I nod, glancing down at our connection. “I’ve been doing it alone all this time.”
“You chose to.” I can hear the resentment in his voice when he says it.
“You’re living your dream.” I hike a shoulder. “Look how wonderful your life is.”
“None of it matters, Presley. It never did. Not when it came to you.”
His words sink into my chest, wrapping around my heart.
“Did you even miss us?” he asks, his voice quiet, and I don’t miss the fact that he’s asking about Stephen too.
“Of course, I did.” Tears sting my eyes, and emotion thickens in my throat. “I hated not being a part of your lives. I watched every one of your games just to get a glimpse of you, trying to hold onto the memories. It killed me to lose you, but?—”
Chance walks me backward and presses me against the door, his large hands coming up to cradle my face. His dark eyes are wild as they bounce between mine, his chest heaving with shallow breaths.
“I would’ve given it all up to help you. You didn’t have to go through that alone. You didn’t have to push me away. And as long as I’m breathing, you will never be alone again. Do you understand?”
A tear rolls down my cheek as I nod, swallowing a sob.
He brushes it away with his thumb. “Use your words, Pres. Let me know that you hear me when I say that I’m here for you now.”
“Yes,” I whisper. “I understand.”
“Good.” He presses his lips to my cheek, centimeters from where I really want his mouth to be. “I’m going to take care of this bullying problem. Then you’re going to let me know what else you need help with, and I’m going to take care of those problems too. And when you’re back on your feet and you feel like you can breathe again, we’re going to have a conversationabout what you want in life—foryou, not for the kids, and not for anyone else.”
“W-why?” is all I can ask, because my tears are threatening a flood, and I can’t trust my own voice.
Why is he helping me?
Why does he still care after all this time?
“Because I’ve missed you too. And I don’t plan on going back to a life without you in it.”
Presley’s eyeswiden when she sees me.
She didn’t expect me to show up.
She should know better than that. Then again, it’s been a while since we’ve been together. I’ll have to remind her of who I am.
I lower myself onto the bleachers beside Presley, and hand her a to-go cup. “Half decaf, half hazelnut creamer. Hope that’s still your favorite.”
Her mouth pops open in surprise as she takes the cup from me. “I can’t believe you remembered that. Thank you.”
I lean over her and hand Avery a matching cup. “Not sure if you like hot chocolate, but got you one because it’s a superior beverage that everyone should be drinking.”
He tugs on the brim of his hat before taking the cup. “I do. Thanks.”
A blueish-purple splotch mars the skin under one of his eyes, and my stomach drops. “I hope the other guy looks worse,” I say, gesturing to his eye.
He swallows as he glances around at the families sitting nearby. “Everyone’s staring at you.”
“Let ‘em stare. I came here to see our girl play.” I wave at Alyssa who’s playing defense across the field, and she waves her stick in the air.
“Ourgirl, huh?” Presley shakes her head, but I spot the slight tip of her lips and take that as a win.
“How was your day today, pretty girl?”
“Good.”
