A Lie for a Lie (All In 1)

“It’s too bad Rook has a no-trade clause—I’m pretty sure he’d be a top pick for any new team. There’s also some talk that Alex Waters is looking at coaching, and those two are friends, aren’t they?”

I give him a look. “How do you know all this?”

He lifts his shoulder in what’s supposed to be a dismissive shrug. “Your boyfriend and I had some late-night chats while he was here. Besides, you’re my baby, Lainey, and you’re living with a big-shot hockey player, so sue me if I want to be in the know about everything.”

“So you’ve become an internet stalker—is that it?”

“I think you call it research.”

I laugh, and Kody stretches in his arms, smacking his lips. I check the time. I should probably put him to bed for the night, but I don’t want to take him from my dad just yet.

“We miss you, Lainey, that’s all. I know you’ve made friends out in Chicago, and that’s wonderful. We don’t want to stifle you, but any opportunity I see to have you closer rather than farther away and I’m going to make mention of it. Your mother is a worrier—and I’m sure that wasn’t always the most helpful when you were growing up, especially after what happened in college. If you’d been in that classroom when that boy lost his sanity . . .” My dad clears his throat and smooths out Kody’s hair, his voice just a whisper. “We might not have you—or this little miracle.”

I push up out of the chair and hug him as best I can, considering he’s stretched out in a recliner—which RJ bought for him since he loved the one at his place in Chicago so much—and holding a nearly twenty-pound baby in his arms.

“We just love you so much, Lainey, and maybe we loved you a little too hard, but we were just so scared of losing you.” He sniffs into my shoulder.

I hug him like that, awkwardly, absorbing his love and his honesty, because in all the years since that tragedy happened, it’s really the first time he’s expressed how he felt about it. “I love you too, Dad. I know you were just trying to keep me safe, but I can’t live my life being afraid of things that are outside of my control.”

I release him so I can see his face. His eyes have that telltale shine to them, like he’s fighting his emotions but losing. I sit on the side table next to his chair, and he grips my hand in his. “Rook is a good match for you. You’re so much more . . . confident with him. Or maybe you always were, and he just brings that out in you better than we could.”

“Dad—”

“I’m not being self-deprecating. I’m just reflective these days. I have ten grandchildren, and only one of my children doesn’t live within a ten-minute drive. It gets a man to thinking, is all.”

I laugh a little at that. “The youngest is always the wildest, or so I’ve heard. I’m just sowing my oats.”

“If you’re my wild one, I think we’ve done all right.” He gives my hand a squeeze, and his expression turns serious. “That man worships the ground you walk on, and he feels an extraordinary amount of guilt for his mistakes—he’ll do just about anything to make you happy.”

“I know.” I see it in everything he does for me and Kody. I feel it in his love.

“You might try to take advantage of that weakness, Lainey.” He gives me a wink, and I laugh.

Kody squawks, so I take him from my dad and press my lips to his temple. “And your grandpa wonders where I get my sass.”CHAPTER 27

SHOTS, SH-SH-SH-SHOTS

Rook

I pick up Lainey and Kody at the airport in the afternoon on New Year’s Eve. As soon as they’re through the arrival gate, I’m all over her. “I missed you so fucking much.” She doesn’t even have time to give me trouble for swearing in front of Kody, because I cover her mouth with mine and kiss the hell out of her.

The flash and click of phone cameras reminds me that we’re not in the privacy of our own home or bedroom, as does Kody’s annoyed squawk at being ignored. I release Lainey and give her a sheepish grin. “To be continued. I’m so glad you’re home.”

I free Kody from his stroller and lift him into my arms. “How’s my favorite little man? You take good care of Mommy for me while you were away?” I lay a noisy kiss on his cheek and tickle his tummy, making him laugh. Then I pull Lainey back in for another kiss, this time without all the tongue. “God, I love you. That was too long to be away from you.”

“You’ve been gone longer with away games,” Lainey points out.