Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
“Of course, I remember you,” I say with my hands shaking. I just want to grab her and kiss her. I want to hold onto her and never let go. “You are unforgettable, Fiona. I’ve thought about you every day since.”
She looks skeptical, but she doesn’t push it further.
“I’m so sorry, Harris,” she whispers. “I wanted to tell you so many times, but I… I was so scared.”
“It’s okay,” I say as I take her hand and stroke it with my thumb. She looks at me with a look of gratitude. “You’re here now. That’s all that matters.”
God, those lips… They’re even more luscious than I remembered.
“Can I… go talk to him?”
“Of course,” she says, nodding as her eyes fill with tears. “He hasn’t been able to stop talking about you all week.”
I have so many questions, but there will be time for those later. I have an adorable little kid to meet.
With a warmth radiating through my chest, I head over and sit beside my son on the couch.
My son.
“Chip?” he asks as he offers me the bag.
“Thanks,” I say as I take one. He takes one too and cheers mine with it.
What do you say to a five-year-old? I haven’t been around too many besides giving them a quick autograph and moving on.
“So, Lucas,” I say nervously. “Do you like hockey?”
“Not really,” he says. “I like magic.”
“Magic? Oh yeah? My dad likes magic too! That’s your grandfather.”
“I have another grandfather?”
“Yeah. And he would love to meet you. He did teach me one trick, want to see it?”
He perks up on the couch with a big smile that makes my heart melt. “Okay!”
He’s all giddy as I pull a quarter out of my pocket and start waving my hand around. “Keep your eye on it,” I say as I move my hands with a flourish. “Do you have it? Keep looking. Keep—”
“Whoa!” he says when I make it disappear. “How did you do that? Where did it go?”
“Reach into the pocket on your shirt.”
Those beautiful brown eyes get larger behind his glasses. “No way!”
He reaches in and gasps in wonder when he pulls out another quarter. The first one is palmed in my hand. I slipped that one into his pocket when he was distracted with following my hand at the start of the trick.
“How did you do that?” he asks as he hands me the quarter back.
“You can keep it.”
“No way!” he says with his face lighting up. “My dad is the best!”
I can feel my cheeks getting all red as I smile.
I spend the next few minutes teaching him the trick and then he calls his mom over to attempt it on her.
I stand back and observe Fiona with him. She’s even more incredible than I remembered. She’s so sweet and caring with the boy, he’s lucky to have her.
A warm fluttering fills my chest as I watch them together. When Lucas drops the quarter from his hand and it bounces on the ground she encourages him to try again. I’m mesmerized by her.
It hits me hard that I have a child with this woman.
The elusive woman of my dreams who slipped out of my grasp. Who disappeared on me and left me reeling for years.
We’re bonded together forever through Lucas.
Now that she’s back, I’m not going to let her go.
With the three of us here, I’ve never felt so whole. It feels like my life is finally complete. Like I’ve found what I’ve been desperately searching for.
Maria the organizer knocks on the door and pops her head in. “I’m sorry to interrupt, Mr. Sutton, but you have a lineup of fans waiting at your table.”
“I do?” I ask, turning to her in shock. “I’m mean, sure. Of course. My fans.”
“Well, we should go,” Fiona says, standing up and rubbing her legs nervously.
“No, Mommy!” Lucas complains.
“You guys can hang out at my table,” I say as Maria rushes off.
“Can we, Mommy, please?” Lucas begs.
Fiona smiles gratefully at me. “Okay. Maybe for a bit.”
“Yes!” Lucas says with a fist pump. He grabs my hand and pulls me to the door.
This kid squeezes my hand the entire way as he rambles on about his top five favorite dinosaurs. He lists the pros and cons of each one.
I keep turning back and stealing glances at Fiona. She’s smiling but she looks so emotional as she watches her son with his father for the first time. I can tell she’s trying not to cry.
I just want to go to her and take her in my arms. I want to tell her that she doesn’t have to do this alone anymore. That I’m going to be with her every step of the way, helping her, supporting her, and loving her.
“Are those all your fans?” Lucas asks when we get to my table. There’s a line-up of about fifteen people holding Hyena gear to get signed.