Page 23

CHAPTER TWENTY

“ H ow’s your knee?”

At Don’s question, I glance up from where I am sitting on the floor with Ingrid, Maeve, and my mom. Arwen sits in front of us, pouring us “tea” after Thatcher brought in a box of toys. Once we told everyone we weren’t discussing the past, only doing what’s best for Arwen, they all flocked to her like bees to honey. For as long as I can remember, our moms have always been in our business. I knew they would make everything even more complicated than it already was if I came back, but they’re somewhat respecting our wishes. I didn’t know that I could ask that of them, that I could come home and keep the worst part of my life in the past where it belongs. I’m still a bit worried with how Mom and Maeve throw little jabs at each other, but that’s their relationship.

They gently bully each other to show love.

Still, I fully expected mutiny. Instead, I got understanding. I got support. Maybe not all from my family and his, but completely from Thatcher. His honesty is so damn sexy, and I can’t help but think of our conversation before we were found by Maeve. He made it seem like he had so much more to say, like there was more to what happened that day. And as much as I know I shouldn’t want to know, I do. He says we both played the what-if game, and I wonder how his went. Is he as stricken as I am? Has he been lost?

Jesus, why do I care?

I can’t let this man close again.

I look over at where Thatcher is on his phone, typing away. I hadn’t even known his knee was causing him pain. He never brought it up, nor did I ask, because surely he is healed by now. He has been playing, from what I’ve read over the years, and he’s having a stellar season. The IceCats are doing great, and things are looking very Cup-worthy, but even I know not to utter the name of the Cup.

I try not to watch Thatcher, but it’s so damn hard. He’s leaned back in the wingback chair, his long legs out in front of him in a lazy pose that is positively mouthwatering. He still has his black IceCats hat turned backward, pieces of his hair falling through the adjustable opening. He strokes the hair along his jaw as he scrolls through his phone, and I remember how that hair felt against my lips, my cheek, which isn’t good. He’s too damn good-looking for his own good, and the way he stood up for me, even though he promised he would, still caught me off guard. He looks up from his phone, sending his dad a sheepish grin. “Sorry, Dad. I lied,” he admits. “I wasn’t hurt. I just needed to get Audrina and Arwen set up, and I needed a few days for that.”

I didn’t realize he had taken off from the IceCats. I should have known; I mean, it’s mid-season, but I guess everything was so overwhelming at the time that I forgot about his career.

Which makes me feel like a jackass.

His dad’s brows pull in. “Was everyone okay with that?”

He nods with full certainty. “Yeah. I go back to practice tomorrow. They were supportive when I said I had to bring my daughter and her mother home.”

Her mother.

Why do I bristle at that? I am Arwen’s mother. A title I am proud of, so why am I wishing I were more than that when he spoke to whoever the hell he talked to.

What is wrong with me?

He’s what’s wrong with me! He has me all discombobulated and confused. As ridiculous as it sounds, I think I’m waiting for his temper to rear its ugly head and tear me apart again. I am well aware he said he’s forgiven me, but the more his mom spoke, the more I worried that he’d feel that anger too. I did the unthinkable. I stole time from not only him, but Arwen. I tried to be both parents, but even I know I can’t be what Thatcher is for her. Right now, she’s looking at him, signing him for her box of dress-up clothes, little heart eyes just for him.

He nods to her and agrees to get them, even though he is talking to his dad. He’s so attentive to her. So totally in love with her, as I knew he would be. I wasn’t scared of him as a father. I was scared of bearing witness, because I knew…fuck, I knew it’d make him utterly irresistible.

I’m doing pretty damn well resisting him.

I haven’t fallen pussy- or mouth-first on his cock, which is a huge win.

But I have been drinking him in like I’m dehydrated.

Which I know is pathetic.

As he walks out of the kitchen, pulling his keys from his pocket, Mom asks me, “Are you moving in to his apartment?”

I shake my head and feel five sets of eyes on me. I instantly feel the loss of Thatcher’s presence and support, but I don’t need it. I am just fine. With a trembling voice, I answer, “No, he has a roommate. I assumed Arwen and I could stay with you.”

“Oh, of course!” Mom squeals, but then Maeve gives her a look.

“Where? In your room?”

Mom gives her a dark look. “William can sleep on the couch.”

“What?” I ask, confused. “Aren’t there a few guest rooms on the second level?”

Mom bites her lip, and Dad speaks for her. “We are renovating the library and offices. So, everything is packed in the extra rooms.”

“Oh wow,” I say, surprised. I know that I can get a hotel until I figure something else out. Before, I’d have asked Maeve, but I know that’s not possible at the moment. I know she feels so much anger for me, and I won’t ask to invade her space.

I hid her baby’s baby.

“I’m so excited for you. We’ll find a place in the city.”

“The hell you will,” Maeve says beside me, giving me a dark look. “You are both welcome here. I have rooms available and would love to have you here. I know your parents don’t want you so far away in town. Not when we have time to make up for.”

I meet a pair of eyes that match Thatcher’s in every way. The darkest brown. I swallow hard, my throat working as I choose my words carefully. “Are you sure?”

It’s Don who speaks next. “Why are you asking that? You are always welcome here.”

I feel like I’ve been thrown off a roof, that stomach-twisting feeling as I hold Maeve’s gaze. “I thought you wouldn’t want me here after everything.”

Don sighs deeply as Maeve just watches me. Her lips turn down in a frown as she sighs just as deeply as Don did. “You are family, no matter what, Audrina,” she tells me, reaching out to cup my face. “I love you like my own, and as hard as it is for me to understand what you and Thatcher have going on, I will because I love you more than my need to know why you ran and kept my grandchild from me.”

My chest tightens. “I’m sorr?—”

She squeezes my chin, stopping my words. “None of that.” She taps my nose then looks at Arwen. With the widest grin imaginable, Maeve signs, We will go shopping tomorrow to buy you everything for a brand-new room!

My own room? Like Bluey? Arwen asks, looking from her baba to me.

“What is Bluey?” Mom asks, and I grin as I nod to my baby.

“It’s this really cool show with this awesome dad. You’ll watch it on repeat when you hang with Arwen,” Thatcher says then as he carries in a box. He crouches down, opening the flaps and looking at Arwen. This one?

She nods happily and then signs, Daddy, I get a room here. Baba is taking me shopping for my own room. Like Bluey.

Maeve pats his arm. “We’ll go while you’re at practice. She can have the room next to yours, and Audrina on the other side.”

“Oh, we have been sharing,” I start, but Maeve waves me off.

“She needs her own space, and you do too, my love. I promise.”

Thatcher looks at me. “Are you okay with that?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. I’ve always slept with her.”

“And you still can,” he promises, leaving me speechless. He looks down at Arwen, grinning just for her. Just like you wanted. Are you excited?

She wiggles. So excited. Can I have a Bluey bed?

He chuckles. I don’t think Mommy would fit in a Bluey bed.

She’ll sleep in your room with you, and I’ll have mine.

God help me. The thought of sharing a bed with Thatcher again has me burning all over. Thatcher snorts at that and then looks at me, waggling his brows. “I like the way she thinks.”

“Not funny.”

He thinks it is, but then he says, “I thought you’d stay at your mom’s?”

I roll my lips before licking them, unable to look into the brown orbs of my dreams. “They’re renovating, so your parents offered.”

“Okay, cool. So, I should unload everything here, then?” he asks, clapping his hands.

“I can.”

He squeezes my shoulder. “No, I’ll do it. You stay and hang with everyone.” He leans in, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. His voice is low as he asks, “Are you okay?”

Unable to resist, I look into his eyes, and they’re staring intently into mine. There is a fire burning in them, leaving me gasping. I want to fall into them, get lost in all the promises, and I know that’s bad. One thing is for sure, I wouldn’t need any damn song to make me kiss those lips again.

Not now that I know what they taste like.

I nod. “Just overemotional.”

He brushes his thumb along my jaw. “Understandable.” He sighs. “I’m gonna unpack the car and leave everything down here. Then I’ve got to head back to my apartment and pack some of my stuff.”

I’m apparently not comprehending what he is saying until Maeve asks, “Are you staying here too, synok ?”

His eyes are on me, and it’s clear he doesn’t see any issue with staying in his family home with his baby mama like I do. How am I supposed to resist him if he is right beside me? He nods with a grin on his handsome face. “Yeah. Wherever Audrina and Arwen are, I want to be near when I can.”

My stomach does more flips than a gymnast in the Olympics, and all I can do is stand there as he winks. Why does he say things like that? Doesn’t he know he confuses me more and makes me think there is a glimmer of hope between us? Because there isn’t. There can’t be. But as I watch him lean in and kiss Arwen’s head, I wonder if he’ll kiss me. Shit, do I want him to kiss me?

Oh my God, I need to get it together.

He tells her he’ll be back in a few, and she nods in acknowledgment before he stands. His eyes hold mine hostage as he turns his cap around and gives me one last lingering look that has me wanting to roll onto all fours in front of everyone.

Wait, what?

I’m thinking that, and he’s staying here? In the same house we are?

I know it’s his family home, but he has a place.

This isn’t a hotel. There aren’t industrial locks on the doors to keep me from tripping and falling on his cock.

“So, you’re not together?” Mom asks, and Maeve snorts. “Because that exchange looked very sexually charged.”

“And I don’t need to remind you, but sex leads to gorgeous little girls. Not that I’m complaining because she’s my new favorite.”

“Wow. Thanks, Mom,” Ingrid signs and says, while I drop my head down, my shoulders crowding my ears.

What the hell is happening?