Page 135 of Hot for the Hockey Player
More soft sounds of amusement echoed around me.
“She is my role model, my favorite person, and the woman I want to be like when I grow up.I know this essay was supposed to be about someone who inspires me, but my mother doesn’tjustinspire me, she astounds me.She gives me hope and courage and unconditional love.To me, she is more than an inspiration, she is a goal, she is strength and power, grace and love incarnate, and I am so grateful and proud to be her daughter.”Laurel gave a small, sheepish smile.Or at least I think she did.I was bawling like a baby and could barely see the stage because of the tears.“Mom?”
Swallowing, I used the sleeve of my sweater to blot my eyes and lifted my gaze.
She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.“You need to go to him.He wants to come back, but only if you invite him.”
I gasped again, and the room became an indecipherable din of curious murmurs.
“She’s right,” Damon said quietly beside me.
Sniffling, I swallowed again and untangled my fingers from Danica’s hand, then stood up and climbed the stairs to the stage, enveloping my daughter in an enormous hug.I kissed her cheek and the top of her head, my body shaking with the lingering tremors of my shock.
Applause and cheers erupted in the auditorium and my sweet girl went pink in the cheeks as I held her face and kissed her forehead.
“Go to Maverick, Mom.You need to put your heart first for once.Please?”
I blinked at her.“I …”
“We’ve got lots of family to take care of us.Go to Portland.Go get Maverick and bring him home to us.To his family.”
Glancing down at Damon, and ignoring the rest of the audience, I took in his nod of agreement.“Go, Mom,” he called to me.“You deserve to be happy too.”
I released Laurel, and we both made our way off the stage, down the steps.She rejoined her classmates, and I sat back down between my son and cousin.
“What are you doing?”Naomi asked with a slight hiss as she leaned forward around Danica.
Dabbing at my eyes again, my face on fire, I glanced at her.“What?”
“Go.To.Him,” she enunciated, an almost devilish expression on her face.
“Now?”
“Yes, now,” all three of my cousins, Jagger, a few McEvoys in earshot, and even Damon, all said.
“I … but …”
“Stop making excuses and get your ass to Portland,” Raina added.
Damon shoved my shoulder until I stood up, giving them all a confused and shocked look.
“I …”
“Go!”This time it was nearly half the gymnasium that shouted at me.
Stunned, excited, nervous, and confused, I grabbed my jacket and purse and headed out the door.I don’t even remember the drive home or packing a small bag of clothes and essentials.The ferry ride over to the mainland was a blur, and after almost four hours on the I-5 South during rush hour, I landed in Portland.Thankfully, Damon had Maverick’s address and texted it to me, because I had no idea how to find him.
It was twilight, and I contemplated finding a hotel first.What if he shoved me out the door and told me never to come back?
Then you obviously don’t know Maverick Roy very well.
I located his condo building but had to drive around the block twice to find parking since his building was on a one-way street and I couldn’t get over to the far lane in time to grab the vacant stall.
Eventually, I managed to nab a parking spot just as another vehicle was pulling out, and with my nerves making my limbs shake, I did probably the worst parallel park in my entire life.
Anybody watching had to be thinking I was legally blind and shouldn’t be driving.
“Okay,” I whispered, checking my appearance in the rearview mirror and slathering on some lip gloss, not that it would do much to hide the dark circles under my eyes or the twin stains of red on my cheeks.“You can do this.Your daughter just read an essay to almost two hundred people about how strong you are.Don’t wimp out now.”
