I let out a breath that sounds too much like a laugh and too much like surrender. “You’re right. Raising a child on my own isn’t easy, but when I left Jerrod, I knew it wouldn’t be. Mom is a little help, even with all her issues. Honestly, what you’ve given us with your hockey program has probably brought the greatest joy to Aiden that I’ve seen in quite a while.”
Eli nods once, his hands surrounding mine again. “I’m buying a house here. I can watch over Aiden whenever I’m in town, so you could study. Anything you need. Say the word.”
“Buying a house?” I tilt my head.
“Yeah. I have the rink, spending more time here in between my hockey schedule. It’d be easier to have a place to stay so I don’t have to drive back to Denver as much.”
The words strike deep into my heart and sets my stomach aflutter. He’s setting down roots. “I think you being here for us is enough for now. I really am sorry that I kept things from you back then.”
“You shouldn’t have listened to Jerrod when he told you to break up with me. Do you ever think of what might have been between us if we’d stayed together?”
“It only ever tortured me, so I learned to bury everything deep, which wasn’t hard between dealing with my parents, and Jerrod, and the baby. Keeping myself busy and moving forward was my only option to survive.”
He scoffs. “Jerrod… If he were here right now, I’d give him a piece of my mind or my fist?—”
“Don’t go there. Remember, he’s Aiden’s father. I won’t have you putting him down at all in front of him.”
He leans back, nodding, breathing steadier after a few beats. “Understood. Where is good old Jerrod now?”
“Chicago.”
“He actually let you move Aiden away from him in the divorce?”
“He knew how much I wanted to be here in Colorado and support Mom, and to finish my degree. And… well, he cheated on me. He was involved with a woman, who is now his wife, and she has two little girls, so that made it easier for him to agree to the custody arrangement.”
He sucks in his lips, a sign he probably wants to say more about Jerrod, but refrains.
“I actually need to talk to Aiden about Christmas.”
Eli’s gaze sharpens. “Why?”
“Jerrod might not make it out here for his birthday.”
The muscles in Eli’s jaw go tight, just a fraction.
“He calls often,” I say quickly, because I don’t want this to sound like I’m trashing Jerrod. Even if I could. “He tries. But… his relationship with Aiden has been going downhill since he remarried. It’s not consistent enough.”
Eli stares at me, face unreadable.
I force a small smile, trying to soften it. “I know you’re probably thinking something.”
His mouth twitches. “You want me to say it?”
“I want you to stop looking like you’re about to throw your coffee across the room.”
He huffs a laugh, then shakes his head, leaning forward again. “I’m not getting a kick out of it, Stella.”
“Then why do you look like that?”
“Because,” he says carefully. “I’m trying to control my anger.”
My stomach dips. “At me?”
“At him,” he says, voice low. “At the situation. The fact that he talked you out of being with me. It should have been me there with you all these years; instead, you’ve been alone for some time.”
“I’m not alone; I have Mom and Aiden.” I shake my head, trying to keep my voice level. “Eli… there’s no going back. We’re adults now. Our decisions were what they were. We can’t change them.”
He’s quiet for a moment, until he takes my hands off my cup and threads our fingers together, branding me with a smoldering smile. “Thank you for opening up to me and finally giving me the missing pieces. It really helps to explain a lot. Now, I just have one more question. Have you warmed up to the possibility of something more between us? Despite it all, I’d like to see you again, Stella.”
