Page 32 of Pucking Fate

“What? What’s that frown about? I just want to help.”

“I know that, I do. It’s just…letting you help makes me feel like I’ll owe you or something.”

“You don’t owe me. I want to do this for Finley. Please?”

“Fine,” I cave, since it’s impossible to refuse the man anything when he gives me puppy dog eyes.

That’s probably how I got pregnant. Christian was so charismatic and was being so patient, waiting for me to be ready to sleep with him. When he told me, begged me actually, that he wanted to book us the hotel room just so he could hold me all night, I agreed, knowing exactly what would happen. I wanted the same thing, and the dorm and Preston’s apartment weren’t ideal for sleepovers. I’d hoped it would happen, even though I was so nervous, I nearly puked that afternoon before he picked me up.

“Thank you,” Christian says as he leans in to press a kiss to my lips.

“Whoa!” I press my palms to his chest to push him away. “You can’t do that…”

“You mean in broad daylight?”

“I mean where Finley could see us and get confused.”

“Right. Sorry. I’m just…happy,” he says with a grin. “I’ll go make some calls.”

“Thank you,” I tell him. When he turns to leave, I finally concede, “Finley will love a hockey party.”

Glancing over his shoulder, his smile widens with pride. “I know he will.”

He does know. He’s beginning to get to know his son’s likes and dislikes. I’m not sure why that scares me so much. Maybe because Christian’s proving that he’s going to stick around, to step up and be a father to Finley, which means I’ll have to figure out how to stop pining for him before my heart gets crushed again and we ruin everything.

The next week flies by as Christian and I stay busy preparing for Finley’s party. He even came shopping with me for supplies while Finley had a play date with his neighborhood friend.

While Christian still stays over for an hour or so each night after we put Finley to bed, there’s a noticeable difference to our fooling around. At first Christian went slow, eased into things, was gentle. After our fight, though, we don’t talk, there’s no joking around. There’s just plenty of savage kisses, multiple orgasms, and then he leaves me satisfied but still longing for more.

More of him physically and emotionally.

Which I hate.

I know he’s only doing exactly what I asked him to do, so I can’t complain.

All I know is that I’ve started looking forward to seeing him every day, spending time alone together at night, even though I know it’s not real. In a few weeks, Christian will be headed back to North Carolina, back to the fame and puck bunnies. Finley and I will barely talk to him and rarely see him except on television.

There’s nothing I can do to change what’s coming. Even if I up and moved Finley to Greensboro, during the hockey season,I know what to expect from how often Preston is at practice or traveling with the team.

Still, it’s so frustrating.

That’s why I’m glad that Preston and Elle are coming to spend a few days with us for Finley’s birthday. They’ll create a nice buffer zone between me and Christian.

I’m so excited to see two of my favorite people in the world that I hurry out to their car as soon as they pull up in the driveway to hug them.

“You made it!” I say when I throw my arms around Preston’s neck first. “Thank you so much for getting the Warhawks to let us have the party in the arena.”

“Wish I had thought of it, but Christian deserves all the props for pulling this off,” my brother replies as we pull apart.

“Yes, but you were the one who had to make calls and ask for favors.”

“Anything for Finley,” he says with a grin.

Turning from him to embrace Elle, I take her hands when we break apart to examine them with a scoff. “No ring yet?”

Elle laughs and slips her hands from mine. “Don’t rush us! It hasn’t really been that long since we started dating. You know, like for real dating.”

“Time doesn’t matter. You two are definitely getting hitched. I can’t wait to help you plan the wedding!” Wincing, I add, “That is, if you want or need my help.”

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