Mind Pucked (Chicago Blue Jays #1)

27. Amelia

27

AMELIA

A t some point after making love in the alley, again in Jackson’s car, and once more when we got to his house, I fell asleep in his arms. When I left this place yesterday I was happy for the break, but now I could not be any more thrilled that I’m back, hopefully for good.

I smile as I roll over to throw my arm across Jackson, but my smile quickly fades when I realize he isn’t here. The sheets are no longer warm, so he’s been gone awhile.

I immediately worry that might have regrets—our judgment through the haze of alcohol and the excitement of the fight might have been cloudy. A slight sound from downstairs is the only thing that reassures me and keeps me from losing my mind with that train of thought.

I smile as I smell food. Better yet, bacon!

Unable to find my clothes, I slip on one of Jackson’s oversized jerseys. It nearly hangs to my knees, and I smile at my reflection in the mirror at seeing the Blue Jays colors on me.

I hustle downstairs, rounding the corner to see Jackson in the kitchen, flipping an egg. Sure enough, there’s also bacon, sausage, and an assortment of other breakfast items.

I lean against the doorframe and watch him for a moment, unsure whether he’s aware of my presence or not. I could watch this man forever.

I could watch him play hockey, parent Hayden, fight, have sex, or flip an egg and be just as content here and always.

He flips another egg and then looks up to see me standing here. The smile on his face tells me everything—the alcohol and fight from last night have done nothing to influence what happened between us.

“Good morning, Amelia,” he says with a big smile. “Hungry?”

“Ravenous.” I move forward with a smile on my face. “I love you,” I say, testing the waters to make sure everything is still the same.

“I love you too,” he says sincerely, leaning over and kissing me on the lips.

“This smells wonderful,” I admit as I take a seat on one of the stools at the counter.

“Good, because this breakfast is fit for my queen.” He flips another egg in the air.

I smile at that sentiment and lean forward with my elbows against the countertop. I cross my legs in the seat of the stool and relax as he looks me over. I can tell he’s taking in what I’m wearing, and it sends a shock of anticipation through me.

I think about the things we did on this counter and wonder when we might get the chance for a repeat. “When is Hayden coming home?” I ask innocently, mostly looking for a distraction so I don’t jump him right here and now.

“Well, she isn’t due back until tomorrow, but when I called to tell my mother that you and I were back together, Hayden was so excited she wanted to come home today.” He beams as he starts making plates. “I think I have her convinced to stay until tomorrow to buy us some more time.”

“So, you told your parents we’re back together? Hayden too?” I squeal in shock.

“Of course, why wouldn’t I? Unless you’re rethinking things?” His brow creases as he hands me my plate.

“No, of course not. I just thought maybe you might want to talk about things before we made it official again, but I’m perfectly fine doing it this way.” I wait for him to sit down across from me.

“No, I didn’t want to wait—I was too excited,” he says as he takes his first bite of food. He waits until he chews it and swallows before speaking again. “But…I do want to talk to you about a few things.”

“I figured you might.” I smile at him as I pile eggs on my fork and take a bite. “Delicious.”

“First of all, I’d like to apologize to you,” he says, taking me by surprise for a second time this morning.

“What do you have to apologize for?”

“I’m sorry for getting so angry at you,” he begins with a smile as he reaches across and takes my hand. “You do need to understand where I was coming from, though.”

“Oh, I think I know, but please continue.” I give his hand a slight squeeze.

“It looked bad from my end,” he says softly. “All of it. And I know you already know that. You’re a smart woman, and it took me a while to realize that you were doing what you were doing out of love. Not love for me, but love for your brother.”

“But then it became love for you too, and I realized my suspicions had been misplaced. I knew that long before I knew Preston was alive,” I tell him.

“I know that,” he admits as he looks down and then back up at me. “But, for me to realize that you thought that of me at all was hard. However, looking at it from the outside in, I can see how it looked. I also know how you felt—after losing my wife, I’m sure it’s similar to your feelings when you lost your brother.”

“The two are definitely not comparable, but I appreciate where you’re coming from,” I admit to him, because I know deep down that losing his wife, the mother of his child, has got to be a whole world different from losing my brother.

Both of them cut to the core…yes. But it’s a completely different relationship, a completely separate feeling. Even I can acknowledge that.

“Perhaps they are, but I understand it more now.” He squeezes my hand gently. “I just know that my wife would like you so much.”

“There will always be a place for Lyla in this home…in our lives,” I say to him as I abandon my food altogether in exchange for our conversation. “And I’m truly sorry for the sorrow I caused—on top of the sorrow you are already dealing with. I care for you so much now. I can’t believe I ever thought you were capable of hurting anyone, let alone the woman you loved so much.”

“It’s forgiven, Amelia. I love you so much—I wish I would have realized before how much I’d already forgave you.” His thumb strokes the back of my hand.

“Now that all the forgiveness has been given and apologies have been made…” I smile at him, returning to my food. “What was that little fight on the ice about yesterday? It had to be something big. And two fights in one day, aren’t you feeling feisty?”

“That was Wayne Goodall,” he says as if that’s enough of an explanation.

“Wayne Goodall?”

“Yes, he used to be on our team back when Preston was still with us.” He pauses a moment, and I realize he’s trying to figure out how to word things. “I mean, while he was still a part of the team.”

“I figured that’s what you meant,” I chuckle softly.

“Anyways, Wayne was traded shortly after. He was on your brother’s team before Preston was moved to the Blue Jays. There was always a kind of rivalry between me and your brother, but Wayne seemed more like a shadow than anything. Not my shadow—Preston’s. Anyways, he said some things about Lyla, and I about went off the deep end, but when he began mentioning you…” He pauses for a moment and reaches out to take my hand once again. “I saw red.”

“Me?” I wonder out loud, realizing that he fought for me even when we weren’t together. “What did he say about me?”

“It’s not worth mentioning, but you sure are worth fighting for,” he says as he reaches over and caresses my face, kissing me gently on the lips.

“I love you so much,” I say as we pull away.

“I love you too.” He leans back and takes a bite of his bacon.

Damn, this man is so sexy when he eats. He’s sexy when he does everything.

“I’m sorry that I thought you were capable of such things in the beginning,” I add. “That was before I got to know you. Before I fell in love with you. Thank you for letting me love you.”

“Thank you for loving me, and for letting me love you in return,” he says, and I’m sure this man is the sweetest man in the whole world.

“Promise me something,” I say to him softly.

“Anything.”

“Let’s vow to never be apart, to always be honest, and to never let our rocky beginnings become rocky endings ever again.” I lift my glass.

“Never again.” He clinks his glass to mine, and we smile, reveling in the happiness of the moment.