“You look like we’re heading into a funeral,” Megan said, clearly sizing him up.
“Cesspools of germs.” He shivered. “Water parks gross me out.”
She raised a brow at him. “Really, Ranger? You’re tougher than that.” She lugged her small, silver suitcase from the back.
“I’m serious. I’m not sure all my Army vaccinations will cover me for this place.” He took her suitcase from her.
“Josh is going to have a blast with the team. It’ll be fine.” She took a few steps toward him, leaned in, and gave him a sweet smile. “I’ll take care of you.”
Oh.
And those five words were exactly the reason he found himself donning snow globe swim trunks from the hotel gift shop forty-five minutes later and plummeting down a plastic tube slide behind Josh. They landed in a splash and Cole picked Josh up, tossed him into the deeper pool.
The whistle blew and a lifeguard picked up his megaphone, pointed at Josh as Cole came up out of the water. “Hey, kid—tell your dad not to do that.”
Josh grinned. “Don’t do that, Dad!” And he shrieked with laughter before diving into the lazy river.
But any response stuck in Cole’s throat. He blinked, wiped the water from his face. His gaze landed on Megan standing at the side of the pool. She returned his smile with her own. Josh dove at him for another tag, and he couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled from his chest before he jumped back in.
An hour later, they’d changed for dinner and made their way down to the hotel restaurant. Megan slid into the booth next to Cole. Josh sat across from them, his eyes scanning the over-sized menu.
“I’m starving,” he said.
“Let’s make sure your eyes aren’t bigger than your stomach,” Megan said.
“Where’s the fun in that?” Cole asked.
“Unless you want to be on stomachache watch all evening, you’d better trust me on this one.”
The restaurant catered to the hockey crowd, with autographed photos and jerseys hung on the walls. He savored the meal, not only for the best mozzarella sticks but for the company. Between Josh’s giggles and Megan’s soft laughter.
She’d even managed to work information out of the waitress—newly engaged. No definitive plans yet. And by the end of the conversation, the waitress was practically begging for Megan’s business card and thinking Deep Haven was probably the best place in the world to tie the knot. Yet it never came across as a sales pitch. Megan’s genuine care led the petite redhead to ask questions and listen to the answers in between soda refills and table checks and plate removals.
He walked them to their room with reluctance. They were two floors below him, and Josh headed straight to one of the queen beds and flopped.
Megan stood in the doorway and he wanted so much to kiss her goodnight. He reached out to her, slid his hand around hers.
“Thank you for allowing me to come.”
“Of course. You belong here.” She looked up at him, and the urge to kiss her nearly made him lean in. Except, Josh was right there, sitting in the room. Nope. This time, he’d follow Megan’s lead.
She didn’t help when her gaze flicked from his lips to his eyes as if she were thinking the same thing. “We’ll see you at breakfast?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be down at seven.” He rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand, gave it a squeeze before letting it go. And forced himself to stop staring at the soft curve of her lips.
“I should get inside.” She nodded her head toward the room.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Neither one of them moved. Megan chewed on her lower lip.
He’d never wanted to linger in a hotel hallway longer.
“Can we play cards?” Josh squeezed into the space between Megan and the partially open door like a splash of cold water.
“Yeah. Sure, hon.” Megan took a step backward into the room, not breaking her eye contact. “Why don’t you start shuffling the deck? The cards are in my tote bag.”
Josh disappeared.
“Okay. I’d better, uh, go. Now,” Cole said.
She wrinkled her nose but nodded and stepped inside the room, the door latching behind her.
He returned to his room and punched in the number for the U.S. Marshals Service. Voicemail. Again. He’d been trying to reach someone for twenty-four hours, hoping to cancel his interview.
No such luck. He sat on the bed and tossed the phone down next to him before picking up his notes. He looked through the papers and tournament schedule. He had enough time to meet the interviewer and then get back to the arena in time. It’d be close, but really, he didn’t see any other way. As he stared at his paperwork, doubt edged his thoughts.
Was he really going to bail on the plans he’d made with David? He punched in David’s number.
David answered, his voice a little groggy. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“Good. I’m in Minneapolis—I’m supposed to have that interview tomorrow.”
“Excellent. I’ll be flying back to DC tomorrow. I’m glad you decided to follow through with it.”
Cole stood up and looked at his reflection in the window. He’d put on a little weight since returning to Deep Haven. All those family meals. Maybe he’d been a little too thin before. He took a breath. “Actually, I was thinking of canceling it.”
“Because of the girl?”
“Yeah.” Cole began pacing through the hotel room.
“Dude. Are you ready to give up the job for a girl?”
And he didn’t know why David’s tone irked him, but, “She’s not just any girl.” Not any girl at all. Megan turned every dark, dismal day into joy. Laughter. Family. “You know I’ve known Megan practically my entire life, David. She’s the one.”
It felt good, something soul cleansing to say that.
“You know, Cole, you’re like a brother to me. I don’t begrudge you any happiness. It’s just—don’t you think you should at least show up for the interview?”
Cole ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. Why?”
“Listen. I’ve been talking you up every chance I get. I went out on a limb for you, assured them you were worth waiting for. Can’t you have this girl and this job? Why does it have to be one or the other?”
“I appreciate that, I really do—but she’d never leave Deep Haven.”
“My advice? Show up. It doesn’t hurt to have the discussion. It’s a great opportunity for you and we’d get to work together again. It’ll give you options. Don’t close the door. You never know…”
David didn’t finish. He didn’t have to. You never know when your relationship is going to fall apart. Like his last one—his marriage to Rebecca.
Cole let out a breath. “I’ll think about it. Thanks for everything, bro.” He wouldn’t even venture to explain the whole Trevor issue. David would be certain Cole had lost his mind.
“Let me know how it goes.” David hung up. Cole studied the schedule one more time. It might be too late to cancel his interview, but he could show up for David’s sake. Let them know his plans had changed. Maybe he could be on standby.
But he’d hustle through the interview and hightail it to the game. Because the more he thought about the sound of Josh’s laughter and Megan’s song, the more he knew that was the only place he wanted to be.
Cole was late. Really late.
Popcorn, hotdogs, and soft pretzels permeated the Xcel Energy Center arena. The place buzzed. Megan scanned the stairway entrances again, searching for Cole.
He’d come to breakfast wearing his suit and when she’d given him a raised brow, he’d told her he needed to run to the interview—that he hadn’t been able to cancel. She’d handed him his ticket and reminded him what time the opening face-off would be. And then she’d pressed him and said what maybe she should have left unsaid.
You really should follow through on the interview. This was your plan.
When he’d paused just a little too long, she’d actually torn out
her own heart and encouraged him.
Go on, see it through. I don’t want you to have any regrets. You’ll have plenty of time to get to the game.
But he’d assured her he wouldn’t have any regrets. Promised he’d be here for the face-off and would help her with the post-game pizza party order she’d signed them up for. For sure.
And yet, his seat next to her remained vacant.
Parents, families, friends, and other tournament teams flooded the arena, packing the family section.
Why hadn’t she told him she needed him? That she wanted him to stay and be part of their lives?
Because, really, deep down, she wanted him to want her—them—without being asked. She wanted, for once, to be chosen. Remembered. Treasured.
Maybe he was having second thoughts. Maybe she’d misread the look on his face when the lifeguard had referred to him as Josh’s dad. Maybe he had decided his commitment to David was more important.
She stood up in her seat next to Ivy when the team took the ice to be introduced, cupping her hands around her mouth and cheering for Josh.
“Want some cotton candy?” Ivy asked. She offered Megan a tuft from Joy’s ball of sugar confection.
“No, thanks.”
Ivy nodded to the empty seat. “Where’s Cole?”
“He had to follow up on something. He’ll be here.” He had to be.
She’d already sent him two text messages. Still, she punched in his number. Let it ring until it went to voicemail.
Debated, then, “Hey—it’s me. Wondering where you’re at. Wanted to make sure everything was okay.”
She disconnected. Slipped her phone into her pocket, trying not to worry.
Josh skated up to the edge of the ice and she could read the question in his eyes.
She shook her head and mouthed, “Not yet.”
He gave her a nod and skated back across the ice to finish the warm-up.
The crowd had swelled, far larger than a typical tournament crowd due to the Blue Ox players’ participation throughout the weekend, including special appearances, photo ops, and an exhibition game.
The first period started, and no Cole. Megan checked her phone a couple times. Nothing.
When the first period ended, Ivy leaned toward her. “Have you heard from him?”
Megan checked her phone again. “No. Nothing. And he didn’t answer my text.”
“Cole sure looked cute with Josh last night.”
Megan smiled. “Yeah. They had a good time together.”
“So, what about the Hueston place? Are you still moving in to house-sit?”
“No.”
Ivy raised an eyebrow.
“I was able to find someone else to do it—one of the ladies from church whose house needs new insulation put in.”
Megan scanned the crowd again for any sign of Cole.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have encouraged him to talk to the interviewer. Shoot. It is his dream job. He’d be back working with his Ranger buddy.”
“You and Josh are his dream.”
She made a face.
“Really, Megan. Cole is crazy about you,” Ivy said.
Darek leaned forward. “Do you want me to check outside? See if something happened to his ticket?”
Megan looked at the game clock. “I don’t want you to miss anything. He’ll be here.” Really.
“Maybe his phone went dead.”
Movement caught her eye and she let out a breath. A man was coming down the stairs and standing at the end of their aisle.
Finally. She turned to Cole.
“I was wor—” Except, not Cole. Trevor. Still painfully handsome. Still drawing looks from those around them. Still grinning at her with a smile that could turn a woman weak.
A different woman. Not her, not anymore.
He wore a blue-and-gold jersey with his dark wash jeans, his dark hair freshly trimmed.
Trevor slid into the seat next to her like he belonged there.
“You can’t stay here. This seat is taken.” Never, ever, did she really expect him to show up. She hadn’t even warned Josh.
“No one’s in the seat, Megan. I’ve watched through the entire first period and no one’s been sitting here.”
“You don’t belong here.”
He cocked his head at her. “C’mon. Let me be part of this. I’m his fa —”
“Fine.” She cut off his words. “Sit. For now.”
A few parents turned their heads at the disruption.
“Please, don’t make a scene. Don’t ruin this for Josh.”
“I won’t.” He reached out, placed a hand on her arm, his blue eyes oddly soft. He leaned in close and spoke against her ear. “Thanks, Meggie. We’re going to have fun. Trust me.”
“You’ll have to move when my friend arrives.”
Trevor lifted a shoulder.
Ivy leaned in on her other side. “That isn’t…?”
“Yes.” Megan gave her a look. “It is.”
Ivy raised an eyebrow, but the cheering started with the buzzer for the second period.
Trevor rose to his feet and cheered for Josh, and it cut away a small piece of her heart as she stood next to him. Listening to him cheer for his son. How many times had she hoped for exactly that? For him to show up in Josh’s life?
Except, what would Cole say when he showed up?
Only, he didn’t. Halfway through the second period, and no Cole.
Trevor leaned toward her during a timeout, smiled. “You look good, Megan.”
She managed a smile. “Thank you.”
She sneaked a peek at him while his eyes returned to the game. He’d lost weight and his dark hair had been cut short.
And yet, there was nothing in her heart for him. Nothing that stirred her.
Nothing, no part of Trevor, could compare to Cole. Sure he was handsome, but he didn’t have Cole’s heart. Cole’s dedication.
Cole had been more of a father to Josh in a few weeks than Trevor had been in nine years.
She snagged her phone from her pocket and punched in his number again. It went straight to voicemail. Again.
During the second intermission, Megan felt compelled to introduce Trevor to Darek and Ivy, who graciously greeted him. He was standing there, cheering for Josh like his life depended on it as the team fought against the opposing team’s early lead. She rubbed her hand against her chest.
In the third period, the Huskies made a stunning comeback and Megan was pretty sure she’d be hoarse from cheering. Down by one, with seconds left on the clock, Josh got the puck.
He skated around the net, back out, playing with the puck. Passed it off and skated near the net to receive the pass back.
He pulled the puck back, around a couple charging defenders. Oh, no! He was going to lose it.
The defenders had locked on, committed. Any second they’d slam Josh into the boards.
He dodged them. Feigned. Flicked the puck to his backhand. And in a second—Josh slapped the puck in.
The siren sounded just as the buzzer went off.
The crowd erupted and Trevor jumped into the air next to her, arms stretched overhead. “That’s our boy!”
Our boy.
Cole, where are you?
Then Trevor picked her up, hugging her tight in celebration. The movement so took her by surprise she didn’t even resist. He put her back down, ending with a side hug before letting her go.
Okay, that felt way too weird.
The crowd began moving en masse toward the aisles, some of the parents running out on the ice.
She wasn’t sure where to go, when Ivy tugged Megan’s sleeve. “Will you need a ride back? We need to get Joy back to the hotel. She isn’t feeling well.”
“Too much cotton candy?”
“Probably.” Ivy scooped up her bag. Darek was making his way out to the ice via the other aisle, Joy gripping his hand.
Megan directed Trevor out into the aisle and turned back to Ivy. “Josh and I can catch
a ride with one of the other parents if Cole isn’t here somewhere.”
Ivy nodded, and Megan made her way down to the ice to Josh. Trevor followed behind her.
Megan turned to Trevor. “He isn’t expecting you.”
“You didn’t tell him?”
She swallowed, shook her head. “I wasn’t sure you’d show.”
Trevor raised a brow, pinned her with a glare. “I see.”
She expected more pushback. Instead, he followed her, remained quiet.
Josh charged her on the ice, throwing his arms around her. She pulled him into a hug.
“Great job! You were spectacular!”
“Did Cole see that? He taught me that move!” He was looking past her, toward the stands. Right past Trevor.
“Sorry, bud, no. He couldn’t make it.” And it occurred to her that here she was making the same excuse for Cole that she always had to for Trevor.
His eyes settled on her companion. “Dad?”
“Hey, Josh, great job.” Trevor stepped forward and began lifting his arms, dropped them. Instead, he held out a fist.
“Thanks.” Josh gave him a lackluster bump, the excitement gone from his face. And everything around Megan began sinking. Josh looked so baffled and disappointed. Her mistake was clearly written in the uncertainty clouding his face. She should have said something. But, really, she never thought Trevor would actually show up.
He scanned the stands.
The crowds had cleared out of the arena, leaving only a few families reliving the highlights. “Your mom tells me you’ve just recovered from a sprained wrist.”
Josh directed his attention back to Trevor. “Yes, sir.” He looked back across the ice. “Um, I gotta get in the locker room with the guys.”
“We’ll wait for you by the entrance.” She only realized her words after he’d skated away.
We. As in her and Trevor. His father.
Nope. She spotted Lucy Brewster, the goalie’s mom, and called out to her. “Lucy! Can we catch a ride with you?”
Lucy waved her hand, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, my van is full.”
“I can give you a ride back,” Trevor said.
She gave him a look.
“I’m going to wait for Josh,” she said. Maybe Cole was waiting near the entrance.
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