Page 140 of Love Me Like You Do

“And now?”

“And now, I owe it to myself to find the happiness I’ve always wanted. I owe it to the woman I love to be the man she needs me to be. And I owe it to the girls to be the kind of father they can count on.” He snatched the contract and tore it in half.

And then, he picked up his phone and scrolled until he found the group chat with Jaime and Declan.

Cole: Know of anyone who needs a center forward?

Jaime: What the fuck?

Declan: You serious?

Cole: I’m coming home.

* * *

As the garage door lowered, Hailey unbuckled the girls. “Okay, go on and get in your jammies.”

Friday night was movie and pajama night, so the girls raced up the stairs and into the house. She found the girls loved themed nights. It gave their lives a structure. Monday was Game Night, Tuesday was Bathtub Party where she let them play with Silly String and all kinds of fun toys, and Saturday was Hailey’s Night Out.

Tomorrow would be her first one. She didn’t have any particular plans, but her sitter would come at three, and she’d go to the fabric store, check out some boutiques, grab a bite to eat, and, if she felt like it, maybe catch a movie.

Grabbing her tote and the mail, she followed the girls inside. They were already tramping up the stairs, which gave her a moment to check out the return address on the padded envelope. It was from Boston, so she figured it was from Cole.

Throwing more money at us?If it were another check, she wouldn’t shred it this time. He wasn’t a bad man. He wasn’t choosing to be a bachelor over a family man. He was just caught in childhood trauma and couldn’t find his way out.

Well, of course, hehadfound his way out. She’d just shut him down.

Which hadn’t been very nice of her.

Maybe I should check myself when it comes to childhood trauma.

She pulled out…season tickets.

Oh, come on.Like she’d fly to Boston with two little girls to see him play hockey.

She shoved them back into the envelope and tossed it on the counter. It made a thunk.Huh. Must be something else in there.

Reaching inside, she pulled out a key and a note.

Dear Hailey,

I love you. And I love our girls. Ever since our phone call, I’ve been wracking my brains, trying to figure out how I can prove to you that I’m your forever family.

I finally got it.

I love you with all my heart. And I can’t live without you. Not even for a hockey season.

If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, please bring the girls to this address, and let’s have our family birthday celebration.

Just us. No flashing lights or spinning wheels.

I get it. I’m enough.

And if you’ll let me, I’ll prove it every day for the rest of our lives.

Happiness flooded her. And even as her mind formulated the question—can I forgive him?She already had her answer. These two weeks had been the longest of her life. Of course, she’d forgive him. It was already done.

Only after wiping her tears away did she think about those season tickets he’d sent.