Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 101758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Greg smirks at that. “Xander’s love language is acts of service.”
“Oh, I know. And he’s amazing at it.” I swallow hard. “And I’m terrified that he’s going to get hurt again and forget me.”
The last two words are said on a whisper, and once again, Greg reaches out to take my hand.
“It’s okay to sit with that.”
My eyes dart up to his. “It is?”
“Of course. It’s how you feel. You love him, and it would be catastrophic if he forgot about you.”
I can’t help it. I burst into tears because finally someone understands.
“Yes. And I can’t stop thinking about it because my brain isn’t normal, and I can’t shut it off.”
“Okay.” He squeezes my hand. “It’s okay, honey. I take it you haven’t told Xander about this?”
“I did, briefly, but it was as I was leaving to come here to work yesterday, and we didn’t resolve anything or even understand each other. He asked me to stay, and I left anyway, and I know it hurt him.”
“Oh boy.”
Greg is grim as he sighs, and I close my eyes.
“I’m sure he is hurt,” Greg continues. “Of all of my kids, Xander had the hardest time when Heather left.”
I blink my eyes open. “You don’t have to talk about that.”
“I really should, so you know what you’re dealing with. He was four, and he was such a mama’s boy. He was her shadow. If she was in the garden, he was in the garden. If she was in the kitchen, he was with her. Ava was tiny, and Easton and Tucker were in school. So that left Xander with his mom a lot.”
Greg exhales and looks down at the table.
“He was inconsolable when she left. Cried for weeks. It just broke his little heart.”
I swipe at a tear and swallow hard.
I left him too.
“I don’t know for sure, but I’m fairly certain that’s why he doesn’t keep girlfriends for long. I’ve never met anyone Xander was interested in until he introduced us to you. So, you say that you have issues, but so does my boy. And neither of those issues are insurmountable. You just have to talk to each other.”
I nod and accept the tissue he offers me.
“You’re right.”
“What Xander needs more than anything is a woman who’s ready to fight for him. Because I guarantee you, my boy will pull his head out of his ass once he’s done licking his wounds and fight for you. But I think that you need to decide what you want. Is he worth the risk?”
I frown, and he continues.
“Is your relationship worth the risk of him being injured? Your worst fears are unlikely to happen. I know you know that. Are you willing to work through those fears together, or would it be easier for you to cut your losses and go your own way?”
“I don’t want to live without him.”
He smiles at me. “Good. That’s your answer. He works a demanding, high-profile job. And he’s gone most of the time.”
“The team offered me a job,” I admit softly. “I haven’t even told Xander yet, but I wouldn’t have to be away from him at all.”
Greg blinks in surprise. “Sounds like you have all the tools, you just have to decide what’s best for you.”
I glance outside, where the snow has slowed down.
“Xander is what’s best for me.”
“I like that a lot,” he replies, and we finish our breakfast.
An hour later, after I’ve helped wash the dishes and tidy up, I’m about to walk out to my truck, but I stop and turn back to him.
“I have a question.”
“Shoot.”
“What’s Xander’s middle name?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
XANDER
“Well, you’re fun tonight.”
Cooper and Brit invited me over for Wednesday night dinner, and I came, despite not wanting to.
“What’s going on with you?” Brit asks.
“Well, Ivy’s flights were all canceled today, but I’m not convinced she’s coming back at all.”
The two of them look at each other and then back at me.
“Huh?” Cooper says. “Why not?”
“We had a . . . shit, I don’t know what it was. Not really a fight. A misunderstanding? An impasse, I guess. It freaks her out that I love being here. I can tell that she’d rather I wasn’t playing hockey, and I can’t give up this career for her.”
“Men are so fucking stupid,” Brit mutters, and I glare at her.
“Don’t say it,” Cooper warns me. “I don’t want to have to punch you for disrespecting my girl.”
“I’m not an asshole.”
“No, you’re an idiot,” Britney says. “Honey, that woman loves you to bits, and she loves that you play hockey.”
I rub my hand over my face.
“You weren’t there yesterday morning.”
“No, I wasn’t. But we had a talk. I’ve known that something was amiss. I won’t betray her trust, but I’m telling you that she doesn’t want you to quit your job. She’s damn proud of you.”