It’s more than nice.
And by the time we return to Liam’s truck and head for Houston where we’ll stop for the night, I’m full-on crushing on him.
But I’m not fool enough to act on my feelings.
Liam’s a force to be reckoned with. A hockey star with generational wealth and success. And the most important role of all—an amazing dad.
I’m just Haley, a woman who wants to save everyone and everything but fails trying.
You care too much, a therapist told me once.It’s stopping you from getting into a romantic relationship. You’re worried the heartbreak will shatter you if things don’t work out, like it did with your mom when your dad betrayed her, so you don’t dare try.
Dare, Haley, she said.Don’t care so much that you can’t fully live.
Maybe that’s true. Maybe I do need to dare to try and care less about being hurt. But I have no idea what that would feel like. Almost like walking around half-numb. And I’ve never wanted to numb out to life. So, I’m at an impasse.
CHAPTERSEVEN
Liam
“I love you, baby. Sleep tight tonight, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
I blow Lulu a kiss, and she mimics my motion.
My heart is heavy as I end the video call.
Every time I have to say goodbye to my little girl, I feel the pain. Since Cathy told me she wanted a divorce, I’ve had to say goodbye to Lulu a lot more than I ever wanted to.
Haley is patiently waiting inside the Mexican restaurant in Houston when I walk inside.
She gestures to the bowl of chips and salsa as I sit across from her at the booth. “The server already brought these.” She hands me a menu. “Take your time deciding.”
I peruse the menu. “Do you want to share the fajitas dinner for two?”
“Um…”
I’ve rattled her. I have no idea how, but her eyes have gone wide.
“We don’t have to…”
“Fajitas are my favorite,” she says.
“Beef or chicken?”
“How about both?”
“My thoughts exactly.” I grin at her. “I’m starved.”
As if on cue, the server comes to take our order. We each order a beer to go with our meal.
Once the server has left our table, whatever was unsettling Haley seems to have passed. Her shoulders relax and she asks me how Lulu is.
“She wanted to tell me all about her plane ride. Hunter popped in to say she slept most of the way and did great.”
“Will she be in the wedding?”
“She’s the flower girl. I told Hunt that I don’t know if she’ll make it all the way down the aisle successfully, but I’ll help her if I need to. Or her mom will.”
She jerks her gaze up from where she was looking down at the chips. “Is your ex-wife going to be there?”
