“You’re not second to me.”
“I am. I’m your second marriage.”
The truth of that statement hung heavy between us, undeniable. She couldn’t see the deeper reality. “Yes, on paper,you are my second marriage. But, Charlie, you’re the first person who looked at me, truly sawme, and didn’t turn away. You didn’t whisper behind my back or tell me I’d made a huge mistake. You’re the first person who stood by me and said you’d help.”
I took another step closer, and her wide, golden eyes locked with mine. We were a hair’s breadth away from each other. I wanted desperately to close the distance and kiss her—it felt like the only natural thing to do. Just as I leaned in, she stepped back, turning her attention back to the fridge and placing the rest of the food inside, pointedly avoiding my gaze.
“I’m not done with this, Charlie, but I am going to respect that you don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
Charlie turned toward me, pulling her hair out of the ponytail and letting it fall in waves down her back. Despite the carefully constructed wall she built around herself, there was still an undeniable warmth that radiated from her.
“Thank you,” she murmured as I nodded and headed upstairs to grab my hockey gear.
I paused once I reached the landing and listened to see if I heard anything downstairs. Nothing but silence filled the hallway. I would find a way, no matter how hard I had to try, to make her feel cherished, to make her know she was never a second choice. I understood that ache too well—the hollow, relentless feeling of not being enough. Charlie deserved none of that.
22
charlie
When I agreed to come to the hockey game, I thought it would be a small, casual pickup game where I could be obnoxiously loud, cheer from the stands, and then head home. I didn’t expect to walk into a packed rink with at least fifty people already watching and more still filing in. A sign near the entrance read,“Five-dollar tickets. Donate to keep the camp running and provide scholarships for kids.”
I glanced over at Austin as we walked through the door, and he chuckled. “I knew what Dirks said was too good to be true.”
“What is this?” I asked, watching as Austin exchanged a high five with the guy at the entrance before guiding us inside.
“It’s a charity game for the camp that Ledger runs,” Austin explained, grabbing a flyer from the table as we entered. His face, unmistakable and confident, was printed front and center on it. He laughed, a mix of surprise and amusement. “Those sneaky bastards.”
“They knew you were going to come?” I asked, still processing the unexpected turn of events.
“I think they assumed I’d show up. Put ‘Austin Hart back on the ice’ on a flyer, and people will come to see what I’ve been up to.”
I stared down at the flyer in my hand, my husband’s face staring at me with that familiar intensity. “This is amazing,” I said, unable to stop the grin that spread across my face.
A burst of laughter bubbled out of me. After our earlier conversation in the kitchen, I hadn’t felt like coming here at all. I’d come anyway, telling myself I could still be supportive even with a million other thoughts crowding my head. Deep down, I genuinely wanted to know more about Austin and the things he liked, and I’d hope that would bring lightness back between us.
I hadn’t expected to be jealous when I asked about his ex, but hearing him speak so highly of her, admitting that he’d loved her... it fractured me a little. I’d never been the jealous type—growing up around envious people had made me promise myself I wouldn’t be like that. But something about not being the first in Austin’s life made me feel unsettled and petulant. At the same time, having him here, having options—choices—was healing some part of me, even if it was only temporary.
“Hey,” Austin said softly. “You okay?”
I realized I had stopped walking and forced a laugh. “Yeah, sorry. I’m fine.”
“If this is too much, we can go.”
We can go.It struck me how Austin always spoke in terms of us. How was I supposed to just be friends with him when he made it feel like we were already a team? If I ever wanted a partner in my life, I’d want it to be someone like Austin Hart.
He thought he was broken because of his past, but my cracks ran deeper, carved by years under my mother’s suffocating control. Her relentless expectations had left me hollow, always trying to meet standards that weren’t mine. This charade with Austin bought me a temporary escape, but when it ended, I’d be back under her shadow, following paths I never chose.
With Austin, I could almost believe in a life where someone willingly stood by me, making life feel shared rather than a lonely fight.
“No, I’m good.” I held up the flyer and grinned. “I couldn’t take the star of the game away from everyone.”
“Give me that,” he said, grabbing the paper from my hand.
I laughed so hard I had to clutch my stomach.
“Charlie,” Austin’s mom’s familiar voice called out from inside the arena. “We’re over here if you want to sit with us.”
I looked over at Austin. “Okay, well . . .”
