Page 35 of The Slapshot and the Single Mom
Laughing too, I shrug. “Well, it seemed like the best choice. I just needed the push to decide to make it happen, I guess. And I don’t know. Maybe I should’ve set something like that up sooner when it became obvious his dad wasn’t going to take his time. It’s just … I didn’t want Liam to feel likeIdidn’t want him around either, you know?”
“I get it,” he murmurs. “You’re doing the best you can with what you have. That’s commendable, really. I know I’ve said it before, but you really are a good mom.”
“Thank you,” I say quietly. It’s easier to hear this time. Doesn’t hit me in quite the same raw, tender spot as the last time he told me that. It’s nice to hear someone say it, though. I do my best,and sometimes … sometimes it just doesn’t feel like it can ever be enough.
“Maggie?” Jack says, distracting me from my morose thoughts.
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad you said yes.”
A smile curves my lips. “Me too.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Jack
The kisswith Maggie replays in my head on a loop, distracting me. It’s a nice distraction, though, and since I’m not doing much other than a standard stay in shape workout program during the off season, it’s not like I have a lot to focus on.
But my distraction seems to be noticeable.
“Dude,” Connor says, smacking my arm with the back of his hand. “I thought we were going to turn there. Didn’t you say you wanted to do the route that goes past the park?”
“Huh?” I look around. “Oh. Right. My bad. We can take the next left, then get back on track. Why’d you wait until we passed it to say something?”
The look he gives me can only be described as disgruntled. “Itried.” He slows to a walk, then stops, and I stop too, staring back at him in confusion as he glares at me with his hands on his hips. “You weren’t listening. I had to say something three timesbefore you actually heard me. What is your deal lately? I’ve never seen you this distracted.”
Shaking my head, I reach behind me and pull out the hair tie holding my hair back, scrape my hair back into place, and secure it again. I started growing it out during our winning streak before the playoffs and still haven’t bothered to get it cut. I was supposed to shave it off if we won the Stanley Cup, but that obviously didn’t happen. Maybe I’ll grow it out for the next season too and shave it off if we win the Stanley Cup then. It’s long enough to go back in a little ponytail now, though.
“Just thinkin’,” I finally answer, but Connor’s not satisfied with that.
He crosses his arms. “Thinking about what? Is this about the woman you’ve been photographed with lately? And what the fuck is that about anyway? I thought you were told to keep your head down and your nose clean. That’s why you haven’t been coming out with me. Or at least that’s what youtoldme.”
The implication is clear—he thinks I might’ve lied to him, and he’s pissed.
Holding back a sigh, I drop my arms. “Yes. Iwastold that. Thatiswhy I haven’t been coming out with you. I can’t go party and be seen acting like that. Dating a woman, though, isn’t the same thing as going to clubs and parties and being seen with multiple women. We have dinner and go to museums and baseball games. Much more boring stuff than your usual scene. Do you want me to invite you along the next time we do something, though? I could see if she has a friend she could set you up with. Make it a double date.”
The look of disgust he gives me at that suggestion makes me laugh, and he flips me off.
Glancing around, I nod toward the family walking across the street. “Dude. There’s kids around. Maybe tone it down, yeah?”
Another disgusted look. “Since when do you care about that?”
That makes me pause for a second. I guess I wouldn’t normally, but spending so much time with Maggie and hearing about her kid makes me more aware of kids in general, I guess. Shrugging, I start jogging again. “C’mon, Jenkins. Time to get moving. I know you were probably out late drinking last night, but that’s no excuse for slacking on our jog today.”
“And what were you up to?” he asks, catching up to me easily. He snaps his fingers, holding a finger up in the air. “Oh, I know! Taking that hot little mama to a baseball game.”
I toss a puzzled look in his direction, and he smacks me again. “Your photos have been everywhere today. Don’t you pay attention to anything at all? I’m surprised Molly isn’t blowing up your phone over it. People are starting to piece together that the two of you have been spotted together several times now, and they’re starting to talk about it.”
“Oh, yeah?” It’s a stall tactic because my mind is racing to try and figure out the best response. On the one hand, this is what I wanted. I was hoping they’d see me dating the same woman for a while and the whole “party boy” image would start to fade. On the other hand, the last time I got talked about a lot on gossip sites, it didn’t go well for me. So it makes me really nervous. “What are they saying?”
He scoffs. “You think I should be reading your press clippings? Get real, dude. I just saw a few headlines and photos in passing.Enough to see you’ve been ditching me for some chick. Just like you did that night I agreed to slum it with you at the Salmon.”
“Better not let Ryan hear you talk about the Salmon that way. He’ll ban you.”
He scoffs. “Like that matters. I barely ever go there anyway. It just sucks to find out that my best friend is dating someone from fucking gossip headlines.” He slows to a stop again, glaring at me once more. “Why didn’t you bother telling me yourself?”
Shaking my head, I pace, hands on top of my head. “I don’t …” I drop my arms and shake my head again. “I’m sorry, Connor. I wasn’t trying to cut you out or anything. It wasn’t …” What am I going to say? It wasn’t real? Here, on the sidewalk, for the whole world to hear?
