“Down, boy.” Gunnar pats his arm. “There’s enough of you to go around.”
“And on that note, I need to head out,” Derek tells everyone. “I want to get home and see how everything went with Missy.”
“I’m guessing it went fine, otherwise you probably would have left by now,” Jameson points out.
Derek waggles his head back and forth. “You’re probably right. But I want to hear it from them.”
“I’ll see you at work tomorrow, Jameson.”
Everyone stands, and hugs are given as I walk out with Derek.
Night has settled upon us. It’s a warmer, winter night. One I don’t mind as I drape my jacket over my arm, not needing it.
“Call me when you get home?” I ask Derek. “I want to know how it went.”
He nods, wrapping me into a hug. “I will.”
“It will have gone fine.” I try to instill more confidence in my voice than I feel.
“Jameson was probably right. I would’ve gotten a call by now if it didn’t.”
“See?” I pull back, cupping his cheek. “Fine.”
“I love you.” Derek gives me a quick kiss before helping me into my car. I give him a wave before I head out of the parking lot.
Derek fades into a small speck in my rearview mirror before disappearing entirely. The second he does, a lead weight settles in my gut.
I hate that Missy is back in his life. Everything I know about her is from what Derek has told me, and none of it has been good. I don’t know what I would be doing if it were me and my ex. At least he still shows up for Lydia.
Cracking the windows, I let the breeze flow over me to try and settle my worrisome thoughts.
I hope Missy doesn’t disappoint them. My bigger worry?
What if Missy worms her way into their life and there’s no longer a place for me in it?
I swallow the bile rising in my throat. Because it’s a thought I can’t even entertain. Because all I want is Derek, Troy, Lydia and me to be a family.
I only hope it’s still in our future.
Chapter Twenty-Two
DEREK
“Are you sure this is safe?” Sutton whispers.
“How does that feel?” I ask Lydia, adjusting the strap of her helmet.
She wiggles her head. “Good.”
I tap her helmet. “Okay. Ace is going to help you on the ice, okay?”
“Okay.”
Lydia waddles over to the open gate of the ice where Troy is standing with Ace.
“See? They’ll be safe,” I answer Sutton’s question. “It’s only skating.”
“Sue me if I’m nervous.”
