Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100661 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100661 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
“Totally get it,” Ellie said.
“We were never together,” I went on. “And in fact, before we even fooled around, he told me he’d just gotten out of a relationship and didn’t want to get into another one. He said he just wanted to focus on his career and wasn’t a good boyfriend.”
Ellie exhaled and took another sip from her glass. “I don’t know if that’s true or not. In my opinion—and of course, I wasn’t there or anything, but I did meet the ex-girlfriend a couple times—he just didn’t care about the relationship all that much. He always made it seem like it was casual, but I think she wanted more.”
“That could be.” I watched as Joe said something that made the little girl laugh. My heart thumped hard, and I swallowed. “I’m trying not to want more.”
She looked at me. “But you do?”
“I mean, it’s hard not to. Joe took the news of this pregnancy really well, all things considered. He’s been nothing but supportive, and he’s so generous. He checks in with me all the time. He sends me thoughtful gifts. He wants to know everything about the baby and how I’m feeling. Not to mention . . .” I sighed as my eyes traveled over his wide shoulders and muscular legs. “He’s really hot.”
She laughed. “Seriously, it is criminal how hot the Lupo brothers grew up. They were such devils as boys. If you’d have told me I’d end up with one, I’d have screamed and wondered what I possibly did to deserve such a hideous fate.”
I laughed too, because I could imagine it perfectly. “That bad, huh?”
“Awful.” She shook her head. “But they were raised right. Nick and Coco are the best.”
“They have been nothing but wonderful to me.”
“And Joe is really great with our kids. He’ll be a good dad.”
“I think so too.” I smiled as he let Gabrielle brush his hair with a tiny Barbie brush.
“So is there really nothing between you two?” Ellie sounded surprised as she looked back and forth between Joe and me.
“I wouldn’t say nothing,” I allowed. “Despite our best intentions, we broke the rules when I visited him after Thanksgiving. But I keep telling myself that was a one-time thing, and it can’t happen again.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m scared,” I admitted, cradling my belly with both hands. “I don’t want to end up pining for him, living for the days he passes through town to see his son. I know what his career means to him, and I’d never ask him to give it up.”
“Can’t he have both?” she wondered. “Plenty of pro athletes have families.”
“He hasn’t led me to believe he’s interested in that. He’ll be a good father, I know he will, but I think he always saw having a family as something in the hazy distance, something he’d get around to after he was done playing. Right now, hockey is still the love of his life.” I took a breath. “And I want to be with someone who sees me that way.”
At that moment, Joe looked up and smiled at me. You okay? he mouthed. I nodded and smiled back, yearning for him with my whole heart.
Next to me, Ellie sighed. “Hockey might be the love of his life, but I’ll tell you something. I’ve known Joey Lupo since the day he was born, and I have never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.”
I could feel the heat creeping into my cheeks as Coco approached and sat on the other side of me.
She smiled warmly and patted my leg. “How are you doing, Mabel? Did you get enough to eat? Can I get you something warm to drink? Some tea?”
Laughing gently, I shook my head. “I’m fine. I ate so much I could burst. Everything was delicious.” Then I noticed the ring she wore on her left hand—an emerald-cut diamond in an art deco setting on a platinum band. “What a beautiful ring!”
“Oh, thank you. My wedding ring.”
“The design is such a lovely combination of modern and vintage.”
She smiled happily. “You have a good eye. It’s actually a replica of a ring from Nick’s family history. His great-grandfather gave it to his great-grandmother back in the twenties.”
“Oh! I think Joe has mentioned them before. The bootleggers?”
Coco laughed in surprise. “As a matter of fact, yes.”
“I love that story—I love family history.”
“I do too,” she said. “I was a history major in college.”
I warmed even more toward her. “Coco, thank you so much for having me here tonight. Your family is so wonderful, and your house is so warm and inviting. I appreciate being included.”
“Of course! You’re family now too, so it wouldn’t have been complete without you.”
For a second, I wondered what would happen in the future if Joe and I each went on to be with other people—we’d have to trade holidays with our son. I wouldn’t be family here anymore. The thought was so horrible it turned my stomach.