Page 131 of Never In My Wildest Dreams

“Sorry,Dad.”

The word had the pull of a magnet. Their gazes locked. Their bodies shifted to fully face each other. He could read it in her eyes, her worries.

Are you a dad?

Will you run?

Can I trust you with my daughter’s heart?

“Yes.” He blurted it out, though she hadn’t spoken. He just needed her to know he meant it.

But more proof of their connection—she let out a breath and gave him a faint smile as if she did understand.

“Part of me never left that cabin.” He intertwined their fingers.

“What do you mean?”

“From the moment I walked out the door, I’ve been on the move. I quit my job and signed the partnership with the boutique agency. I’ve been flying around the country trying to sign athletes to fill my roster and doing my share to ensure our agency succeeds. And yes, I want it for myself, but also, George believes in me in a way I’ve never entirely understood. And I’m not going to let my partners down.”

“What does this have to do with the cabin?”

“Somewhere inside me, I’m still there, living with you.”

“A parallel life.” She smiled, and he knew she was remembering her question all those years ago about what their alter egos were doing.

“Something like that. All I know is when I close my eyes in the shower or when I go to sleep at night, I see you dancing like you did that first morning when I got out of bed and found you in the living room. I can be in the middle of a meeting, and I remember you trying to figure out how to use the cheese grater.”

She lowered her chin. “I still can’t believe that.”

“I can tell you the color of your nail polish—pink—that’s how vivid the memories are. I remember the exact color of your hair when you sat near the fire eating your scrambled eggs. Everywhere I go, I find myself comparing perfume or candles or diffusers to my memory of your scent. I haven’t let you go. So, it might seem I’m moving fast, but I’m not. I bonded to you in a way I don’t understand, and that hasn’t changed. I still feel this.” He brought their clasped hands over his heart.

“Hey, guys.” Noa sashayed over, carrying two wooden racks. “You get one, and you get one. Now, go choose your flights, and then come over and join us.” As she walked away, she pointed to a brewer. “That one’s my favorite.”

He wasn’t there for the beer anyway, so they decided to go with the bride’s suggestion. They exchanged their tokens for six beakers of beer from Sawtooth Brewers, and then headed to the table.

They met the others at a long picnic-style table. Everyone was talking and laughing, and all he wanted was to be alone with Hellcat. There was no one he liked more than her. No one he’d rather spend time with.

A quick scan showed Declan with a toddler on his lap, seated next to his pregnant wife. Every now and then, the couple would look at each other, sharing one of those wordless conversations filled with understanding. What struck him was the way the coach blocked out the noise and distractions to lower his ear to his daughter’s mouth to really listen and talk to her, engage with her.

It drove home what both Ginty and Hellcat said. That Declan wasn’t the kind of man who’d blow off a good friend after an injury.

But also… I want to be that kind of father.

And he couldn’t do that while he lived two thousand miles away.

Declan coached an NHL team, so he traveled a good portion of the year, too, and he made it work. But his home base was here in Calamity.

Mine’s in New York.

What can I do?

The answer hit him. He set his flight down next to Hellcat. “Be right back.”

“Wait.” She touched his arm. “Where are you going?”

“I have to talk to George.”

Ginty laughed. “Those two are joined at the hip.”

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