Page 72 of Hot Puck
“Thanks.” He turns to go but I stop him with a hand on his arm.
“Chase.” I wait until his gaze returns to mine. “Stop thanking me. I told you I would be your partner in caring for the girls and I meant it.”
“I know. But it still seems like you’re doing me a favor, that I’m taking advantage of you.”
“I’m not and you’re not. I wanted you on the team. I wanted you and the girls to have the lives your parents wanted for you. I could easily have thrown money around to make it all happen.”
“To be honest, I’m kind of surprised you haven’t.”
“I don’t want to.” I swallow over the lump in my throat. “I don’t have any family. They’re all dead and I never counted my ex as family. The women of KAW and their families are the closest relationships I have besides Eli. And none of them are blood related to me.”
“I—”
“No, let me finish. I know I’m not family to you or the girls, but I want to be there for you like family would be. Well, not my family, there was no love in my family or my marriage, and maybe that’s why I’m so determined to make sure the four of you stay together. And I want to be part of that if you’ll let me.”
“You mean the marriage of convenience you talked about when you first came to St. Paul?”
“Yes. If that’s what you want to do. But there are alternatives. I could adopt the girls, you would still be their guardian,” I rush out. “But I’d be a second parent without you having to tie yourself to me.”
“Why wouldn’t I tie myself to you if I’m willing to tie the girls to you?”
“Well, you’re twenty-one and I’m thirty-four for a start.”
“So what? Isn’t Coach younger than Oakley? And I know Coach Watts is older than Bran.”
“You would consider a marriage of convenience?”
“It’s the only option I’d consider to protect the girls.”
“Oh.” I’m not sure why I thought he would prefer the other option.
I’ll admit I’m shocked he’s open to it. We’ve been taking care of the girls together for weeks and he’s never mentioned getting married. Of course, I was still married to Johnathon for half of that time.
“You work out the details and I’ll do what I have to to make it legal and secure the girls.”
“They’re secure now. I promise you. A marriage between us won’t change the way I treat them.”
“I know. But it might change the way you treat me.”
I don’t get a chance to process his words, never mind question them, because he leaves me alone in the cold cellar.
He wants me to change the way I treat him?
What’s wrong with the way I treat him now?
Chase
The Rogues just won their first game in the regular season ever and instead of celebrating, I’m pacing our hotel suite.
The girls are in bed. Candace is asleep but I’m not sure about the twins.
And there’s no way I can go to bed yet. Gem isn’t here.
Whatever went down with Cami after the game tonight wasn’t good. All I know is what Whit told Cass and Stell.
Cami collapsed in the hallway leading to the visitors’ locker room.
That’s where Gem is. I think. I do know wherever she is, she’s doing what she does best, fixing things, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I want to be with her.
