AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When I walked over with my hands in my pockets, Josie gave me a sad smile and eased away. “I’ll be in the kitchen,” she said, standing and pushing a quick kiss to my jaw. I briefly held her lower back and wanted so badly to pull her into a hug, but I knew that could wait.
As soon as it was just me and Stevie, I sat down beside her and the dog.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked her gently.
Her shoulders hiked up. “I didn’t want it to be real.” Her voice wobbled and she quickly wiped at her eyes.
“But it is real, baby.” I blinked furiously to stop my eyes from leaking again. “And now that I know, I can help you with it.”
She nodded furiously with her eyes closed, and I pulled her tiny self into me for a hug. She broke down, sobs wracking her little body. My little girl had been through so much, and she was so brave and so tough and so sad, and I had no clue. But I vowed to be clued in from now on.
“Your mom will always be a part of us, okay? I haven’t seen her in years, but she touched my heart, and I have always carried her with me, you know that?”
Her teary blue eyes stared up at me and her chin quivered. “You do?”
I brushed her hair back. “Did your mom ever play the ‘Edge of Seventeen’ for you? It was one of her favorite songs back in the day.”
Her eyes widened and she nodded.
“That’s why I chose to be number 17 in hockey. I chose it back when I was with your mom, and I’ve kept it ever since because it reminds me of her and where I came from. It’s my good luck charm. I actually had to beg the Crewmen to give me 17 because someone else already had it. A little money may have exchanged hands,” I joked, but it was true. I’d pay any amount to be able to keep wearing the number.
Stevie launched at me into a hug. And my eyes might’ve leaked a little more.
Within the next half hour, the Petersen’s door seemed to ring every five minutes, and a new sister of Josie’s would show up on the porch with her family in tow.
I knew Coach was a girl dad, but I didn’t realize he had four daughters.
Josie’s little nieces and nephews all called her “Aunt Joey,” which was absolutely adorable. And while she played with them, she gave each kid her undivided attention until they finished speaking– even when they said “um,” and “uh” every two seconds and took forever to get stories out– and I realized that’s how she was so good with Stevie and how she was such a great teacher, she had the patience of a saint.
Dinner after that was peaceful, and because there were so many people, it was nice to just blend in. It was also nice that her dad seemed to grill one of the other guys– her sister Katie’s husband– a lot more than me. And it was even more nice that I got to sit next to Josie and she held my hand under the table through the entire dinner.
Before leaving for the night, Stevie asked Mrs. P, “Do you think you can teach me to paint? Just like my mom?”
Mrs. P responded with tears in her eyes, “Most definitely. You can come over anytime, Sweetheart.” She stood then. “Actually, I’ll show her the studio right now if that’s okay? Give you two a minute alone,” she said with a wink in Josie’s direction.
Josie rolled her eyes lightly. “I swear I didn’t plan that.”
I stepped toward her and pulled her into a hug. “I know you didn’t, but I wouldn’t have minded if you did.” I paused. “Sorry about… Thanks for… You know…” My throat felt lodged with emotion.
She grabbed the lapels of my peacoat and looked up at me and nodded. “I know.”
Relief punched into me at that, and I was so fucking grateful for her. I kissed her head and she melted into me, and I couldn’t hold back anymore. I had to say it. I was bursting to say it.
“Josie,” I whispered.
She stayed relaxed against me. “Hmm?”
“I love you.”
Her eyes snapped to mine.
“I love you,” I repeated. “Is that… Is that okay?” I searched her eyes.
She wrapped her arms around me and buried her head in the crook of my neck. “I love you too, so damn much, Tyler.”
My eyes watered for what felt like the millionth time today, but this time, it was because of happiness. I blinked and stretched my face to friggin’ stop it.
When she pulled back from the hug, I held her cheeks and kissed her, and then I was wrapping my arms around her and dipping her body, still kissing her like I never wanted to let go.
