Page 31 of Pucking Secret

“Yeah, come on, Mom,” Owen pipes in, the corner of his mouth tilting up into an amused smile. “You promised.”

I try to ignore how alike the two of them are at this moment. I can’t let my mind go down that road because I’m not sure how I’ll handle the guilt I feel, unfairly or not, at the fact that, apparently, he has no idea this is his daughter.

Knowing how stubborn Owen can be, I’m afraid that if I continue to go out of my way to keep him and Millie apart from each other, he’ll grow curious. And then suspicious. If I act like it’s no big deal for them to hang around each other, maybe he won’t think too much about where her blue eyes come from.

I sigh. “Fine, but just for a little while.”

Millie cheers and throws her arms around my waist. I help her get her skates on and lace them up slowly, my hands trembling. Owen waits for Millie at the edge of the rink and opens the little door for her when she’s ready.

Once she’s on the ice, Millie doesn’t waste a second.

“Ready? Set? GO!” she shouts, pushing off with a burst of determination.

Owen lets her take the lead, skating alongside her with just enough effort to keep it fun. They laugh and chatter, Millie peppering him with questions, and Owen answering like he’s known her forever.

I sit in the stands and watch them. My chest feels tight, the sight of them together simultaneously breaking and healing something deep inside me. The way Owen interacts with her—it’s effortless. Natural. He doesn’t know the truth, but watching them, it’s clear. They belong to each other.

Christ, am I doing the right thing, keeping the truth a secret? I know it’s selfish of me, but I can’t get past my fear of what will happen if Owen finds out. His wealthy family could take Millie from me, and I don’t have the resources to fight them.

I force myself to sit and watch them play uninterrupted for about twenty minutes, even though I feel like my heart is going to explode. It’s beating a million miles per minute and I can’t stop my leg from bouncing with nervous energy.

Millie is giggling and shrieking with laughter as she races Owen across the rink. They skate in circles around each other and at one point, Owen starts showing Millie trick shots with his puck and stick. She claps and cheers in delight, her face flushed with both the cold and her unfiltered excitement.

Suddenly, my phone starts buzzing in my pocket, yanking my attention from Millie and Owen. Digging the device out, I look at the screen and feel my heart stop when my I see that it’s my mom calling. What the fuck? She’s calling me now? Her timing could not be worse.

For a moment, I consider ignoring the call, but knowing my mom, if I do, she’ll only get pissed and more insistent. She’ll call me again and again until I answer, so I might as well get this shitshow over with now.

Sucking in a deep breath, I double check that Owen and Millie are thoroughly distracted by each other before I accept the call.

“Mom,” I say in a terse voice. “What’s up?”

“My, what a warm greeting,” she replies, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “It’s a wonder I don’t call more often.”

I grit my teeth, my temper flaring, but I fight to keep it under control. I’ve learned over the years that it’s best not to give into her snark or respond to her cutting remarks. It only encourages her.

“I hear you’re in Denver,” I say instead. “Wasn’t sure if you were planning on letting us know.”

“I’m calling you now, aren’t I?” she snaps. “This is me letting you know I’m in town and that I would like to see you and my granddaughter while I’m here.”

If I were a betting woman, I’d put money on the fact that Gram told her I know she’s here, and that’s why she’s calling.

“I’m sure Millie will be thrilled to see you,” I reply cooly, keeping myself out of it entirely. One thing I’ll give Mom is that she loves Millie. She doesn’t see her often, but that’s not because she doesn’t want to see her grandchild…it’s because she doesn’t want to see me. When she’s with Millie, she’s patient and kind, reserving all her scorn and disappointment for me. Millie gets a wonderful version of her that Inevergot: When I was a kid, it was all strict edicts and shouting and condemnation.

I’m glad she doesn’t take her feelings for me out on Millie, but it’s hard for me to see her doting on my daughter because I remember how furious she was when I got pregnant. To this day, she thinks I ruined my life, and no matter how much she loves Millie, she can’t seem to let go of what my life could’ve been had I not gotten knocked up.

I think it’s more than that, though. She believes getting pregnant with me so young ruined her own life, and her pride kept her from asking for any help, which didn't make it any easier. All of her dreams and ambitions turned to me after that. I was the "hard-working, academically gifted daughter" she raised. Then I turned into an even bigger embarrassment than she was...well in her eyes at least. Regardless of the fact that I am successful, and am proud of that, our relationship never recovered.

“Well, I’m glad someone will be,” she grumbles. “When can I stop by?”

Ugh, I don’t want to deal with this right now. I glance out at the rink and watch as Owen spins Millie around until she’s squealing with laughter. Dealing with him being in Denver is enough stress for me…I don’t want to have to deal with Mom too.

“I’m not sure right this moment,” I tell her. “I’m really busy with work…”

“Right, massaging hockey players. It must be so demanding of your time.”

Clenching my teeth, I fight the urge to rip into her and tell her to stop undermining my job and all the hard work I’ve put into it, but I know there’s no point. I’m not a doctor, so she doesn’t give a fuck. It’s time to bring this conversation to an end before I lose control of my temper.

“I’ll let you know when we have some free time,” I say sharply. “I have to go now.”

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