“We’ve been in a bubble, and it’s been great. And now we’re venturing into the real world where we both go back to full-time jobs.”
Well, he was, anyway. She wasn’t so sure about her job. “I guess I’m scared that you’re going to get caught up in hockey and forget about us.”
A flash of pain gripped his features, and she immediately knew she’d messed up. She grabbed his hand. “Forget I said that. It’s my insecurities talking. I know you. I know us. I know we’ll be okay. I’m just…scared. It’s all so new, and with you leaving, it feels a little fragile. But I’ve got this.We’vegot this.”
“I’ll come home every chance I get. It won’t be easy, and it won’t be often, but I’ll do it. And you guys can come see me. Next month, we’re on the West Coast for two weeks, so I’ll find time in the schedule for us to spend time together. And I’ll skip All-Star week to come home and be with you guys.”
“No. I don’t want you to miss out on anything. It just hit me harder than I expected. I’ll be okay.”
“We’llbe okay. I promise.” His phone pinged again. “All right. I have to go. My dad will be here in case you need anything. If you want to hire a nanny—”
“I don’t. No nanny. I’ll hire babysitters and ask my friends for help when I need it.” She felt better. Stronger.
I mean, come on. We’ve got these girls that will bind us together forever.
It’s going to be just fine.
She wrapped her arms around him. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
He held her so tightly he nearly lifted her off the floor. “It’s going to kill me to be away from you, but we’ll talk every day.”
“We will.”
He pressed a kiss to her mouth. “I have to go.”
“You’re not saying goodbye to the girls?”
“I just did.”
“Oh.” That’s what he was doing in bed with them. “What did you say?”
“That I have to go to work, but that they can call me any time they wanted. All they have to do is tell Hailey, and she’ll call me. Paisley asked if it was the kind of call where we could see each other’s faces, and I said yes.”
“They didn’t freak out?”
“They were…quiet. But it’s all right because I’m going to make sure I talk to them as often as I can. I don’t want them to think I’m gone like their parents.”
She hugged him one more time. She would miss him so damn much.
As he headed for the stairs, she panicked. She’d been keeping something very important from him, and now, knowing he was leaving, she knew she had to tell him. “Cole?”
He turned around. Her handsome, badass hockey player with a soft and gooey center watched her like he was torn between running back to her and taking care of his team.
“I love you.” She’d never said the words before, and they didn’t come out with the confidence he deserved. And it wasn’t because she didn’t feel it—she’d known for a while now that she was madly, wildly in love with him.
She was just terrified to say the words out loud.
She’d never been in love before.
But he’d just told her they needed to communicate, and this was the one thing he needed to hear. So, she said it again. “I love you.”
He hauled-ass back to her, lifting her off the floor and backing her against the wall. “I fucking love you. Swear to God, my heart beats for you. Only you. Please don’t give up on me.”
“I won’t.”
Slippered feet shushed on the hardwood floor, and the girls came down the hallway, armed with books. Evvie shoved them at Cole’s legs. “Wead.”
He set Hailey down. “I can’t read right now, sweetie.”