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“No, it’s great. You sound like you were destined to be a hockey star.” I pause. “But I guess you made your own destiny. I’m surprised the media hasn’t dredged this up.”
“I come from a tiny village. It was fairly simple to bribe local councilors to amend my birth certificate. I know it’s wrong, committing a crime.” When I slide my hand over his scraped knuckles, he laughs gruffly. “I’ve committed worse recently.”
“No, both were justified. I get it. You couldn’t be that scared little boy anymore. You had to forge your own path.” After a pause, I ask, “What about your mom? What happened to her?”
“She moved in with my aunt when I left home. She was scared of me going out into the world on my own. She thought the monsters would get me. I tried to talk to her, but she wouldn’t listen. She left the county. After that, she got help. A few years ago, she reached out. That’s how I know who my dad is. Was.”
Conflicted emotion surges through me. This is his mother, and she was ill. “Did you talk?” I ask.
Logan grits his teeth. “Not much. It was easier to tell her I was busy. I’d been sending her money through my aunt for years. When she said she wanted to meet me, I offered to send her more.”
“And what didshesay?”
“She stopped accepting my money. She said she wanted her son back instead. What was I supposed to say to that? I couldn’t handle it. I focused on the game. It was easier.”
“Did she say sorry?” I ask softly.
“Yeah, she did, but it wasn’t about whether or not she was sorry. It was what you said—not being that kid anymore.”
“Maybe…”
He closes his hand around mine. “I know she’s changed. I know she was ill, but…”
“It still hurts,” I murmur.
“Not as much as this will,” he says, his hand tightening around mine. “I don’t want to. I mean that, Emma. This is the last thing I want to do, but I have to leave.”
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Logan
It’s shocking how easy it was to tell Emma about the past, my name, and everything else. Maybe it was the relief of emptying myself inside her, joining with her, and then being able toholdher after. All the ice in me melted away as we lay together, the scent of our sex all around us.
Now she frowns. Her eyes are puffy from making her cry. “L-leave?”
I realize she might think I mean forever. I swallow. It’s like a weightlifting workout, my muscles tearing and breaking down as though to keep me here. I know that’s not literally happening, but it feels so real. “My team needs me. At this rate, we’ll dig ourselves into a hole.”
“Mess up your ranking?” she asks.
“Pretty much.” I groan. “Honestly, I’m ready to retire.”
She gasps.“What?”
I smirk somehow, but that’s what it means to be with Emma. She can stir deep memories and drag me through so much pain.Still,there’s light inside us both. “Don’t look so shocked. In professional athlete years, I’m ancient. With the baby coming along, it makes sense. I’ve been smart with my money. Our kids, hell,theirkids won’t want for anything.”
“We won’t spoil them, though, will we? I want them to be happy and to have a purpose. I’ve met a few trust fund kids through college. It’s not pretty.”
“We’ll give them drive,” I say passionately. “I’m glad we’re on the same page about that. What I mean is I don’t have to work. You don’t, either, unless it’s something youwantto do.”
She cuddles closer to me, kissing my chest. I love when she does that. I love the way her hair falls across her face. “It’s not about the money. It’s the security. Knowing we’re going to get through this together.”
“I’m ready to retire,” I go on, “but I can’t leave my team in the lurch. I need to finish the season. It’s in my contract, but that’s not the point. The boys deserve it. My full attention. Or as much of it as I can give.”
I grit my teeth. My temples are pulsing. Leaning down, I kiss Emma on the lips. That relaxes the tension in my jaw. She kisses me passionately, her fingers trailing up my arm.
“But I don’t want to be away from you,” I say. “Come with me.”
“To Canada?” she replies quickly. “What about college? What will I tell Mom and Dad?”
