Only One Night (Only One 3)

“It’s better this way,” I tell him, feeling the pit that I have in my stomach. The plane lands twenty minutes later than scheduled, and I run to my SUV, tossing the bag in the back seat to make my way over to the arena. The parking lot’s full when I get there, and I see that I’m late.

I walk into the arena and look around the lobby. Glancing at my watch, I see I’m ten minutes late. Fucking traffic. I spot a couple of parents from their team. “Hey, guys,” I say, walking past them and going up the back stairs to where the restaurant is.

I look around, my eyes scanning the room, and then I see her. My heart starts to speed up in my chest, and it feels like it’s going to pound out of my chest. What is she doing here? Right now, I couldn't care less because she’s here. She’s breathtaking and beautiful and so much more than what I remembered. Her hair is still loose, and I wonder if it’s as silky as I remember. I wonder if she’s thought about me. I wonder if she regrets walking out on me. I have so many questions, but the only thing I know is that now that she’s in front of me, I’m not going to waste time.

I watch her as she hands my son a slush and smiles at him. I walk to her, and she must feel eyes on her because she looks up, and for the first time in my life, my heart stops. Literally, the world could crumble around us, and I’d be okay with her there with me. Her eyes go big when she sees me, and I smile as I make my way to her. I see her mouth my name, and I can hear it in my head.

“Daddy,” Jaxon says when he spots me, and her mouth opens now in shock, her eyes flying to me and then back to Jaxon. “That’s my dad,” he tells her, and she has no words. She just nods at him.

“He plays hockey.” I hear Caleb say, and I stop in front of them. The smell of her brings back every memory from that night. And I mean every memory plays in my head on fast-forward.

“Hey, buddy,” I say, bending down and kissing Jaxon’s head. “I missed you.” I look back up at Evelyn, who just blinks. “Hi,” I say softly. “I’m Manning, Jaxon’s dad,” I say to her, holding out my hand.

“I-I’m,” she says, stuttering now and not sure how to act. “I’m Evelyn. Caleb’s aunt,” she tells me, sticking out her hand, and when I shake her hand, the heat feeds my soul. The touch makes my body come alive, and I want nothing more than to bend and kiss her hello. I want to wrap my arms around her, bring her to my chest, and just hold her there.

“It’s great to meet you,” I say, our hands still in each other’s hand. I’m not ready to let her go just yet. Maybe I’m afraid that this is a dream, and when I let her go, I’ll open my eyes, and it will be over.

“Can we go play in the arcade?” Jaxon asks, and I’m about to say yes to get them to leave us. I’ll give them all the tokens in the world to just leave us alone. But instead of savoring in the moment of seeing her again, my eyes see the one person I don’t want to see.

“Evelyn,” I say her name, dropping her hand. I want to say so many things before it happens. My heart pounds in my chest, my palms getting sticky, and my neck starts to tingle.

It happens like a freight train crash. The one you slow down to look at, and I suddenly feel like I’m floating out of my body. “Hey there, you two.” I hear her voice, and I don’t have time to do anything when I see her in front of me, and she kisses me on the lips.

“Welcome home, baby. Missed you,” she almost purrs out, and I think I’m going to be sick. The burning in my stomach moves up to my throat. “Sorry I’m late. Did you just get here?” she asks with a smile, bending to kiss Jaxon’s head. “Someone needs a shower,” she says and finally looks at Evelyn, who stands there with her mouth hanging open. I see her eyes going from me to Murielle and then back to me again.

I want to tell her it’s not what it seems, and it’s just a farce. I want to tell her I’ve spent the past week thinking about only her. I want to tell her that I want another night. I want anything she will give me. But the universe has other plans for me right now. I feel Murielle slip her arm into mine, something she usually does when I’m talking to a female she doesn’t know. “Hey,” she says to Evelyn. “I’m Murielle.” She smiles at Evelyn, holding out her hand. “Jaxon’s mom.”