end, Huey will grow up to be a happy, emotionally healthy kid who definitely won’t be in jail or have skin cancer, I promise.”

She let out a weird snort-sob. She was overwhelmed, that was obvious. And her meltdown had less to do with some old bitch and more to do with her grief. Still, I pulled her shoulders back, and pushed her hair back from her sticky cheeks.

She looked down at the wet patch on my chest from her tears, and her already pink cheeks darkened. I saw when embarrassment overcame her distress. I watched as she got mad at herself, saw the frustration in her eyes.

“He’ll end up a basket case because I’m a basket case. I’m sorry.” She scrambled off my lap, and I swallowed hard to stop myself from grabbing at her hips to make her stay where she was, tucked against my chest.

I shook my head. “He’ll be fine. Spoiled rotten, probably, but he’ll know so much love. I swear it.” And I did. Huey would have the childhood Dev and I never got. I swore it on Alana’s memory.

“I guess—” She froze, her eyes looking out the windshield. I turned and saw an elderly woman walking into the parking lot.

Anger welled in my chest. “Is that the lady?”

“River—” she started.

“Is. That. Her?”

She nodded, and that was all I needed. I climbed out of the car, ignoring Nova’s pleas. I strode over to the old bitch who’d needlessly caused Nova so much heartache. When the old woman’s eyes met mine, they lit up, first in obvious appreciation, and then—when she reached my face after ogling my body—in recognition.

“Oh my gosh, River Cooper! I am such a fan. My ex-husband was a massive IceCaps supporter—only good thing that bastard left behind. I took his box seats in the divorce. I come to all your games!”

I told myself to breathe through my nose, pasting a friendly smile on my face that didn’t reach my eyes. Good. This had just gotten better. “Is that right? It’s nice to meet you too, Ms…?”

“Sullivan. Margaret Sullivan.”

I gave her a shark grin. “Excellent. Consider your membership revoked. I’ll talk to Corporate when I get back to the arena.”

The woman gaped. “Excuse me?”