Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
He made sure I knew that.
“I think I’ve fallen for Coach McCoy,” Austen says softly, and my lips turn up.
“Same. What a dreamboat,” Eliza agrees as she wipes her face. She’s a sympathy crier, always cries when anyone else does. “I’m so glad you told him.”
I shrug, cuddling into Darcy’s head. “I should have told him from the top, so if he did want to have kids, he could have dumped me.”
Elliot snorts. “It doesn’t matter when you told him, Clara, he wants you. Like he said.”
I nod. “I just don’t want him to resent me down the road.”
“Sissy, he’s thirty-five. If he really wanted kids, he would have done it earlier or with his wife.”
“I know, but he didn’t think she would be a good mom. He told me that things changed when he met me,” I insist, my heart heavy. After I sobbed all over him and ruined his slacks with my snot, we went back to the compound, and it was time for him to go. While I felt like I was letting him down, his eyes never gave away a thing. He looked at me like I was still so important to him and kissed me just the same before he had to go.
“But he told you he wanted you, only you,” Louisa repeats. “Don’t do this to yourself. Don’t dig yourself a hole where you feel you belong. He told you he loved you.”
I smile as his words replay in my head.
“It sucks, Clara. It does. But you found a man who loves dogs as much as you do and who makes you happy. Don’t sabotage it,” Eliza stresses.
“Don’t pull a me and overthink it,” Elliot offers. “Just trust him. Which I know is easier said than done.”
“It really is,” Austen agrees. “But for what it’s worth, I believe him.”
Each of my sisters agrees, and I nod. “I do too.”
They smile at me as Gretzky nuzzles his nose in my neck, breathing deeply. Above my head is Gordie’s head, where he is sleeping soundly. I cuddle into Darcy, and I smile back. “Thanks, guys.”
“Always. You know we love you,” Louisa tells me.
“Exactly. You are perfect the way you are.” Elliot sends me a wide grin.
“You are, and no matter what happens, we’ll always be here for you,” Eliza reminds me, and I nod.
“But I know I’m happy you found Riggs,” Austen adds. “Even if I’m not a fan of the hiding thing. But then, Dimitri had to hide us, so I get it. You don’t want to mix hockey politics with love.”
“It isn’t really hiding as much as they’re not telling anyone right now. We all know how that goes since Elliot hid a pregnancy for six months,” Louisa accuses, and I can’t help but snort at that.
“You guys won’t ever let me live that down, will you?”
“Nope,” we all say together, and Elliot laughs. We join in, but then my phone shows another call coming in.
Riggs.
My heart flutters. “Hey, he’s calling. Let me get off here.”
They all wave, blowing me kisses before I switch over. I realize way too late that it’s a FaceTime call with my burly lumberjack, so instead of looking guilty, I send him a small little grin, happy to see him but still a bit overwhelmed from telling him about my condition. “Hey. Did you get settled?”
I know he did since he’s got no shirt on and he’s lying back in bed looking all freshly showered and yummy. That is, he’s lying back until he realizes there are three huge-ass dogs on me. In his bed. He pulls his brows together, and I continue to act like there aren’t three dogs lying on me in his bed, where he has specifically asked for them not to be. “I am. Took a shower and unpacked for tomorrow’s skate, then hung up my suit. I may have it steamed before the game.”
I make a face. “I steamed it yesterday.”
“Did you?” he asks, and then he’s moving, taking me with him. I hear the zip of the bag, and then he smiles. “You did. Thank you, my love.”
I try to smile, but I know it’s not as bright as he likes it. “You know I’ve got you.”
“I know,” he agrees as he heads back to the bed, the camera moving every which way with each heavy step he takes. “How are you feeling?”
I bite my lip when it starts to tremble. “I miss you,” I admit. “I feel like the space is making me a bit insecure this time.”
His features soften as he runs his fingers through his beard. “Don’t let it. Nothing has changed between us.” His confidence is intoxicating as I gaze into his chocolate eyes.
“I know that, but my brain is being a little bit of a brat.”
He chuckles. “Now you know how I feel,” he teases, and that makes my grin grow. “Ah, there’s my baby girl.”