Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 145731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
His lips twitch in a hint of a smile, but it burns off. “So why isn’t she here?”
That’s the question I’ve been asking myself since we left the thrift store. No—since Mia told me she had learned to love again on the street. I’ve been asking it nonstop.
But I know the answer. “Because I’m fucking afraid,” I admit, holding my arms out wide. There it is. The truth.
“So you broke up with her?” he asks, but his voice is gentler now than a few moments ago.
“I did. I didn’t want Mia to get attached and then have it not work out.”
Jason parts his lips, but he doesn’t get any words out—since someone else does.
“But you got attached, Dad.” It’s Mia, and she’s back at my side, holding a red ceramic mug full of hot chocolate. And pointing out the patently obvious.
“And then you broke it off with her,” Jason says.
Mia stares at me. “But you love her.”
I blink. What? “I…”
Jason smirks, then turns to Mia. “He does, doesn’t he?”
Mia rolls her eyes. “It’s so obvious. He invites her over to have dinner with me and Grams and Gramps. He takes her Christmas shopping for gifts for me. He asks her to get a tree. Then he plays Christmas music while we decorate. He tells her about being a grumpy cat. He kisses her in the driveway when he thinks I’m not looking. When no one’s looking. He’s totally into her.”
So, she saw that driveway kiss. Guess I’m not so stealthy after all.
Mia knocks back some chocolate, then licks her lips.
Jason’s smirk grows wider as he turns slowly back to me. “Is that so?”
“It is very so, Agent Jason. Also, this party is super pretty, but I think it’s for adults.” Mia scrunches her brow. “I should be home in my jammies with Grams and Gramps.”
And I should be…
Oh god.
Oh fuck.
What is happening to me?
What is this squishy feeling in my heart?
This warm, fuzzy haze coming over me?
This…Christmas miracle bullshit.
I wince, and it’s borderline painful, but a good kind of pain, like sore muscles after a hard workout.
“And I should be with Isla,” I say, barely audible, but loud enough for Jason to perk right up.
He cups his ear. “What did you say?”
“I should be with Isla,” I repeat, and that was harder than getting back up on the ice after a vicious opponent knocks you onto your ass.
But you do it anyway.
Sort of like learning to love again.
“You really should,” Jason says.
“But I’m going to have to apologize big time.”
Jason lifts a finger. “Just a sec.”
He spins around and points to Miles, to Tyler, to Wesley, to Max, to Ford, and to Asher. Somehow the dude gets all their attention at once.
Seconds later, they’re at his side. “Boys, Rowan needs some wingmen more than he’s ever needed wingmen before.”
I really do. But first I owe them the truth. No more pranking; no more trash talk. “Listen, Isla and I were fake-dating for the last week or so. She was going to come to the gala as my fake-date so I wouldn’t ruin your good times. Only, I miscalculated and fell ass over skates for her along the way.”
Miles stares hard at me. “So you lied.”
“You really lied,” Wesley adds, his expression stoic.
“You stinking lied,” Ford puts in.
“You didn’t just lie. You went full Santa Claus,” Tyler huffs.
“I’m sorry,” I say, meaning it.
Tyler shrugs. Miles grins. Ford offers me a hand to shake in forgiveness. Wesley claps me on the back. “You fucked this up, but we’re going to help you,” Max says.
“You’re not pissed at me for lying to you?”
Asher scoffs. “Not this time. Now, let’s do this.”
Time to win her back with a little teamwork.
53
HELP A GROVELER OUT, WILL YA
ROWAN
The thing about falling for a matchmaker-slash-dating coach is that you’ve got a roadmap for what to do when you screw up.
And I screwed up. Big time.
But in my defense—steel-trap memory right here—I’ve saved all of her dating tips in my head. I just need to put them into action. Fast.
Tyler offers to slip out with Sabrina and take Mia back home to my parents. I give my daughter a hug and a kiss on the forehead, and they take off.
The other guys huddle with me in the lobby.
“I know what I need to get,” I say. “But it’s going to be a lot harder than last night, when I ran out to a big box store that had extended hours. It’s eight o’clock on Christmas Eve. I’m pretty sure nothing is open.”
Wesley gives it some thought. “Yeah, you really missed the net on this one, big time. But here’s the thing—where there’s a hockey player who fucked up with a woman, there’s a bunch of guys who have his back. I know exactly what you can do.”
I make a beckoning motion with my fingers. “Serve it up.”