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“Unfortunately, Mac,” he started, and my stomach instantly fell to my feet. This was it. Life as I knew it was officially over. “You have no idea what I do or don’t agree with. You don’t know what I do or don’t want.”
My eyes widened, my heart beating erratically in my chest. “What?”
“I know exactly how my daughter feels about you. Juliette isn’t a little girl anymore and it isn’t my place to tell her who she can and can’t be with. Whether you hurt her is on you… just know that how I choose to handle you ever hurting her is on me.”
My jaw went slack. My lips parted, but no words came out. I was literally at a loss for a response because he had left me so shocked.
“As for you playing for the Vipers,” he continued, his voice trailing off before another pregnant pause. “I would be an idiot to have you traded. You are an asset to this team and something we can’t afford to lose at this moment.” He paused yet again, taking a sip of his bourbon. “Everyone is always replaceable, so this doesn’t mean you can start letting up. If anything, I want to see you give more.”
I didn’t know if I was supposed to question him on everything he said or just accept it. I went with the latter, because I didn’t want him to take any of those words back. He was giving me his approval to date his daughter, along with the grace of still being able to play for the Vipers.
“Thank you, sir,” I told him, nodding as my heart still continued to go crazy inside my chest. “I will prove myself to you every single game, and I will prove to you that you have nothing to worry about when it comes to me caring for Juliette’s heart.”
He stared me down for a beat before he nodded again. “Get out of my office. Go find Juliette. I’m fairly certain she’s waiting for you.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. I was already on my feet, setting my drink down. I thanked him once more before opening the door and heading down the hall. I wasn’t going to waste another second without talking to Juliette.
I still couldn’t believe things had worked out this way, but I wasn’t going to second-guess it.
Like Lincoln had said… everything would work out the way it was intended to.
And I was intending to be the keeper of Juliette Anderson’s heart.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
JULIETTE
Standing in my kitchen, I glanced over at the clock on the stove as I spooned another scoop of ice cream into my bowl. Mac was going to be home any moment and there wasn’t a part of me that doubted he was coming directly to my place instead of his own. Poor Thor, he’d be waiting all night for Mac to take him out.
If I had a key to his place, I would have gone over. Mac didn’t say anything to me after last night and I did what my father asked me to do. I let him sit with what happened. It was a little bit fucked up, but it was how my father wanted to handle his player. It wasn’t going to hurt Mac, so I didn’t argue with it. It was just going to make him sweat the situation a little bit.
I watched the game on TV and Mac played really well. Although it didn’t surprise me, he played great under pressure, which was weirdly reassuring for me. Hockey could very much be a mental game, along with the physical aspect. The last thing I needed was to throw him off. Seeing him play tonight gave me the confidence I needed to know I would never be the one to get in the way of his career.
Carrying my bowl of ice cream, I went and sat down in my kitchen as I looked at the clock again. It was almost as if he knew I was expecting him. A soft knock sounded from the door and I shoveled another spoonful of ice cream into my mouth as I got back up again. A smile was already threatening to slide across my lips, but I fought against it, holding it back as I unlocked the door and pulled it open.
Mac was standing there, looking absolutely delectable with his hair damp from the shower he must’ve taken after the game and his hands in the front pockets of his joggers. He lifted his head, his gaze colliding with mine. His expression was unreadable and emotion danced in his irises.
“Hey,” he spoke softly, almost as if he didn’t fully trust his voice.
“Hey,” I replied, my voice sounding exactly like his. And I knew it was because I didn’t trust mine. I didn’t trust myself to speak right now without laying everything out there for him. “Good game tonight.”
He half smiled. “Thanks,” he nodded. “Can I come in?”
He didn’t waste any time. I pushed the door open farther. “Come in.”
Mac didn’t move, a frown pulling on his lips as we both heard Thor whining from across the hall on the other side of Mac’s door. “I need to let him out first.”
“It’s okay. Do whatever you need to do and bring him with you,” I assured him with a small smile. “I’ll leave the door unlocked.”
Mac watched me for a moment. “Do you want to come take a walk with me instead?”
He was acting strange and it had me feeling a little unsettled. Usually he didn’t come off as serious like this. I couldn’t help but feel a little anxious, as if I were waiting to get bad news from him.
“Sure, let me grab my sneakers.”
Mac nodded and walked across the hall without another word. My stomach was in knots as I reached inside my condo and grabbed the closest pair of shoes I could find. I slipped my feet into them and pulled my door shut behind me as I met him in the center of the hallway. He had grabbed Thor’s harness and was still strapping it on him before attaching the leash.
I watched him as he stood upright and motioned toward the elevator. “You lead, I’ll follow.”
