“No problem,” I say, shrugging like it was nothing, and really it wasn’t. I’d do that for any of my friends. “They’re good kids. But Maria…” I exhale softly. “…she’s got her hands full.”
“Yeah.” He glances away, stirring the pan a little too hard, like he’s mixing more than just cheese into a sauce.
I narrow my eyes at him. “What?”
There’s a pause. What is it he doesn’t want to put voice to? “I was just thinking about Rowyn,” he says finally, but I get the sense he had something else on his mind. “With the baby coming. And her book. She’s going to have so much on the go. I’m guessing her writing’s going to end up on the back burner for a while.” He huffs out a laugh. “Not that I’d be much help anyway. I’m not creative. Hell, I can’t even draw a stick person with a ruler.”
I snort. This coming from the guy who handcrafts hockey stick ornaments that kids line up for every Christmas. But I don’t call him on it. Because he’s not wrong about the rest.
The thought pulls me back to Maria. To the look on her face when I offered to help. I can still hear her laugh. Light. Disbelieving.
At first, it gutted me.
But it shouldn’t have.
If I’m being honest, I see what she sees. A guy who keeps his distance. Who helps her boys on the ice because he’s the captain and it’s expected. Who shows up for drills and team dinners—but nowhere else. A guy who stiffened when she asked him to come to one of their games like she’d suggested I donate a kidney.
I practically choked on my own tongue.
Yeah. I remember.
From her perspective, I’m the last person who’d volunteer for carpool duty or homework help. But now she’s juggling everything—full-time job, two teenage boys, and classes on top of it. Trying to build something for herself. Trying to claw her way toward a future that’s bigger than survival mode.
Rowyn might need to pause her book when the baby comes. That makes sense. A newborn changes everything. But Maria is working hard to build a dream between work, and kids.
You should help her out, Tuck, even if she did balk at the idea.
Can I do that, though?
Can I keep my hands to myself and a measure of distance, emotionally?
“Here it is,” Rowyn announces, her smile tight, nervous, like she doesn’t show this to just anyone, and I don’t take that lightly. I slide onto the chair beside her. She flips open a sketch pad, and the moment I see the illustrations, I can’t help but lean closer.
“Rowyn…these are fantastic.”
She glances up at me, hesitant. “You really think so?”
“Of course he does,” Jaxon’s voice cuts in from the stove. “Babe, you’re amazing.”
“You have to say that.” She laughs and waves a dismissive hand. “You’re married to me.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “I’m not, and I don’t have to say it. But I am…because it’s true.” I gesture to the sketch pad. “Can I?”
Her eyes light up, and she nudges it toward me. I flip through the pages slowly, letting each animal illustration sink in. There’s a precision, a warmth to her strokes—a world she’s created one page at a time.
“These are incredible, Rowyn. You have so much talent.”
She lowers her gaze, a quiet blush on her cheeks. “Thank you…there’s this guy in our writers’ group. He’s published two children’s books. He thinks I have a real shot.” She grabs her phone, fingers skimming the screen before holding it toward me. “Here, these are his books on Amazon.”
I glance at the covers, then down at the author’s picture and bio. Declan Hayes. I read a section, and recite it. “He owns a bookstore, and teaches classes at the university. Impressive.”
“Yes, he is. His indie bookstore is right here in Boston, and he teaches at Boston college.” She taps the side of her phone, eyes glinting with mischief. “I was thinking…”
“Babe, you know how I feel about this,” Jaxon warns softly.
“I know, I know,” she says quickly, a playful grin tugging at her lips. “But let’s see what Tuck thinks.”
My interest spikes as she points to the picture of Declan. She continues, a spark of devilish delight in her eyes. “He’s really nice, and he loves kids. Doesn’t have any of his own. Was never married. I thought I might introduce him to Maria. I have a feeling they’d really hit it off.”
