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I needed to go, though. Much as it hurt, it was the right choice. And even though things were still new with us, I selfishly wanted to ask her to move with me.
What kind of asshole asked that of a woman who was about to finish her doctorate after years of hard work? Her family was here, and she loved them just as much as I loved mine.
Everyone got out their phones to snap pictures of Aiden as the nurse rolled him back toward Hadley’s room on a little cart with a clear dome on top. Wes followed along beside her, looking prouder than any hockey trophy could ever make him.
I wanted this. A family of my own. And Jolie was the perfect partner. Things had just started with us, but I felt it deep down. She was a total package, and she made me a better version of myself.
“Who wants to go get some breakfast?” Nash asked after we said goodbye to Wes. “I’m about to waste away over here.”
“Want to?” I asked Jolie.
“I wish I could, but I need to shower and get to the lab.”
She’d stayed all night, even when I’d told her to take my car home and get some rest. Jolie was everything I’d ever wanted in a woman and more.
“I’ll drive you,” I said, kissing her.
“No, go have breakfast. I can take an Uber.”
“I’m driving you. I need to go get Joey anyway, and I’ll take him out for breakfast.”
She nodded and smiled up at me. “Thanks.”
“Thanks for being here.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it.” She hesitated, then said, “I hope to be with you at lots of occasions like this in the future. I hope that’s not presumptuous of me.”
I smiled at her, though it wasn’t sincere. I couldn’t lie and pretend I planned to stay here. It was written all over her face; she wanted me to tell her I wanted the same thing.
And I did, but it was impossible. We couldn’t live in two different states and have the relationship we did now.
“You guys coming?” Nash asked, saving me from having to respond to her.
“Nah, I need to go get Joey.”
“Okay, I’ll catch you later. You too, Jolie.”
“Bye, Nash.”
I held on to her hand as we left the hospital, not letting on what I was thinking. That soon, I’d have to let go forever.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Jolie
Grandma G had been asking about Joey, so I brought him over to my parents’ house on Sunday while the team had practice. Dad was obviously at practice too, and my mother was out to brunch with friends, so I figured Joey and Grandma could watch The Mighty Ducks together while I got a little work done on my laptop. Then I was considering introducing Grandma to Boone. She’d asked at least fifty times, and I knew they’d get along.
“Granny G, Goldberg is the bestest goalie ever!” Joey announced, referencing the movie.
Grandma G pretended to consider it. “Well, maybe. But I’m a big fan of Konstantin Volkov.”
Now Joey was pondering. “He’s pretty good too. But Goldberg has magic.”
“Does he? What kind of magic?”
“The hockey kind.”
I stifled my laughter, thinking how much I loved this kid. I was so glad Boone didn’t have to leave now. Although that didn’t necessarily mean his sister and Joey would settle here in St. Louis, at least I’d still have access to him through Boone. If they all moved to Nashville, chances were we’d never see each other again.
And that was unfathomable at this point.
The movie ended and I started gathering Joey’s things. He seemed to make a mess no matter where he went or what we did, and it was second nature now to pick up after him. He had a set of toys that stayed at my apartment now because he was there so often, and Grandma G got him a present every time she saw him.
I hoped my parents would get on board eventually too.
Once they realized Boone and I were serious, Dad would get over it. He had to. And Mom already suspected, but she wouldn’t rat me out. Not until we were ready to come clean. Grandma G was totally on board, and Dad always had a hard time going against his mother.
Jarvis was still dating that news anchor or whatever she was, so Dad couldn’t very well keep pushing him to work things out with me anymore either.
Well, my father was nothing if not persistent, but that felt wrong even for him.
Eventually, he had to see reason and understand that I wasn’t going to let him dictate my personal life. I wasn’t a child. Hell, I’d just become a scientist with a PhD. I had a job offer and a lot going for me. He had to get past this need to control his little girl.
I’d just gotten Joey’s shoes on when I heard a noise in the kitchen, and my grandmother and I both started.
