“And now?”
“Now, being with you again? It’s the most right thing in the world.”
Then he’s out.
“Marcus?” I shake his shoulder to no avail. He’s snoring.
Shit.
Did he mean that?
Hearing those words, I pray he meant them.
More than anything, my heart wants it to be true.
Maybe this could be our shot at a second chance…
Chapter Eighteen
MARCUS
Jesus. Is this going to go on all afternoon? The wipers are working overtime as I slowly navigate my way toward the girls’ school. Rain batters my SUV as it comes down in sheets.
The wind is making it hard to stay in my lane. Fucking storms. The last thing I want is to end up in a ditch. It’s always the thing I think about when I’m driving in weather like this. It’s hard not to when I lost my sister and her husband this way.
Traffic is crawling by the time I make it to the school. Thankfully, there’s still plenty of time before I need to be here to pick them up.
The rain pelts me as I dash inside. Another crack of thunder splits the air. Looking at my watch, there’s still thirty minutes left before chess club ends. Sadie would never let me pick her up early. Too much practice time lost, she’d tell me. I can’t interfere with my burgeoning chess champion.
There are a few parents milling around the lobby, soaking wet like me as we wait for our kids. The library,right off the main office and entrance, is full of different student groups. If I look hard enough, I might be able to see the girls.
A few knowing eyes are staring at me. The last thing I want is to get wrapped up in a conversation about how I’m playing. No matter how well the Knights are doing, fans always have something to say about it. A missed goal? A bad pass? They love thinking they know better than you.
Instead of lingering out here, I head to where I know Harper’s classroom is. The thought of seeing her puts a little pep into my step—something that has been missing these last few years.
Everything has been about hockey and the girls. I didn’t have time for anything else. I wanted to make sure they had the best life possible after the hand they were dealt at such a young age.
Which meant being the best player I could be. Most days, I’m okay with the decisions I made. Sadie and Sam will always come first.
But now that Harper has crashed back into my life? It’s hard not to wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t left.
Pushing that thought out of my head, I walk through the art-covered halls of the school and find her classroom. The light shines out of the small window in the door.
She’s still here.
“Harper?” I knock on the door and peek my head inside her room. There’s no sign of her.
Thunder echoes in the quiet room; there’s a bang followed by a hiss.
“Over here.” Her hand pops out from under her desk.
I should have known.
Walking over to her, I drop down onto my knees andsee her huddled under her desk. “Still scared of thunderstorms?”
“I’ll always be scared of them,” she whimpers.
There’s not much room, but I fold my body into the tight space next to her. Every inch of my side lines up against Harper.
