Shit. “The girls.” She sat up to find Cole gone.Oh, thank God.
He’s taking care of them.
Last night had been tough. He’d been so damn hard on himself. Mostly, what had kept her awake was wondering what she could say to make him see he’d overreacted. Sure, she’d have been scared, too, but he truly believed he wasn’t good for those girls. She couldn’t let him think like that. She’d only fallen asleep when she’d realized what she needed to say.
She’d say it now. At home, she’d throw on her robe and slippers, but this was Trevor’s house, so she grabbed her jeans and a sweater and headed downstairs.
An unfamiliar show played on the TV, and each girl had a bowl of dry cereal in her lap.That’s weird. Cole usually did something special for them. Hadn’t he said he’d bought chocolate croissants yesterday from his favorite bakery?
“Morning, girls. Where’s Cole?”
“I don’t know.” Paisley didn’t take her attention off the screen.
She ran a hand over the little girl’s back. “How are you feeling today?”
“Fine,” Paisley said.
“When I came home, you were sleeping. But I know that must’ve been scary last night.”
The little girl stopped chewing and turned to look at her. “I knew Cole would find me.”
Hailey took in a sharp breath. She really hoped he was close enough to hear her say that. “Well, I’m sorry it happened to you. We’ll be much more careful from now on.”
She headed for the kitchen, expecting the scent of warm croissants. When she didn’t see him there, she realized he had to be working out.
Of course, dummy.He’s back on the ice.
He’s got a game tonight. He can’t miss training.
On her way to the gym, she found Trevor drinking coffee in his office and reading a script. “Morning.”
“Morning.” He had a guarded look in his eyes.
“Everything okay?” She leaned against the doorway.
Slowly, he stood.
A cold fluid entered her bloodstream. Her body knew before her mind did. “I was just going to see if Cole was in the gym.”
Trevor set his mug down.
“But he’s not there, is he?” She didn’t even wait for an answer. “He left.”
“He has a team meeting this morning.”
“Please don’t bullshit me. Where is he? What time did he leave?” It wasn’t too late to talk to him, to convince him everything would be all right.
“He left before I got up.”
“Did you try to stop him?” She understood her question was stupid. Trevor had been sleeping when his son left, but she literally couldn’t stop herself. “Did you talk to him?”
It was just that Cole was slipping through her fingers. Her family, this gift she’d been given, was slowly dribbling out of her clenched hand. “He’s got it all wrong. I need to talk to him.” But she didn’t have her phone on her. She’d left it on the nightstand. “He was stuck on the fact that Paisley said she hated him, but what he needs to understand is that she’s been on her best behavior. That’s why things have gone so smoothly. This whole time, she’s been afraid if she pitches a fit or yells at us, we’ll walk away from her. She can’t risk us leaving, too. So, the fact that she could yell at him like that…it means she’s comfortable with him. She trusts him. She can be herself and not worry he’ll leave her.”
“That sounds about right.” Trevor came around the giant desk and pulled her into his arms.
“But he did it, didn’t he? He left her. He left us.” She took a step back. “Can I talk to him? Is it too late?”
He made a half-turn, his fingertips landing on a white envelope. She recognized Cole’s handwriting.Hailey. Trevor slid it toward her.