It appears we’re safe, and I’m thankful I’m notthatpopular yet, even if I’m getting there.
Holding her arm, I make her look at me. “What is going on? Why are you running from me?”
“Because.” She pauses to catch her breath. “You’re not putting this on me, Owen Stone.”
“Putting what on you? What are you talking about? I was trying to share my feelings with you, and you walked out on me.”
“You weren’t sharing your feelings with me. You were saying if this doesn’t work out and Maddie gets hurt, it’s all my fault. And that’s not fair, and you know it.”
Tears are in her green eyes, and it hits me hard. Stepping back, I put my fingers on the bridge of my nose. “That’s not what I meant at all.”
She’s shaking, and a tear falls onto her cheek. It’s morethan I can take. Reaching out, I pull her to me, pressing my lips to the side of her head. “Stop crying.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.” She tries to get away, but I hold her tighter, not letting her go.
“Stop fighting and talk to me.” It takes a few seconds, but she finally stops struggling.
I step back, still holding her arms, but her lips are tight.
“Please, Gina.”
“You’re saying I can walk away, and you’ll understand. Just like that. No fighting, no trying…”
I can’t tell if she’s more angry or hurt, and it just proves I’m a goner. Because whichever one it is, it’s tearing me up inside.
“No—I meant that I understand if it’s too much for you.”
She shakes her head, starting to walk again, but I’m right there beside her, keeping pace.
“Why does that make you angry?” I catch her arm, bringing her to a stop.
“I don’t want someone who will let me go that easily.” Our eyes meet, and her bottom lip wobbles. “I want more than that.”
My throat knots, and I pull her to my chest. I know what she wants. I remember every word she said to my sister that evening in the backyard. I also know I’m a chickenshit. This isn’t about Maddie getting hurt. It’s about me.
“Please don’t cry.” I smooth my hand down the back of her head. “I’m an idiot. I thought if I told you my fears, you’d understand, and it would make them go away. I wasn’t trying to put them on you or blame you or let you go. Hell, Gina, I never want to let you go, and it’s fucking killing me. It’s fast, and it scares me. And I want this… I wantyou. So much.”
Her shoulders jerk with an inhale, and slowly, her headmoves up and down in a nod. I relax my arms, letting her step back to look up at me.
“I want you, too.” Her voice is wobbly but sure.
It’s everything, and I pull her to me again, covering her mouth with mine.
Then I realize people around us are clapping, and a smile curls our lips. We blink our eyes open, and I cup her cheeks in my hands, sliding my thumbs to wipe away the tears.
I give the crowd a little wave as I pull her into my side, leading her back to my illegally parked truck.
21
GINA
“You are looking at the new official PR director for the Los Angeles Champions hockey team!” Haddy enters the house, arm raised, doing her pageant wave.
“What?” I hop up from the couch, where I’ve been swiping through grooming cuts for Spanky. “Congratulations! And I gotta say, it’s about damn time.”
“Well, I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to take a full-time job with Lucy so small and nursing, but we were able to reach an agreement where I can bring her with me if I need to or work remotely.”
“You’ve been doing so much free marketing for them, I would imagine they’d give you anything you wanted.”
