He blinked and swallowed hard. “I’m sorry, Charlotte.”
“Here’s your drink!” The bartender slid my drink toward me, and then one toward Hayden.
I took it and ran from him. I didn’t care if I was being a coward. He couldn’t saybabyto me like that anymore or tell me I looked incredible. And what the heck was this timing? He couldn’t do this… any other possible time?
“Aunt Lotte! Aunt Lotte! Look at my dress!”
Gwen. My heart clenched. I loved that girl with everything, and here she was, wearing a wild Christmas dress with every color imaginable as she ran right toward me. She wrapped her arms around my legs, and I crouched down to pick her up. “Hi, girlie.”
“I miss you. I want to play again.” She stared up at me. Her chubby cheeks and little gap between her teeth were just too cute.
“I miss you too, sweetie.” I kissed the top of her head, my chest aching so hard I wanted to throw up. “I love your dress.”
“Thank you. Gigi got it for me.”
“Your Gigi is a smart woman.” I bopped her nose before setting her down. I refused to let her suffer any of the effects from her dad and me, even if it killed me.
“Sit with us! Sit with me and Daddy. Please? We can talk about school.”
“Ah, well, honey—”
“Christian put us at the same table.” Hayden clenched his jaw as he ran a finger over his eyebrow.
He’s nervous.Good.
“Okay.” I nodded. “That’s great news, Gwen. I can sit by you!”And try not to have a breakdown. Yay for me!
“My daddy is sad. Are you sad?”
Your daddy did this to us.
“I’m happy I get to see you tonight.” I tickled her side and avoided staring at her father. His gaze was a constant weight. “Want to play I spy?”
“Yes. Yes. I go first?” She skipped toward the table.
I followed her. Hayden followed me.
A warm, soft touch landed on my lower back, and I froze. Hayden had touched me.
“Please, could I have five minutes tonight? I need to talk with you.” He leaned forward so his breath tickled my neck. I was pretty sure he got that close intentionally.
He ran his nose against my ear. Yeah. That was intentional. He smelled me.
My eye twitched. “Hayden, stop.”
“I miss you. I messed up. I fucked up.” His voice lacked his usual confidence. “I’m here to plead my case.”
“Case for what? Forgiveness?” I whispered.
“To getting you back.”
I faced him, our mouths not even a foot apart. Hope and anger twisted together, unraveling as each fought for dominance. Did I dream of this? Yes. Did I want this? Yes. Could I forgive him? Ye—maybe.
His lips parted, his eyes staring so deeply at me, like he tried to find my soul, as he gently ran his fingers over my hand. “I love—”
“Aunt Lotte! Look!” Gwen pulled on my dress, forcing me to glance at her. The distraction saved me from whatever Hayden was going to say.
Helovedwhat? Baseball? His daughter? Being unhappy?
