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“Nice technique, little man.”
I cut a glance out to the living room where Jeremy is studying his phone. Shit. Now, I kind of feel for the guy. Can’t be easy hearing your kid say that to another man. But he wouldn’t have to if he’d realized how damn lucky he was from the start. If he’d stayed instead of throwing away what another man would have been done anything to hold on to.
“Good luck, Rux. I’m going to watch part of the game tonight and the rest tomorrow after school.”
“Awesome. Knowing I’ve got you cheering for me from home always makes me play better.”
Matty skates off and, for a minute, it’s just Cammy and me in the kitchen. Her hand at my chest, soft blue eyes peering up at me. Damn.
“Have a good game.” Pushing to her toes, she presses a quick kiss to my jaw. My hand at her hip tightens. I want to kiss her so bad right now, but her eyes flare in warning and then she’s backing away with a smile that says no dice.
“Call me after the game?” she asks quietly.
“Always.” The way our eyes hold makes it both easier and harder to walk out the door.
Jeremy gets up, presumably to move in on my spot beside Cammy while she cooks.Dick.
Except instead of pulling out anotherbabeand standing too close to the girl he gave up any right to seven years ago… he heads toward me.
“Gotta grab something from the car, I’ll walk out with you.” There’s a clank from the kitchen and then Cammy’s in the doorway, her brows pulled together. He smiles at her. “Back in a minute, Cam.”
What the hell is this?
We walk out together, exchanging strained smiles as we head to the elevator.
He’s up to something and I have a pretty good idea what it is.
He waits until we’re inside and turns to me. “I want them back.”
It takes a second for the no-bullshit statement to land but when it does, I shake my head at the balls this asshole has saying that to me, especially within a confined space like this. He can’t even run. “What?”
“I know you’re together and you can take my head off without batting an eye. But this is Cammy and my son. This is the family we should have been.” He runs a hand over his face and meets my eyes. “I have to try.”
“This time.That’s what you’re saying, right? You have to try to man up to your responsibilities and commitments to Cammy and Mattythis time. The way you didn’t the first time or at all through the last seven years. And since we’re clarifying, you want Cammy back, but Matty you never had. Because you were gone before he was born? Left a note or something, right?”
This guy is the worst kind of—
“I was a coward.A kid.And you’re right. I missed years with my son that I’ll never get back. I’m ashamed of what I did. It was the worst mistake of my life, but I’m ready to make it right.”
My fists clench with my teeth.
“A mistake?” I snap, ignoring the pained honesty in his eyes. Hating it. Hating him. “It washer life, Jeremy. You had your chance to be a part of it. And you pissed it away.”
And yeah, that burns so bad. Why doesheget to come back from the worst mistake of his life? From his shame. Why does the guy whothrew awayeverything that mattered get the second chance?
“Rux, man, I’ve spent years working to get to a point where I had something to offer them.”
The elevator doors open and we step out, pent-up hostility and aggression pouring out with us. “So the wife in Germany was just some practical, hands-on experience too? I’m sure Cammy really appreciates that. Hell, she probably would have liked to return the favor, but turns out she was too busy raising your kidaloneto score the practice husband.”
He gulps, looking away. “I’m going to make it up to them.”
“Oh okay.” I give the guy an incredulous look. “What the fuck? You say that and I’m supposed to just shake your hand and step aside. Kiss Cammy on the cheek, pat Matty’s head…and leave? Not happening, man.”
“You ready to put a ring on her finger?”
The question hits me like a sucker punch, knocking the air from my lungs. And just like that, Jeremy has the upper hand. And he knows it.
A nod. “What I thought. Well, I am. If Cammy ever gives me another chance, that’s it. I’m all in and I’ll never let her down again. I can make her happy, make us the family we should have been. She wants security. I can give it to her. Can you?”
