Page 133 of Embrace

When we head inside, my mom is waiting for us. We’re only inside for a minute when my mom hands him an envelope. I recognize it immediately, and my heart jackrabbits out of my chest again.

It’s got “Return to Sender” stamped on it in big, bold letters, but I’d recognize it anywhere. It’s the same letter that Kian had read, the one I still ended up mailing to Victor after he refused to see me.

“We’re not mad,” my dad says, shedding that Coach Kilner demeanor he had earlier and returning to my soft dad. “But this came in the mail and we’re just hoping you had an explanation for it?” My dad asks, handing the letter to me.

“When—how do you have this?”

“It got sent back, and you put the house address on it. We got it a few weeks ago. Your mother and I were waiting for you to come to us.”

“Mom. I’m so sorry—”

“Scarlett, do you know why I didn’t want you to see him?”

“You don’t have to explain it to me. I know I’m in the wrong, I saw what he did. I told everyone what he did. He’s a terrible person.”

But my dad stops me. “You can want to see him.”

“I did.” I close my eyes, peeking out of one to see their reactions.

“We know,” my mom says. “You left your phone in the kitchen, and I saw the call.”

“Well, you guys were right. I shouldn’t have gone to see him.” I take in a choppy breath. “I’m sorry if I made it seem like I needed him. I don’t. I only ever want you to be my dad. You’re what I’ve always wished for.”

My dad’s eyes glisten, but then his jaw tightens. “What did he do?”

Of course he would focus on that part. “He was just everything I hoped he wasn’t.” I keep the worst of it to myself. It reminds me of how gentle Kian was with me after, how he listened despite simmering in rage.

My mom shakes her head. “Don’t put it on yourself, Scarlett. It’s not the kind of thing you can fix. I spent years believing that I could, and I won’t watch you do the same.”

The lump in my throat gets harder to swallow.

They both come around me, cooing soft words in my hair as they pull me into their arms. “But you don’t ever have to wait for love, Rosie. You’ve got so much right here, we’re drowning in it. We’re practically miserable without you here.”

I let out a weak laugh. “Is that why I found dumbbells in my room?”

They deny it, blaming each other as I smile. And for the first time in weeks, I let myself believe it’s gonna be okay. That for once, I don’t feel like I need to escape.

Forty-eight

Kian

Something smacks meon the back of my head, and I groan from my fetal position on the couch. It’s a stuffed animal that Dylan tossed at me from the archway. He lifts the needle of my record player, which I brought downstairs after getting tired of climbing the steps. Shania Twain’s smooth voice stops abruptly.

Dylan’s standing there, wearing a thin sweater, probably one hisgirlfriendknit for him. The dainty smiley face bracelet dangles on his wrist, and he’s got a big grin on his dumb face. He’s covered in all things Sierra, and all that does is jam a Scarlett-scented arrow into my heart.

I turn back into the couch cushions. “Can you not bring all your positivity in here right now?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Dylan says, still sounding too cheery.

I sit up to glare at him. “That smile. Your eyes. You’re practically glowing.” I scrunch my face. “Ugh, I’m happy for you.”

“You don’t look it. We heard you groaning out here, and as much as I told Sierra you were also like this when you couldn’t get that limited-edition vinyl, she insisted I come talk to you.” He stepscloser, and points at the scarf around my neck. “Though,thatis different.”

I groan again. “It smells like her.”

Dylan sighs, sitting on the coffee table in front of me. “So, you’re telling me you’re okay with Kilner dragging your ass through drill after drill and putting you on laundry duty while still doing all your captain duties, but his daughter is where you’ll draw the line?”

I had practice earlier today. Coach did not give it to me easy, and I expected it. We have a game tomorrow; it’s the last one before the end of semester, so we have to win. Coming off a losing college team to play for the NHL isn’t a good look, so I need the team to have my back. We finally got our lines settled, which means Sebastian is back on first line, and I can hear the end of that.