“I had a pregnancy scare while you were gone. A scare. Not pregnant,” she says quickly as she takes in what is probably a not so comforting expression. “But it was enough to derail any progress I had made.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you bought a house?”
“It…didn’t seem like the right time,” I admit. I bought it before everything went sideways last year. After that, it never seemed like the right time to bring it up.
“I don’t want kids, Silas,” she whispers as another tear sneaks down her cheek.
“That isn’t a deal breaker for me. You should know that by now,” I say. “The only things in this life that I need are you and hockey, in that order. If that means we grow old with a dog, alpaca, or miniature Highland cow, so be it.”
Her lip tilts up, but it isn’t enough of a reaction to put me at ease.
“You want kids, Silas. Don’t lie to me by saying otherwise. You were made to be a dad. Find someone who will give you that. Don’t argue,” she says as she holds a hand out, daring me to interrupt. “I love you, but I refuse to let you resent me down the road because I can't carry your child.”
“Kates.”
“No, Silas,” she says. “You’re getting ready to kick off your career, and I will continue to be your biggest cheerleader from wherever I end up. I am beyond proud of you for chasing your dream, but I can’t be your girl while you do it.”
She turns her back to me as her hand rests on the doorknob. Pausing, she stares at her hand, her thumb running gently over the band on her ring finger, before reaching up with her other hand.
“Don’t you dare take that ring off, Oakley Kate,” I say, hating how my voice gives away the amount of pain I feel at the thought of her calling it quits.
“I’m doing it for you, hotshot,” she whispers as she slips off the ring and sets it on the shelf.
Her hand turns the knob, and I want nothing more than to yank her into my arms and force her to fight for us a little longer.Instead, I remain where I am, ready to beg, plead, and barter with whoever will listen if it means she doesn’t walk out that door.
She opens it and steps into the hallway without a sound.
“Oakley Kate!”
The desperation in my voice doesn’t stop her. She closes the door and doesn’t turn back.
At least, I don’t think she does. Is it wrong to hope she’s barely holding on and might shatter into a million pieces if she glanced over her shoulder? For a moment, I let myself hope she feels even a fraction of this same heartache before pushing the thought away.
She’s been dealt enough pain to last a lifetime. If running away, calling off our engagement, and breaking my heart is what she needs to do before she can see what’s right in front of her, then so be it.
She can chase a new dream. Live her own life. I’ll let her.
For now.
But I'll never stop loving Oakley Kate Slater.
Chapter 2
Silas
Present Day
No one warned me about the daily headaches that come with being a dad—well, a dad-like figure—but, dear blue line, this girl tests my patience every. Single. Day.
“Aubrey, we’re going to be late! Get your lazy butt in gear, child,” I holler from the bottom of the stairs. I’ve already been in her room three times in the last half hour.
The groan that echoes down the hall lets me know she’s buried her head into her pillow before a stuffed animal—the moose, I think—flies out her door and into the bathroom door.
I chuckle despite myself. “Missed, Aubs.”
She grumbles something, but the words don’t compute even as I move up the stairs.
