Page 81 of Lost the Handle

“No?”

“No, not at all,” I tell her. “I have lived three lonely years without you. I want to get my fill of you, and then I’ll share you with some kids.”

Her laugh is soft, lyrical almost. “How many do you want?”

I love big families. We each come from one, and growing up, all my dad’s teammates were more family than friends. It was always loud and pure mayhem. I love kids too, and I’ve always wanted to be a dad. I want to be the kind of dad my dad is for me. “As many as you’ll give me.”

She giggles. “So, we’ll play it by ear.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“I love you,” she tells me, her heart in her voice.

I swallow past the lump forming in my throat and rub the middle of my chest. The guilt is overwhelming. “I’m sorry, Em.”

She pauses for a moment. “For?”

“For all this shit.” I lean forward onto my legs. “I feel like I’m cheating on you, and it’s slowly killing me.”

“Oh babe, no. I think you’re actually cheating on Ava. I’m themistress,” she teases, but I shake my head, emotion burning my throat.

“Never. You’re my heart.”

“Quinn.” Just my name on her lips has me wanting to run from it all. Take her far away and have it be just us. “It’s okay. I should be the one apologizing to you.”

Before I can ask why, I hear steps behind me. I turn to see my dad coming down the aisle with his brows drawn. “Hey, my dad just showed up,” I tell her, my eyes meeting his. “I’ll see you later, yeah?”

“Yeah,” she answers. “I love you.”

I know I shouldn’t say it back, but she’s said it twice already, and I don’t want her to think anything but the truth. “Love you more, lovebug.”

My dad’s brows shoot even higher as he arrives at the aisle where I’m sitting. He puts his hands on his hips and stares down at me. His huge body towers over me, but we’re actually the same height. The same dark hair is brushed to the side, the sameblue eyes…and while I look a lot like my mom, I have my dad’s most prominent features. “Well, I know you don’t love Ava. So, who was that, my boy?”

I’m a firm believer in fate. I needed my dad, and here he is.

Just as I knew I had to kiss Emery that day, I know I need my dad.

Chapter

Thirty-Six

Quinn

I chuckleto keep from answering my dad. “You know who.”

He grins, his eyes wrinkling at the sides. “What are you doing here?”

I shrug, stretching out my legs. “Just need to clear my head.”

Dad nods before he lowers into the seat one away from mine. He puts his hand on the back of the chair, his palm resting on my shoulder. “You all right?”

I shrug, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’ve been better.”

He doesn’t say anything, and neither do I, as we watch the Zamboni glide over the ice. It’s on the last section of ice when he says, “I bet we can go and drive that thing around. Maybe get both out and race.”

That has me grinning, and I know that’s what Dad wanted. His eyes crinkle as his eyes bear down on mine. He squeezes my shoulder, and I exhale a heavy breath. “Lovebug?” he asks, his brows rising a bit. “I haven’t heard that in a while.”

My smile stays in place as I nod. “Yeah, it feels good.”

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