Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
My heart seizes in my chest, but before I can even acknowledge my feelings and fight his suggestion, Thatcher says, “Absolutely not. I’m not going to have my parents raise her when I’m on road trips. She will need her mother, and with all the changes, I don’t want to stress Audrina and Arwen out any more than necessary.”
A chill runs down my spine as I inhale deeply, letting it out in a whoosh. I’m shocked by the man beside me; I almost don’t recognize him. But then, that’s to be expected when over three years pass. People change, especially when something painful happens between them. “So, what are you thinking?” I find myself asking, and Thatcher meets my gaze.
“I’ll spend whatever time I have with you two,” he says, like it’s common knowledge. I don’t miss that he says you two instead of just Arwen. His promise has my skin tingling. “We will figure it out as we go. I don’t want to tear you two apart. I want to be a part of what you’ve built.”
Without him. He doesn’t say it, but I can read the ending to that sentence in his eyes.
“But we aren’t together,” I stress, my eyes burning into his.
“I’m not saying we are. I’m saying I want to raise our child together.”
“Thatcher, with all due respect, what happens when you both find other partners?” Eli asks, as if that’s the biggest issue here.
Thatcher’s jaw goes tight, but his eyes don’t leave mine. “I won’t.” His eyes are so serious, his features taut as he holds my gaze. “My only focus will be my daughter.”
And me.
I know he doesn’t say it, but damn it, I feel it in my bones.
His words have me in knots, and I know I’m in so much trouble.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I’m pretty sure Eli is wondering where my balls went, but honestly, I don’t care.
I was wrong last night, but hell, I’ve been wrong about everything when it comes to her.
I had spent the night going back and forth about how everything played out. I went over the whole day from the moment I saw her until the moment I walked out the door, tears in my eyes as Arwen cried for me. I didn’t want to leave them. It gutted me to know I wouldn’t be there to protect them. What if Arwen’s fever came back? What if Audrina decided to take off? I knew right as that thought came across my brain that I couldn’t live without them.
When Audrina told me that there would never be an us and that she’d never put herself out there for me to break again, it took everything in me not to drop to my knees and beg her to take it all back. I have known this girl my whole life, and she looked at me like a stranger. Like I’m nothing to her. I thought her leaving for three years was hard. Or finding out I had a kid. Nope, none of that made me feel as low as the way she looked at me and the words she said.
But fuck that.
There will be an us.
And I’ll show her that I’ll never break her again.
I truly didn’t mean to the first time, but that makes me even a bigger idiot than I already assume I am. What did I think saying that shit to her would do? Especially after we’d had such an incredible night. I had convinced myself she was mine, and I was ready to show her how I could be as her boyfriend. Instead, I showed her how awfully jealous I can get and how I hadn’t let go of the fact that she’d slept with Dart.
I knew he didn’t mean anything to her, just as she didn’t mean anything to him. He’s moved on, married, and so blissfully happy. Tennessee and Dart have a little boy, Neyland, and she’s pregnant with their second. Audrina and Dart weren’t meant to be anything but a hookup, and while I might sound a little too cocky, Audrina and I are made for life.
I just have to remind her of that. I have to show her how good we are together. Show her I can love her in ways no one else can. All while being a great dad and an amazing hockey player.
No big deal.
For as long as I’ve known Audrina, she has always been right by my side. Her leaving made me realize I took that for granted, along with her loyalty and her love. I’ll never do that again.
I will earn her back, no matter what.
When I feel a tug at my slacks, a Walmart special, I glance down to see my little girl at my knee. She looks up at me with her wide, doe eyes full of excitement and love. I can’t wait for our parents to meet her, for Ingrid to get her hands on her. Arwen is going to be so overwhelmed with love. She will probably forget who I am once she has her Babas and Dedes. I’ll be old news. So, I soak up all the love in her eyes as I bend down to make our eyes level. She’s practically vibrating with excitement as she signs, Do I really get to see Baba and Dede?