“I didn’t say you would.I said you didn’t have to.I said no.I said I wouldn’t leave.You didn’t have to be fair.”
“You’re wrong.I did have to be fair.”
“No, you were fair.Youarefair.”He touched JP’s hand, stroking a scar.“I was trying to be decent, love.”
“I guess maybe I’m a bit touchy about it, eh?”JP turned his hand, taking Ian’s and twining their fingers together.
“Maybe, but I understand.Things have been…we fucked up, so badly.”And he didn’t know how to fix it.
JP squeezed his hand.“I still love you, though.That counts for something.”
“I still love you, too.And the babies love you.They need you in their lives.”Even if it was a touch hard to admit.
“Thank you for saying that.”JP squeezed his hand again.“I’m holding on this time.”
“I hope so.I can’t lose you again.”There was no way.He couldn’t manage it.
“Then we’re agreed on that.”JP smiled at him before turning back to watch the kids again.“Tori really is fearless, isn’t she?”
“Like night and day with her brother, but I tell you, he’s much more patient than she is.She reminds me of you.”She wasn’t scared, she wasn’t putting up with shit, and she wasn’t going to be told no.
“Yeah?You think we can train her for the PWHL?”
He sighed softly.“I will tell you a secret.I didn’t want them to learn to skate.She insisted.She saw the babies learning, and she was relentless.She is going to learn to play hockey, and nothing I think will stop that.”
He was going to worry every second.
JP was all smiles, looking as proud as punch.“I’m going to teach her everything I know.”
“She’ll need it.She’ll need coaching and someone to make sure no one is mean to her.”He stared at JP, so serious.“I expect you to watch those coaches and trainers like a hawk.”
“You know it, Chou.She’s my legacy.I’m going to make sure they do right by her.”
“Okay.I believe you.I still cry every time she falls.”
She didn’t cry, though.She just glared and got back up.
“She’s going to fall a lot in life, you know that, right?They both will.And it’ll have nothing to do with hockey or skating.”
He nodded.He knew.He just hated it.“Do they have to?”
“I’d take it for them if I could, Chou.But the falls will build character, make them stronger.”
“You can be that dad.I’ll rock them and kiss their boo boos.Fair?”
JP chuckled.“Fair.You’ve got to be you.”
“Yes.I do.I think…I think you’ll help Peter be braver.Tori doesn’t need help, but he’s more like me.”
“I think you’re brave, Chou.”
He snorted and rolled his eyes.He was a coward, but he tried to be a good father, nonetheless.“Thanks, love.”
Regardless, it felt good to hear.
JP gave him another warm smile that seemed to put him at the center of the world.Then he closed his eyes and tilted his head back, looking like a sexy beast basking in the sunlight.
“Dad!Dad!Watch me!”Tori was up on the slide, waving furiously.
