Page 99 of Three Pucks and a Baby

Instead of his usual smirk, he gave me a genuine smile. “I met someone who changed my mind.”

Holy butterflies in my stomach, Batman.

Returning his smile, I said, “I’d love to.”

As Theo led me onto the dance floor, I tried regulating my wildly beating heart. When Theo slid his arms around my waist, a shiver went through me. The heady scent of his cologne filled my nose, and I resisted the urge to bury my face in his neck.

I’d just wrapped my arms around his neck drawing him close when he urged, “So tell me about the paternity test.”

“Seriously?”

He frowned. “Yeah, the guys didn’t tell me much about it.”

“Wow, you know how to romance a woman, don’t you?” I teased.

“Ouch, with the claws.”

“It’s the truth.”

With a scowl, he replied, “Fine. I’m still a little rusty when it comes to romance.”

Since I knew he was trying, I decided to put him out of his misery. “The results take about five or seven days to come back.” Cocking my head, I said, “We did the tests two days ago, so it won’t be too much longer.”

“How will we know if it’s mine?”

“Process of elimination with Bennett and Grayson.”

“I see.” Tilting his head, his expression grew serious. “I hate I wasn’t there for you. You know, for the test.”

“It’s okay. What matters is that you’re here now.”

“I am. And I will be in the future.”

I hoped rather than believed him. It went back to being a realist. More than anything, I wanted him to prove me wrong. I wanted that from all of the guys.

“This is nice, Theo,” I said.

“It’s not as bad as I thought it would be.”

With a laugh, I replied, “You flatter me.”

“And you make me better.”

“In only twenty-four hours, I teased.

He winked. “I’m a work in fucking progress.”

“That you are, Theo. That you are.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: BENNETT

After our dinner date at The Dive, the next few days were a blur of hockey practice and classes. While I went through the motions on the ice and in the classroom, I couldn’t help focusing on the date that was looming.

The first day we could expect the paternity test results to arrive.

Even though we’d agreed to all play a part in the baby’s life, I couldn’t help wanting it to be completely mine. The idea that any twenty-three-year-old single guy would want to be a father was a little crazy. At the same time, I couldn’t help this weird longing that filled me.

Maybe it was because of the fractured relationship I had with my parents, especially my father. Maybe it was the unrequited love I felt for Theo. In the end, it just felt like being the baby’s biological father could patch the gaping hole in my heart.

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