Page 27 of Puck Princess

“Callie, I want to apologize.”

Without warning, tears spring to my eyes, and I have to blink them back. “It’s okay.”

“No. Let me say what I want to say. Because I owe you a real apology, Alley Cat. First of all, for not realizing everything that was going on.”

“How would you have known? I lied to you about it.”

“Uncle intuition.” He taps the side of his balding head. “I should’ve known. And if I’m honest with myself, I feel like maybe I did. It’s the only reason I’m not suspending your boyfriend for going off on me in front of the team today.”

I hold my breath. Leave it to Owen to get his job back and lose it again all in the same day.

“Well, that, and I respect the hell out of the way he stood up for my niece.” There’s begrudging respect in the curve of his mouth.

Those pesky tears are back, blurring my vision. “He did?”

“Yeah. And you know what? He wasn’t wrong. He said Miles being let go from the team wasn’t enough. He said you needed your job back.”

“Oh.” The feeling in my chest is a mix of anticipation and heartache.

Owen has no idea exactly what he was asking for.

“Listen, I don’t have to tell you that you are a second daughter to me. I planned to come make things right with you even before that article came out. I shouldn’t have believed Miles so quickly, and I should’ve seen how green in the gills you were when you were lying to me. I should have known better all the way around, and I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t make it easy on you… with my past.”

“Miles was our all-American good guy, and he proved himself to be a real asshat. I’m sure that ex of yours was an asshat, too. Past or not, I don’t blame you for a thing, darlin’.”

I had no idea how much I needed to hear my uncle say that until this moment. It doesn’t fix everything, but it sure helps.

“And Owen isn’t in trouble for yelling at you?”

“I didn’t say that.” He licks his lips with way too much anticipation. “I can’t have my guys mouthing off to me, even if they are making some good points. Skating some lines should right the scales.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Please don’t scare him away. I need him to stick around for this baby.”

He smiles. When he’s not yelling at hockey players, he has the most warm and loving smile.

“What’s that look for?” I ask.

“I was wrong about a lot these last few weeks,” he says. “But I was right about the two of you. I wasn’t just pulling things out of my ass when I said you two have chemistry I’ve only ever seen once before.”

“You and Aunt Flo?” I guess.

He nods. “It’s like whiskey to a campfire, but I tell ya what, it’s authentic.”

“It’s exhausting.” I lean back into the couch.

He laughs heartily. “You bet it is. But if it’s right… in the end, it’s worth it.”

I flash back to last night on the couch. To Owen cradling my face, telling me I’m worth it all.

If he keeps it up, I’ll start believing him.

“Everything is still so complicated, though.”

“One thing at a time, Alley Cat. Let’s start with you getting your job back.”

My heart stops. “Really?”

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