Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
He gestures to the couch. “Sit.”
Then he takes a seat in the leather wingback. “As crazy as it sounds, not until we made it to the finals this year, but when did I find out you were actually my daughter? After you moved here.”
My pulse races as my heart rate accelerates and threatens to beat out of my chest.
Was it my mom?
Is she the reason I never had a father in my life? Did she keep him from me? Heat spreads across my face.
With my hands on my lap, I clench them into fists until the nails bite into the skin on my palm. Pain radiates through me, but it’s nothing compared to the pain I feel in my heart.
I’ll never be able to forgive her if she did this.
Wait, what did he say?
He let me move in with him before he knew I was officially his?
“What exactly happened?”
“I guess with all the hype of the playoffs, my picture was shown on TV, and while I look older, I haven’t changed much in twenty-two years. Your mom reached out to me. I’m still not sure how she got in touch, but she did. We didn’t really know each other.” He bites his lip, the implication pretty damn obvious. I’m the product of a one-night stand. “The thing is, I didn’t remember her at first, and then when I did—”
“You didn’t believe her?”
He nods.
“I can understand. The timing is sus.”
“Yeah, a little. I asked your mother to have you take a DNA test.”
As much as it hurts that he didn’t believe her, I can’t imagine how I would feel if I were in his position. Especially since he coaches a professional hockey team. For all he knew, my mom was some gold digger looking for an easy payday.
“Makes sense.”
“I think you get your logical side from me.”
“Don’t get too ahead of yourself. It rarely comes out.” I laugh, and he follows suit.
“I won’t lie to you, Josie. I was in shock.”
“So was I.”
“I can’t imagine. When I grappled with the notion that it might be true, I felt devastated by what I’d missed. I always wanted a family of my own, but it just wasn’t in the cards for me. Sure, I’ve had Molly in my life since she was a girl, and I love her like a daughter, but I could have had you too.” His voice cracks. “I missed so much . . .”
My eyes fill with tears. I can’t imagine how hard this all must have been for him. My breath feels heavy and labored. All this time I wasted. If only I had been strong enough to ask these questions when I arrived. But no, I was hurt and wounded and afraid.
“I can’t believe she called you and you let me come here. You didn’t even know for sure that I was yours. Why?”
He sucks his cheeks in. “I might not have remembered her well, but I could hear in her voice that she needed help. That you needed a place to stay and a job. I didn’t hesitate. I told her to send you here immediately. I didn’t know for sure you were my daughter yet, but in my heart, I did.” He leans forward in his chair. “I’d never have allowed you to grow up without me if I knew.”
A tear falls down my cheek. “I believe you. And I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?”
“For the way I’ve treated you. For avoiding you. For being so—” I bury my head in my hands, breathing in deeply to calm down. Once the pounding in my veins calms, I drop my arms. “I was horrible, and I have no excuse. Mom wouldn’t talk to me, and my brain made up its mind about what kind of person you were. Growing up with her . . . it hasn’t been easy, and—No. There’s no excuse for how I’ve acted.”
My dad takes my hand in his. “There’s nothing to apologize for. I have you in my life now, and you have me. That’s all that matters.”
And just like that, he’s no longer Sperm Donor, Coach Robert, or my father.
He’s simply . . . Dad.
59
JOSIE
The thing about a breakup is that you eventually bump into your ex, which is why I am not looking forward to returning to the practice arena today to grab the few things I left behind. The team isn’t always here, but seeing as there’s no game today, there is a good chance I’ll bump into Dane.
Rip off the Band-Aid.
Bumping into him is inevitable.
Since I’m working in the marketing department now, I’m not dressed in my typical casual attire. Today, I’m wearing a knee-length skirt, a pair of heels, and a lightweight sweater, and while my outfit fits in perfectly with all the high-level publicists, I do not fit in near the rink.