Page 53 of Rematch
Sure, they still had a lot of stuff to figure out, but just knowing Chelsea and Lennon were going to be a big part of his life from this day forward, was enough to hold the anxiousness he should be feeling, at bay.
“I suspect our paths will be crossing a lot,” he reassured Ethan, praying that was true. “So tonight at seven-thirty?” he said to Chelsea, reconfirming their dinner plans.
She nodded and lifted her arms, intent on taking Lennon back.
Preston hesitated. He hadn’t lied earlier. Walking out of this building, away from her and Lennon, was going to be one of the hardest things he’d ever done.
Chelsea must have sensed his struggle. “I’ll send you a bunch of pictures and videos this afternoon, I promise.”
“Okay.” Preston bent his head, lifting the still-sleeping baby so that he could place a soft kiss on his forehead. “Daddy will see you again, very soon.”
Even as he spoke, he knew it wouldn’t be soon enough. Five minutes from now wouldn’t be soon enough.
Chelsea gently took Lennon away from him, tucking him into her arms, and the sight of her holding their child took his breath away.
Preston cupped her cheek. “I’m so glad I found you. Both of you.”
Chelsea blinked rapidly, her lashes wet again with unshed tears. “I’m glad you did, too.”
Unable to hold back, Preston decided if there was even the tiniest chance, he was going all in with this woman. Letting her walk out of that hotel room was the biggest mistake of his life, so he wasn’t going to play it safe or cool this time around. There was too much on the line. “This is probably going to sound silly, but…I missed you.”
“Goddamn, that’s romantic,” Ethan murmured.
Chelsea huffed out a breathy laugh as she rolled her eyes at her best friend. Then she looked back at him. “I missed you, too.”
Preston kissed her on the cheek when he really wanted to place one on her lips. Then he gave Lennon another kiss on the forehead.
“I’ll see you later.”
She nodded.
Somehow, he found the strength to walk away from them. Turning at the doorway, he twisted around and gave them a wave, then headed outside.
The Preston who left the bakery was completely different from the one who’d walked in.
He was a father.
He had a son.
He found Chelsea.
God willing, the life he longed for was starting right now.
And he couldn’t wait.
Chapter Eight
Chelsea walked into Pat’s Pub, trying to beat back the anxiety that had been growing ever since Preston said goodbye earlier. For months, all she’d wanted to do was find him and tell him about Lennon. Now that she had…she was freaking the fuck out.
She’d been fine-ish at first, because she’d still been at the bakery with Ethan, who had sung Preston’s praises up one side and down the other. And a lot of what he shared about Preston hadn’t just been about his skill on the ice. Though God knew she heard more than enough of those stories as well, as Ethan recounted amazing Preston goals from years past. Ordinarily, she tuned her best friend out when he was on one of his long-winded hockey discourses, giving her unrequested replays and analyses, but this afternoon, she’d been practically spellbound.
What had interested her more, however, were the details about Preston’s charitable work. Ethan followed all the players’ social media—as well as the team’s—so he lost no time pulling up Preston’s, showing her post after post of him working with underprivileged kids, reading in kindergarten classes, visiting fans in the hospital, and auctioning off sports memorabilia to raise money for very worthy causes.
She’d left the bakery feeling much better about tonight’s meeting.
Then she’d gotten home…to her mother.
When Chelsea explained to her parents that she’d found Lennon’s father, and that he wanted to be a part of his son’s life, she honestly thought they’d be thrilled. And for the most part, Dad was. He obviously wanted to meet Preston, but he knew how important it had been to Chelsea to find him, and how much guilt she’d suffered over not being able to tell him that he had a son.
