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I nod and push my chair out from the table. “I wanted your mom to be here for the game since it was your last one.”
“Have I ever told you how much I love you?”
I laugh at his words. “All the time.”
“See, I told you,” Duke says. “More than friends.”
The room erupts into a fit of laughter.
Chapter Seven
Dean
After dinner, I’m still in shock. My mom is in Chicago. And Kat is the one who planned this.
“I still can’t believe you’re here,” I say to my mom. “What about the diner?”
I didn’t want to ask her about work in front of Kat’s family.
“Susie’s covering my shifts this weekend. Don’t worry, baby. We will be okay without it.”
I hope so.
“But what about Gary? He gets mad when you take time off. I have some money back at the house I can send you. I got paid before we left for Chicago.”
She runs her hand along my arm to silence me. “Stop worrying, Dean. Everything will be okay. Let’s enjoy the time we have together.”
“What do you want to do? Is there anything special you want to see?” I look over at Kat. “Where should we take my mom?”
“We can go to Millennium Park if you want. That’s a big tourist attraction. Do you know how to ice skate, Emma?”
“Who do you think taught Dean?” She smiles at Kat before her gaze shifts to me. “You used to put your hand in my pocket to hold onto me, and now look at you. My boy is about to become a hockey star.”
“Fingers crossed.”
I don’t want to get her hopes up. The NHL Draft is still a few months away. A lot can happen in that time.
She squeezes my hand. “I can feel it. Call it a mother’s intuition.”
I have to get on a pro team’s roster. My mom needs a break. I worry about her non-stop. She works too much, though she will never admit it. My mother is the strongest person I know. She taught me to never gave up. My dreams became hers, and she found a way to make them happen. All of her sacrifices have to count for something.
“I’m kind of tired from the long trip,” my mom says. “I could use a hot bath and a cup of tea.”
“Whatever you want to do, Mom.”
“You’re staying one floor below me,” Kat says. “The suite has a hot tub that you’ll love. We can order some tea from room service.”
My mom touches Kat’s arm and smiles. “Thank you for everything.”
After we arrive at the hotel, Kat orders room service. The Peninsula is the nicest place I’ve ever stepped foot inside. My mom’s room looks like a fucking palace.
“I’ve never stayed in a five-star hotel before,” Mom says to Kat. She stares around the room in awe, her mouth open in shock. “I have no idea how I’ll ever repay you for this thoughtful and generous gift.”
“It’s no trouble at all, Emma.” Kat hooks her arm around my mom and smiles at me over her shoulder. “I’m glad you like it.”
I mouth thank you to Kat because I have no idea what else to say. There are no words to express how I feel about her right now. I love her more than I did yesterday if that’s even possible.
My mom sits on the lavish couch and runs her hand across the fabric. “What a long day. I’m exhausted.”
