Page 122 of Silver Fox Puck

But then Olivia yawns again, rubbing her eyes. And I know that’s not an option. Not yet. Not today.

So instead, I just nod.

"Yeah. I should get this one home."

Kenzie’s lips curve into a small smile.

But it doesn’t reach her eyes. And for some reason, that gets me. That tiny flicker of… something. I know what it means. She’s feeling it too.

This pull. This shift. This thing that’s happening between us.

"Bye, Olivia," Kenzie says softly.

Olivia blinks up at her.

Then—

Without warning—

She throws her arms around Kenzie’s waist.

A quick hug. A tiny squeeze. And then she pulls back, completely unfazed.

"Bye, Kenzie!" she chirps before grabbing my hand.

Like nothing just happened. Like she didn’t just unknowingly melt me. And from the way Kenzie sucks in a breath, I know she feels it too.

We stare at each other for a long second. Neither of us saying what we’re thinking. Neither of us moving. Neither of us ready to walk away.

But eventually, she does. She steps back, eyes flicking to mine one last time.

"See you around, Coach."

And then she turns. Walks away. Leaving me standing there, holding Olivia’s hand. Watching her go.

And with startling clarity, I realize—

I don’t want to be the one left behind.

***

Olivia is asleep before we even pull into the driveway. Her tiny frame snuggled into the car seat, her little fingers still sticky from melted ice cream.

And I just sit there. Car in park. Engine off. Not moving. Just… thinking. Because what the hell was that?

I press a hand to my forehead, exhaling hard.

Kenzie fits into my world like she belongs here.

Like she was always meant to be there. And she sure as hell wasn’t supposed to look at me like she felt it too.

But she did.

"Daddy?"

Olivia’s voice is soft, still heavy with sleep. I twist in my seat, my chest already softening as I watch her little eyes blink open.

"We home?"

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