Page 79 of Hat Trick Holidate

She scoffs, “She’s my daughter.”

“She’s our daughter, and I have full custody,” I remind her. “It would be best if you just leave.”

With a pop of her hip and roll of her eyes, she reaches out and hugs Jolie while still in my arms. I feel Jolie tense and pull back.

“I’ll be back for you.”

Jolie’s little hands latch onto my neck. I set Jolie down and walk her mother to the elevator, making it clear that I’ll fight for sole custody, but she can have visiting rights. Someone who drops her child off with a stranger, then sneaks out, doesn’t need to be the full-time caretaker of a child.

When I walk back, Jolie slaps the couch twice for me to sit down. She points at the tree on the patio, Emmaline’s hypo-allergenic tree. Which gives me an idea.

“What if we take Emmaline’s tree to her house? If she’s there, you can help her decorate it.”

In her excitement, she pushes me over as she kisses my cheek. There’s nothing like unconditional love, and I promise myself, no matter what Jolie does in her life, I’ll love her.

Me: Jolie and I are coming by. There’s something she wants you to have.

Emmaline: Roman and my parents are here.

Me: I’ll stay in the car but please don’t blame Jolie for whatever has or hasn’t happened with us.

Because I’m not blaming myself anymore. Emmaline and I entered this relationship with our eyes wide open. I knew if she didn’t choose me, it would cut me. She knew if she did, it would hurt her brother’s career.

Yet here we are. She didn’t choose me, and she still hurt her brother.

Emmaline: Okay. I’m sorry. One day, Roman will get it.

Me: I don’t want to come second to another man. This is where we are, huh?

Emmaline: I’ll make him understand.

Me: When? How long? Before Jolie’s birthday? When she’s nine? When I’ve retired? Never mind. Be there in twenty minutes.

I pull up with the tree in my truck, unbuckle Jolie from her booster seat, then tug the trunk until I’ve pulled it onto her front stoop. Emmaline opens the door, glancing at me but wrapping Jolie in a hug.

“What did you bring me?”

“It’s your tree. Daddy said you would let me help decorate it.” She holds up the handmade paper decorations.

“Sure. I would love that. Come in.”

Jolie glances over her shoulder at me and waves, but when Emmaline looks at me, my heart breaks a little more. Somehow, I’m going to be around Emmaline every day, knowing she’ll never be mine.

chapter 35

EMMALINE

Everywhere I look,I see Bryce Wynward. There’s not one place in my house where Bryce’s footprint isn’t staring back at me. The living room paint—Faux Fur the exact color I wanted. The cabinet. The floors. The security system. The fence around the backyard so I can get a dog. And the pressed flowers he had framed.

It’s game day. Bryce messages me and says Jolie’s at the rink with him. Brooke will be with her through the first period and knows Jolie is dying to see me.

How did things get this bad? Why can’t I tell my brother to shove it up his ass and do what I want?

Because it’s my fault his life went down the toilet. My Grant stole Roman’s wife.

We have a three-game series with Roman’s old team, the Los Angeles Vipers. Originally, I wasn’t going to attend, but I know Roman needs me there and since Bryce and I are keeping as much distance as we can, we decided I would meet Jolie at the game.

I arrive at the stadium a half hour before the game and find Brooke with Caleb and Cannon sitting next to her. “Hey, can I squeeze in?”

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