Page 47 of Beauty
I never imagined War would settle down, yet not only did he do it eagerly, but he went and adopted two kids without blinking and has legal custody of a third. Though he’s always hidden behind the bad-boy image the media gave him early on, he’s got the biggest of hearts.
I shake my head. “It’s wild. And Brooks is engaged. Shit, I’m the last man standing.”
War waggles his brows. “Don’t you worry, we’ll find you a good woman yet.”
I take a long pull of my beer, swallowing the urge to tell him that I already found her. I don’t mention that I haven’t looked at another woman since.
That last part doesn’t bother me anyway. When I’m not playing hockey, I focus all my attention on my son, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The only person who’d rank right up there in importance with Ollie is the woman I can’t find, so it’s a moot point.
“You’re really moving in with Hannah? With a contract like yours? You have a gambling problem I don’t know about?”
Chuckling, I spin my beer on the bar top. My stepsister Hannah has the space, and she wants Ollie and me close by.
As luck would have it, we now work for the same entity. She still handles PR for the Langfields’ baseball team, while I’m the Bolts’ newest player.
Her career is as hectic as ever. She travels more than she’s home, so even living together, we won’t see each other often. Do I need to live with her? No. But after years apart, I want as much time as I can get with her. And it’ll be good for Oliver to get to know her even better too.
“No gambling problem. I swear. But for now, I’m not ready to settle on a place. Not until I know where Ollie’s going to school next year or where Jen is going to live. If it’s possible, I’d like to be next door to her.”
He barks out a laugh. The guy thinks I’m kidding. Now that he’s a dad, he should understand that nothing matters more to me than my kid. If that means living next door to my former one-night stand and her husband for the rest of my life, I’ll do it.
A heavy hand lands on my shoulder, snagging my attention. I turn on my stool and find my buddy Brooks looming over me.
The guy is a giant. He’s got his light brown hair pulled back in his typical man bun and a big smile on his face. “I can’t believe you’re really back.”
I stand and offer him a hug. “Feels good. The three of us haven’t played together since college.”
Those days were some of the best I’ve ever experienced. I’ve never enjoyed playing with anybody more than the two of them.
The hope is that I’ll end my career with them by my side, here in Boston. At thirty-four, I’m inching closer to retirement age. There’s a good chance that the contract I just signed with theBolts will be my last. Even if it’s not, I don’t see myself leaving Boston unless Jen relocates again.
“What are you drinking?” War asks, holding up a hand to the bartender.
As Brooks orders, I pull out my wallet. “Drinks are on me.”
War drops his head back and laughs. “The guy’s family owns the place. You definitely don’t have to buy him a drink.”
I glare at him. He knows the rule. We go to a bar, I pay with cash. “Right, and his family just made my dream come true. Let me thank him.”
Brooks grins as the bartender sets his Moscow mule in front of him. “I’ll drink to that.”
The three of us tap our glasses and fall into silence, surveying the scene around us while I wait for my change.
It seems that’s all I ever do. Wait for another chance.
Now that I’m in Boston, I can’t help but think maybe she’s closer than ever before.
FIFTEEN
SIENNA
SIX MONTHS LATER
“Promise you won’t mentiona word of it while we’re in Boston.” I clutch my wrist and bring it to my chest, my nerves getting the better of me.
Garreth grasps my hand and runs his thumb over the top of it, easing my anxiety. He has the innate ability to sense when I’m about to spiral and knows exactly how to calm me down. Especially in the months since my life went to shit.
His gentleness instantly causes guilt to flare inside me. Because even after two years with this man, a man who treats me well, who respects me and supports me, I find myself scanning the wall of books inside the shop in the airport. No matter where I go, I’m always searching forthebook. I’m an asshole. Truly.
