Page 27 of Comeback
The sun had set below the horizon, painting everything the eye could see a deep, somber shade of blue. Emma’s sweater had fallen off her shoulder, revealing the thin strap of her camisole. My eye was drawn to her collarbone in the cobalt light; I wanted to kiss it. After she’d shared her heart with me, I felt close to her. But I felt like I needed to becloserto her—especially if I was going to tell her mystory.
I put my arm around her, wanting to pull her closer on the bench. But she quickly stopped me.
“No, Jack. Not in front of Mackenzie.”
I snatched my arm back in a hurry. “Shit. Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
Whatever courage I’d worked up to tell her about my life as an NHL star was gone.
“It’s okay. It’s getting dark, anyway. Would you like to walk us home?”
“I would,” I said, giving her a bittersweet smile.
Chapter 13
Emma
After Jack showed Mackenzie how great it was to holdtwohands andbe swung through the air with each great step, she wouldn’t accept any other mode of transport. My arms were tired, but Jack did most of the lifting, thankfully.
“She really loves this,” Jack said over her elated whooping.
“Kids love repetition,” I said, wanting to drive home the point. “Once they find something they like, they latch on.”
I shot him a glance, wondering if hetrulyunderstood what I’d told him at the park, andwhyI’d told him. He looked at me and smiled, his eyes glinting in the dark.
The walk back to Nicole and Jeff’s was short. When we arrived, Nicole and Jeff were swaying on the porch swing. Jack and I helped Mackenzie jump up the stairs to the bungalow one last time before it was time to say bye.
I introduced Jack to Jeff, sheepishly avoiding Nicole’s red-hot glare.
The men shook hands, and then it was time to say bye.
“Okay, Mackenzie,” I said, “say bye to Jack.”
“Bye, Mackenzie,” Jack said. “Can I get a hug?”
She stayed near my leg, and I thought she wouldn’t speak in front of Nicole and Jeff. But once Jack knelt down to get on her level, she eagerly stepped forward. He wrapped his giant arms around her and squeezed her close.
“Bye, Mack,” he said again.
“Bye, Jack,” she said quietly.
“Hey! How ‘bout that!” Jeff shouted, nudging Nicole. “Did you hear that, honey? She talked!”
Nicole didn’t look nearly as pleased about it. “She sure did.”
“I have to take her in,” I said. “Can you stick around out here for a few minutes, Jack?”
He nodded. “Sure.”
I took Mackenzie inside, and Nicole followed me in.
“You can’t be serious, Ems,” she said, following us upstairs to our attic bedroom.
“Serious about what?”
“You can’t let her get attached to some random guy!”
I sighed. “I know. Look, it’s not like Iwantedthis to happen.”
