Hat Trick

Micah was digging through her drawers when she heard her door open. She turned to find Deacon freshly bathed.

"Everything okay, Deacon?" asked Micah.

"I'm done." he replied "Can I read Harry Potter until everyone else gets ready for hockey?"

"Of course." she smiled at Deacon "It's one of my favorites. After you read each one we can watch the movies."

Deacon grinned from ear to ear. "Mike, I really do love you. I want you to stay. We don't just love Pauly."

"I was joking earlier, Deacon." replied Micah.

"But I'm not joking. We voted. We are keeping you. Normally the vote is how to get rid of the nanny." answered Deacon "This is for serious, Mike."

Micah couldn't help but smile at her tiny charge "You realize I am completely over my head here, Deac."

"We'll be good. Pauly will help." he replied "Just don't quit us."

Micah held out her hand for a fist bump "Nope, we're a team. I won't quit if y'all don't." Deacon gave her a huge smile and turned to go out of the room. He stopped at the door facing "Mike?"

"Yeah?" she called over her shoulder.

"Pauly likes you."

"You think?" she asked.

"No, he told Mr. Flower he liked you. Than, Mr. Flower started to say something and Pauly smacked him.” replied Deacon “Pauly told him you were different. He tells me being different is a good thing. So, he must like you a lot.”

“How’d you get so smart?” asked Micah

“Grown ups ignore us. So, I hear a lot because I am the quiet one.” answered Deacon.

Micah stopped digging in her drawers “I don’t mean to ever overlook you.”

“Oh, you don’t. Mike, you ask us what we want all the time. Most people tell us what we are going to do. That’s part of the reason Daylon says we have to keep you. Devon likes you, too. We never really all agree. But we all agree we need you to be our babysitter.”

“Thanks, I think.” laughed Micah.

“Wear the shirt in your right hand.”said Deacon. Micah glanced at the deep red shirt in her hand. She quirked an eyebrow at Deacon. “It’s Minnie colors. Pauly played college hockey for Minnie.” Micah smiled at the boy. “I’m going to read. And Mike you don’t have to get dressed up for us and Pauly. We can all just wear our PJs.” Micah started laughing. At what point had she started taking dating advice from a 7 year old? Better yet, when did a 7 year old get so wise?

“Noted.” replied Micah “I’m going to change into some PJs and I’ll be down in a few minutes. Don’t let your brothers trash the place, and don’t open the door for anyone.”

“Not even Pauly?” asked Deacon.

“You can let Pauly in.” she answered “No one else, got it? Enough surprises for one day.”

Micah grabbed the maroon and gold Rolling Stones tee from the pile. She managed to dig through her clothes and came up with the Nike pros that matched. She headed to her bathroom. She decided Deacon was right and she didn’t need to be dressed up or made up for Pauly and the boys. She changed out of the clothes she had been running errands in and into the comfy ones. Micah wiped away the make up of the day with coconut oil. A quick brush of her teeth. She slicked on a little lips gloss. She glanced at her hair. It of course was a semi frizzy mess. She remembered how put together Vero was. No hope for that chic, but she could tame the mane. Soon her hair was up in a messy bun and she found a gold headband to tame the fuzzies. Micah glanced in the mirror. She would have to do. Micah stopped in her room long enough to grab a pair of striped knee socks that matched her clothes. Okay, they weren’t Stones socks, they were Griffindor sock but they totally matched.

Micah stopped in her tracks in the hall, Devon and Daylon were each sitting on their beds with Deacon reading Harry Potter. She quietly walked down the stairs and ventured into the kitchen. They had just finished dinner, but she thought the game might require snacks. She washed grapes and put them in a bowl. She fixed each of the boys a drink. Micah was debating on popping popcorn when she heard the patio door open. Paul waved as he kicked his shoes off beside the door. Micah smile when she noticed the bottle of wine in his hand.

“I thought we were being responsible adults and watching hockey with the triplets?”

“We are,” said Paul winking at her “But bedtime is at 9. Then we can watch the game, tv, or a movie. Whatever you want.”

“Ladies choice?” she quizzed.

“Yes, Ma’am.” he replied “They are quiet. Why are they quiet? We should be afraid.”

“You don’t know everything, Paul Martin.”

Paul strode across the kitchen and sat the wine on the counter. His hair was still damp from the shower. She could smell that woodsy scent that she had come to associate with Pauly. He had on a faded University of Minnesota hockey t-shirt and matching shorts. Micah had decided it didn’t matter what he wore, she thought Paul was hot. He quirked an eyebrow at Micah and by-passed her on the way up the stairs. Micah heard him creep quietly up the stairs. She was busy pulling Ninja Turtle tumblers out of the cabinet for the wine when she felt his arms come around her.

“You’re a witch.” teased Paul “What did you do to the D-men?”

Micah arms came up and patted Paul’s face. She turned herself to face him. “I didn’t do anything, Martin. The boys have voted to keep me.”

A rumble of laughter escaped from Paul “They voted?”

Micah nodded. She felt his hands grasp her waist. She then found herself sitting on the counter among super hero cups, grapes, and wine. Paul stepped to the counter “Now look me in the eye and tell me you didn’t drug the boys.”

Micah gave him a beautific smile “I did nothing. They want me to stay. Deacon was full of information tonight.”

“Such as?” asked Paul

“Well, he informed me that I should wear this shirt because it was Minnie colors.”

“He’s right. And you look very hot in UM colors.” replied Paul “Much better than Buckeye colors.” He moved closer to her. Paul wrapped her legs around his waist. “I’m digging these knee socks.” Paul pressed his lips to hers. “And now I know which house you belong to, and that you are in fact a wizard.” he whispered.

Micah looped her arms around his neck. Her mouth sought his for another kiss before she leaned in and whispered “Be afraid Martin, be very afraid.”

“I’m terrified, gorgeous.” he replied “And as much fun as making out with you on the counter would be, I am slightly concerned about Daylon recent fascination with kissing.”

“One more kiss and I’ll go get them.” promised Micah “And it better be a good one.” Paul smirked at her before capturing her mouth with his. He felt her tongue stroke at the seam of his lips. Micah took control of the kiss. Her tongue sliding and gliding with his. Micah pulled him closer by locking her legs. She made a small sound into his mouth. Paul growled and wrested control of the kiss from Micah. His hands were toying with the edge of her shirt.

“I told you guys they were kissing.” said Daylon. Paul and Micah broke apart to see the triplets standing at the edge of the kitchen.

“Puck drop's in 5.” intoned Devon

“I finished the chapter.” shrugged Deacon.

Micah sighed. Paul smiled at her. “rain check” he whispered. He then ordered the boys into the the rec room as he handed the drinks out to the triplets. She was listening to the boys grumble when Paul told them they weren't going to staying up late, but had extracted the promise to stay up late for the Saturday game. Micah smiled as she walked back into the kitchen. Vero was right, he was going to be a great dad. Micah was attempting to open the wine when Paul ventured back into the kitchen.

“I got it.” he replied “Go get comfy on the couch. We gotta cheer for Neal. I’ll try and FaceTime Tori Lynn. We might want to wait until the boys are asleep otherwise they will take her away. They love her and Nealer.”

They all managed to be in place before the singing of the anthem. Micah noticed that Vince Gill was going to sing the anthem. What he did next was shocking. He informed the crowd they were all going to sing the anthem together. It was a beautiful sight to see 23,000 people sing the nation’s anthem.

“Smart.” said Paul smiling “Shut Chicago down early.”

“They aren’t even playing yet.” said Devon

“All that kissing is making your brain soft, Pauly.” admonished Daylon

Deacon turned and smiled at Paul and Micah “They can’t scream like they do at the Madhouse.”

“Exactly, Deacon. Showing them whose house they're in.” said Paul “Their fans are their seventh man. They feed off that energy. They are starting out in control. It’s brilliant.” Micah liked watching him talk about hockey. His whole body lit up. “You ready?” he asked as he snaked an arm around her. He settled her into his body. Paul was giving her the play by play as the game progressed. Micah laughed at him calling penalties the refs missed. She finished her cup of wine and sat it on the coffee table. She listened as Paul explained the nuances of hockey. Paul was patient listening and answering the boys questions. When the horn sounded at the end of the first the boys started wheedling to stay up.

“No way, guys.” said Micah “Brush your teeth and then bed. We have school in the morning. If you want, I’ll come tuck you guys in.”

“Aww, Mike.” whined Daylon and Devon.

“I’d like you to tuck me in.” said Deacon.

“Then head on up, Deacon.” replied Paul “We’ll both be up after you brush your teeth.” Deacon headed to their bathroom. He was quickly followed by the other boys. “You know how to tuck kids in?”

“My mom tucked me in every night.” answered Micah “When I got older she just sat on the edge of my bed and asked about my day. I missed that in college. So I can figure it out.” Ten minutes later all three boys were tucked in. Micah yawned as they left the boys room.

“You’re tired.”

Micah nodded “But I want to finish the game.”

“Sure you do.” laughed Paul.

“I do. Well actually, I just want to spend time with you. It’s obvious you love the game.” she replied stifling another yawn.

“Why don’t I tuck you in and we watch the game in your room? And when you fall asleep on me I’ll see myself out.”
Micah nodded her consent and they headed to her room. She set the mornings alarms. True to his word Paul put on the game, and then tucked Micah into her bed. Micah laughed when he climbed onto the opposite side of the bed on top of the blankets. Paul Martin American hero, hockey player, and perfect gentleman. Micah wiggled around until she was comfortable. She laid her head on his chest. Paul dropped and arm around her.

Paul explained the game as it went. Micah was drifting during the third period. She was startled awake when Paul began cursing the linesman. Micah looked up at him. “Sorry, gorgeous. That was a shit call.” Micah watched the clock expire in the third. The overtime period began. Micah paid more attention.

When the clock expired it was still a tie game. “So, we shoot out now?” asked Micah.

“During regular season, yes.” answered Paul “During the play offs we keep playing overtime until someone wins.”

“So, double overtime.” replied Micah

“As many as it takes.” explained Paul

“Wow!” exclaimed Micah “That has to be hard on you guys. You all are full tilt for the entire 60 minutes.”

Paul smiled down at Micah who was laying on her chest. He smirked “We’re all about the stamina, gorgeous.”

Notes