“The doctors said it was a pre-existing condition, but it made no sense. She was so alive and ready. They asked me if she’d had weak spells or if she seemed unusually tired. She did, but I thought it was because she was pregnant. Why did I think that?”
By the end, his voice breaks, and I lean forward, gently placing my hand on his cheek. “No… it’s a tragic thing. It’s not your fault.”
“Everyone says that, but it doesn’t change how I feel. Only time has helped.”
Blinking down, I understand the need for a pseudonym, the need for John and Kendall. It’s an escape, permission.
“At first, I lived like a monk, thinking if I devoted myself to her memory, I could make up for letting it happen. Then, I grew angry at her, like I wondered if she hid it from me… Then I hated myself for being angry. Then I decided to block it out.”
“That only works for so long.” I slide my hand down the length of his arm, threading our fingers at the bottom. “You have to feel it eventually.”
“That was my life.” He lifts my hand, pressing it to hislips. “Until now. It’s the first time I’ve felt like I could move on, the first time I’ve felt strong. I don’t know why.”
His warm lips trace my knuckles, and my eyes close again. My eyes heat, and I press my lips together. I scoot around in the bed, placing my cheek on his chest again, wrapping my arms around his waist. He’s such a good man, a devoted father.
So many feelings for him are in my heart, so many feelings for Maddie. Tonight was incredible, and I can’t go back to pretending there’s nothing between us. Not after this.
With a deep inhale, I push myself to sitting, looking down on his perfect form twisted in the white linen sheets. “I’d better get back to my room.”
He sits up, reaching out to cup my cheek. “Okay.”
I turn my face to kiss his palm. “It’s more than a fantasy to me.”
Our eyes meet, and his are clear now. “I want this.”
My stomach twists, but I know the truth. “Me too.”
16
OWEN
Our game against Anaheim is a shutout, just like Mav predicted, and I’m moving up in the crowd rankings. Fans are starting to recognize me, and I’ve even spotted a fewStonejerseys in the stands, which is a real confidence booster.
I was able to get the puck past their goalie once, but Mav stole the show, scoring a hat trick. The crowd went wild, caps flew onto the ice, and our fans were on their feet stomping and blowing air horns.
Gliding around, laughing and slapping hands with my teammates—it’s a feeling I haven’t experienced in a long time, a joy I’d forgotten I could have.
My night with Gina was on my mind the whole day. I hated that she couldn’t spend the night in my bed so I could kiss her, hold her, make love to her again like we did at the Delve Inn. That night was crazy.
But she was right. It wouldn’t be good if Heather or Maddie caught us sleeping together. Not yet.
Before Maverick, Gavin, and I left, we spent the morning helping put up Halloween decorations, mostly stringing lights in the trees and other things that required ladders and height.
Mav was chugging red Mountain Dew and eating red M&Ms. I made the comment that all that red dye couldn’t be good for him, and I quickly learned it’s his good luck charm. Gavin’s is Haddy, which they went round and round about the entire drive.
I didn’t even weigh in that mine is blowing a kiss to Maddie. I do it before every game, and if it’s one like this, when we’re out of town, I blow her a kiss from the window when I tell her goodbye.
Either way, we smoked Anaheim, and we’re all in high spirits when we arrive back at the house, showered and in our suits. Trick-or-treating has ended, and the party is in full swing.
“Daddy!” Madison runs to me the minute I walk in the door. “Look at all the candy I got!”
She drags a satin pillowcase over, and I take a knee. Then she drops it onto my leg, and I let out anoof. The dang thing must weigh five pounds, but I’m more curious about her costume.
She’s in a shimmering white dress with a blue headband around her head and a staff that looks like a triton.
“Who are you, Shortcake?”
“Miss Gina said there are a lot of sea princesses who are smarter than Ariel.” She turns around, looking down at her dress. “I’m Salacia, Queen of the Sea.”
