“I’m working on it,” Dani said. “It’s going to take some time.” She had no doubts they’d have their setbacks. Arguments. Tears. Hurt feelings. But she was at least willing to try.
“Of course it will, honey,” Debra said, patting her hand. “But all solid relationships take time to build. One day at a time.” She smiled. “It’s the same as one brick at a time.”
“You really think it’s possible?” Dani asked, needing confirmation from someone she trusted. “To get past something like that? I mean, I know Ace didn’t set out to intentionally kill Linc, but—”
“His negligent actions contributed to his death just the same.” She nodded, pursing her lips. “What he did, what happened that night, was a terrible tragedy. Ace should have known better. They both should have known better.”
“That’s also what I’m struggling with,” Dani said, looking into her cup as she brushed her thumb back and forth over the handle. “Linc’s responsibility in his death. It’s not something I was willing to consider before. It was easier to just blame Ace.”
“But now that he’s back in your life and you see how sorry he is…”
“I can’t go on hating him.” Tears filled her eyes. “I just can’t. I loved him too much. I know he’s a good man… who made a really bad decision.”
“Then let it all go,” Debra whispered, rubbing Dani’s back. “You might be surprised what it leaves room for.”
***
Dani felt the oppressive weight of gloom as soon as she walked into her parents’ house. It clung to every surface, decorating the walls in the form of old pictures of Linc, gripping the furniture they refused to part with because Linc had sat on it, sticking to old crafts he’d made and given to their mother. It was like a depressing shrine to a life half-lived.
“Hey,” she called, trying to inject some enthusiasm into her voice. This was supposed to be a special occasion, but she knew it would just be another reminder that Linc wasn’t there to celebrate with them.
“There you are,” her mother said, pursing her lips as she rounded the corner from the kitchen. “You’re late.” She consulted her watch to be sure. “I was worried the chicken was going to dry out.”
“Sorry,” Dani muttered, kissing her mother’s cheek as she handed her the present she’d selected for her dad. A watch. Even though he hadn’t marked the passage of time in years. “I got caught up at work.”
She looked around Dani, scowling. “Where’s Mike? Why isn’t he with you?”
Dani knew this was the evening she’d have to tell her parents about her failed engagement. “He’s not coming.”
“Why not? Didn’t you tell him that we’d be expecting him?”
Her parents believed everyone was responsible for bending to their will. “He’s not coming because we’re no longer together.”
Her father walked up behind his wife and rested his hand on the small of her back. “What’s this all about?”
“I didn’t want to do this tonight.” Dani sighed. “It’s your birthday. We’re supposed to be celebrating, not dissecting my failed relationship.”
Her father frowned as he stepped back. “Don’t tell me—you broke up with Mike? Why the hell would you do that? You’re never going to find anyone better!”
“Really, Dad? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure I can find a man who’ll be faithful, who won’t cheat on me with the first…” She took a deep breath, refusing to allow this downward spiral to continue. Just because they chose despair didn’t mean she had to. “It’s over. That’s all you need to know.”
“He cheated on you?” her mother asked, shaking her head. “But I don’t understand. Why would he do that? Weren’t you… keeping him happy?”
If she’d slapped Dani across the face, it would have hurt less. “So you think this is my fault? I’m responsible for my fiancé cheating on me?”
“We didn’t say that,” her father said, his voice tight. “We’re just asking how this happened.”
“No, you’re accusing me of doing something to cause this,” she said, flattening her palm against her chest.
“Well, maybe if you’d set a wedding date sooner, he would have believed that you were serious about marrying him,” her mother said, pursing her lips again.
“I don’t believe this.” Dani backed up a step, knowing there was no way she could stay without this evening ending with more hurt and anger. “I…” She looked at her dad, wishing she could see some sign of the jovial man who’d raised her, but his blue eyes were lifeless. “I’m sorry, I have to go. I can’t do this tonight.”
“You can’t leave! I made your father’s favorite dinner. It’s his birthday!”
“I know.” She backed up another step, feeling claustrophobic as she struggled to breathe. “I’m sorry. I just… I can’t be here… not with you. Not tonight.”
***
Ace was walking out of the stadium when his phone buzzed with a text from Dani.
I’m in the parking lot. Section A13.
He frowned as he looked up at the signposts marking the various subsections of the lot that accommodated thousands of vehicles. It was near-empty now, the fans who’d cheered them on tonight long gone.
Grabbing my car. Meet you there in 5.
He knew she’d had dinner with her parents, so the fact that she was waiting for him in a deserted parking lot as midnight closed in indicated that something was really wrong. He jumped into his Escalade and turned the music down as the engine roared to life. He tried to convince himself that she’d had a pleasant dinner with her family and just wanted to see him on her way home, but he knew better. If everything was fine, she would have called or texted him in the morning.
He rolled up beside her little silver BMW and lowered the window. “Hey, gorgeous. What’s up?” His stomach took a nose dive when he realized she’d been crying. He jumped out of his truck and opened her door, reaching for her.
She stepped into his arms, laying her head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, I know you’re probably tired. But I needed to see you.”
“It’s okay,” he said, stroking her hair. “You never have to apologize for wanting to see me, sweetheart. What is it? What’s wrong?”
She released a shuddering breath before she said, “My parents are so… cold.”
He tightened his grip when he thought of her driving in this condition. If something had happened to her… “Cut the engine. I’m taking you home.”
“But I have work in the morning.”
“I’ll take you.” Tonight had been their last of three home games before they hit the road for four days, but he’d have time to get her to work and get her car back to her before he had to leave with his team. “Don’t even think about arguing with me, Dani. You’re not driving in this condition.”
“I feel so stupid for even coming to you like this,” she said, swiping at her tears. “You have your own problems. You don’t need to deal with mine.”
He had a feeling he was the biggest problem she was dealing with. “Don’t worry about me, I’m good.” Or at least he would be as soon as he figured out how to help her. He set her aside gently before he reached into her car and pushed the button to shut it down. “You have your keys?”
“Yeah.” She sniffled as she reached into her purse to lock the door.
Ace walked her around to the passenger’s side of his truck and waited for her to get inside. He watched her fasten her seat belt before he kissed her softly. “I’m really glad you came to me tonight.” He wanted to be the one she turned to every time she had a problem. Just like the old days.
She touched his face, a sad smile on her lips. “I didn’t even consider going anywhere else. I needed you.”
He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, touching his forehead to hers as he breathed in those words. I needed you. “Let’s go. I want to hear all about what’s bothering you.”
He rounded the back of the vehicle and jumped in, reaching for her hand before he put the car in
drive.
“I heard you won tonight,” she said, looking out the window. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” An hour ago, that win had been the most important thing on his mind, but seeing her again made that seem like a distant memory. “A couple of wins is always a good way to kick off the season.”
“And you’re leaving town tomorrow, right?” Her grip on his hand tightened. “I’ll miss you.”
He smiled. Three more words he’d never tire of hearing. “I’ll miss you too, babe. But I’ll only be gone four days. Then we’re back for three.”
“Do you ever get tired of the travel?” she asked, resting her head against the leather cushion.
“Not really.” Though he suspected being away from her would be hard. “It goes with the territory.”
“It must be tough for the guys with wives and kids to be away from them so much.”
He thought of how difficult Rowan had claimed it was to leave Tenley for a long stretch. “It is. But they get a nice long break after the regular or post-season, so I guess that makes up for it.”
“You’re lucky to be able to play in your hometown. Not many guys get that opportunity.”
He’d been traded twice in his career, but he hoped to be able to close out his playing days in the city he’d always called home. “Yeah, I never take that for granted. I hope as long as I continue to play hard, the brass will wanna keep me around.”
“Ever think about what will happen if you do get traded after this season?” she asked, rubbing her thumb against his palm.
“I try not to dwell on it. If it happens, it happens, I guess.” Though if things progressed with Dani the way he hoped they would, leaving her, even for part of the year, would be damn near impossible.
“I guess you and I are different,” she said, staring at the glowing lights on his dash. “I like certainty, stability in my life. I like to have a plan.”
He wanted to know if he was part of her plan, but it was way too soon to ask. “Nothing wrong with that, as long as you can adapt.” He slowed at a yellow light on the verge of turning red. “Things don’t always work out the way we plan, do they?”
“No.” She turned her head to look at him. “Look at what happened to our plans. We’d planned to get married, have a family…”
Though they’d been young when they dated, they’d talked about forever all the time and fantasized about what their lives would look like when they were finally able to call their own shots.
“I wish things could have been different,” he whispered, swallowing the sadness that accompanied that statement. In an ideal world, he and Dani would be married with a couple of kids and her brother would be hanging out at their house, tipping back a few beers with him as they talked about the game they loved.
“I know. So do I, Maceon.”
He smiled. It felt good, hearing her say his given name. Ace was who he’d become, but Maceon was the part of himself he’d left behind. The part he missed sometimes. “Tell me what happened to get you so upset tonight.”
“I told my parents Mike and I aren’t getting married after all,” she said with a bitter chuckle. “And you know what they said?” She clenched his hand. “They implied that his cheating was my fault! They said if I’d been willing to set a wedding date sooner, maybe he wouldn’t have had to look elsewhere. Can you believe that?”
Ace tried to put Dani’s fiancé out of his mind, but he knew Mike was never far from hers. Their breakup was too recent to be a distant memory. For all he knew, Ace could be her rebound guy. “That must have hurt, but maybe they just need a little time to adjust to the idea of—”
“That’s just it,” she cried. “They don’t want to adjust! They don’t want anything to change. They’d rather live in a time warp where nothing ever changes, where they pretend their son is still alive and…” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she tore her hand from his. “I’m sorry. You’re the last person I should be talking to about this.”
He checked his rearview before putting his signal on and slamming on his brakes. He parked on the outer edge of a strip plaza, noting a few lights and vehicles that probably belonged to the cleaning crew.
“You need to get it all out.” He put the truck in Park and shifted to face her, resting his hand on the headrest. “Say whatever you’re thinking, whatever you’re feeling. Don’t worry about how it’ll affect me.”
“I know they miss him,” she said, doubling over. “I do too. But it’s like they forget they still have me. As soon as they lost Linc, I ceased to matter.”
“I’m sorry.” He knew he’d ripped a family apart that night, but he never imagined the damage would be irreparable. “God, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” She squeezed her eyes shut as tears continued to leak out. “People face tragedies all the time. It’s awful, but they find a way to cope, to move on with their lives and be happy again. It’s like my parents don’t even want to try.”
“Maybe they feel guilty,” Ace suggested. “Could be they feel they don’t have a right to live if their son can’t.”
“And they don’t think I have a right to live either,” she whispered, pressing her fist against her mouth. “They don’t think I deserve to be happy. I think that’s why they wanted me to marry Mike. They could see that he didn’t make me happy, not the way I was with you. But…” She shook her head. “None of that matters now.”
Ace was still trying to process what she’d said. She’d never experienced the kind of joy with her fiancé that she did with him. But could they ever get that back with the dark cloud hanging over them? They’d never be carefree teens again, and they’d never be able to think of the past without remembering Linc. “Have you tried talking to them? Telling them how you feel?”
“They can’t hear me.” She closed her eyes. “It’s like they’re gone too. They’re here, but they’re not. Not the parents I knew. Sometimes I wish I could just leave, move far away and cut all ties.”
But she couldn’t do that. She was a good daughter who would never do anything to enhance her parents’ sadness and loss. That was what scared Ace the most, knowing he was asking the impossible of her.
“I know you feel like you owe them everything,” Ace said, choosing his words carefully. “But what about you? Don’t you owe it to yourself to do what feels right?”
“I don’t know anymore.” She rubbed her eyes. “I’m just so confused. I can’t even think straight.”
Ace knew this conversation wasn’t over. There’d be no easy resolution, but he hoped with every day that passed, their fear and pain would subside a little more until the only remaining memories were good ones.
“I know, baby. I know.” He leaned in to kiss her cheek, his heart aching as her salty tears caressed his lips. “We don’t have to figure anything out tonight. Let’s just get you home so you can get a good night’s sleep, okay?”
“Ace?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I spend the night with you?”
He wouldn’t have it any other way. “Of course.” He kissed her hand. “Anytime, sweetheart.”
Chapter Ten
Dani woke up to the sound of Ace’s breathing as she stared at the ceiling. He’d helped piece her back together last night. He’d made love to her slowly, whispering how glad he was to have her back in his life and how much he’d missed her.
She rolled to her side so she could watch him sleep. His dark eyelashes dusted his cheek and the stubble covering his jaw was thicker. His black hair was mussed, both from sleep and her wandering hands, she suspected. He was gorgeous. Always had been, but seeing him like this now, after so many years without him, made her even more aware of how striking he was. How perfect. If only they could wipe the slate clean and pretend that accident had never happened.
“Hey,” he said, opening one eye as he rolled to his side to face her. “Feel better?”
She nodded, tucking her hands under her cheek.
“I’m glad.”
He brushed her hair over her shoulder. “I hate like hell that I have to leave you today. I wish we’d reconnected during the off-season, when we had more time to talk, to work through things without all the travel.”
“A few days apart might be good for us. Give us some time to think.”
“Is that what you need?” he asked, looking concerned. “Time to think about whether this is a good idea?” When she didn’t respond, he sucked in a breath. “Look, if I’m going to come back to you telling me that you can’t do this—”
“Please,” she whispered, closing her eyes. “I don’t want to do this now. I have to get ready for work soon, and you have to get to the airport. Can’t we just enjoy these last few minutes together without talking about anything heavy?”
“Just know that this is getting real for me, Dani.” He closed his eyes. “Really real.”
It was getting real for her too. But she didn’t know what that meant for the future. “Don’t worry about my car. I’ll ask Ro to take me to pick it up at lunch.”
He opened his eyes, staring at her. “That’s what you’re thinking about right now? Your car?”
“No, but—”
“Or you’re just trying to avoid talking about what’s happening between us? You think we can go on like this indefinitely, not talking about our feelings or our plans or whether we even want to be a couple?”
It didn’t matter what she wanted. What mattered was whether it was even possible. “Being with you again has changed me for the better.” She stroked his cheek. “You’re making me feel things again, things that I haven’t felt in a really long time. And I love that.”
“But?”
“We can’t live in denial. We can’t pretend that we live in a bubble and our actions won’t impact the people we love.”
“I know, but…” He shook his head. “Look, I know this is an impossible situation.” He rolled onto his back, brushing his hair back with his hand. “But I don’t want it to be. I want us to find a way.”
“I know. I do too.”
“But can we?”
Hit and Run (Summer Rush #2) Page 9