Page 186 of Puck Me Secretly

Mom cut in. “I want to thank you for taking care of our daughter the way you have. She told me about how you took care of her on the plane crash, and it seems like when we misplaced our trust in someone dangerous, you protected her. We judged you and I hope you can forgive us.”

Mom bowed her head, her shoulders shaking with tears.

Dad cleared his throat. “I know we’ve done nothing to warrant your forgiveness, but for the sake of our daughter, I was hoping we could still be part of your lives. I know you make Rory happy and that’s more than I’ve done in the past few years.”

“Dad,” I whispered.

Max’s eyes met mine and then he turned back to my parents. “Iwant Rory to be happy and I don’t think having any hard feelings between us would make her happy.”

Mom lifted her head. “I don’t think so either.”

Max stood up and so did Dad. They studied each other for an endless moment and then Max offered Dad his hand. Dad grabbed it and then pulled him into a hug. “Thank you, son. Thank you.”

CHAPTER 61

That nightI woke up alone in Max’s bed. I walked into the living room. Max sat on the couch, watching TV.

I crawled into his warm lap and laid my head on his shoulder. On the TV, a film of an old hockey game played.

“What are you watching?”

“Your dad put all the footage he could find of my dad playing hockey onto a CD for me.”

I lay back and watched Garrett play. “He reminds me of you.”

“That’s what everyone says.”

I watched Garrett make an incredible goal that reminded me so much of Max. It felt like they were the same person.

“He’s very good looking. He looks like you.”

Max squeezed me.

Garrett hugged his teammates, a huge smile on his face. “He loved hockey.”

“Yup.”

I put my hand on Max’s face. “How do you feel?”

“Confused.”

I snuggled back on his shoulder. “I know.”

He kissed my temple. “I think I need to go talk to my mom.”

I nodded. “I think that's a good idea. Do you want me to come?”

He pulled his arms tighter around me. “I think this one I need to do on my own.”

“I’ll be here when you get back.”

Max leftfor Ontario for a whirlwind trip to see his mom. He met up with the team on the road, so ten long days passed before he returned. We talked while he was away, but not about his mom. He seemed subdued on the phone, and I tried to quell the panic in my heart.

I waited with anxiety in his apartment, the night he was scheduled to come home.

When I heard the door open, I ran through his apartment. He swung me into his arms, burying his head into my neck.

“Oh, you feel good,” I squeezed my body tighter against his.

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