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“Hi.” I nearly cringe at how sad I sound. I try to clear my throat, attempting to shake off any lingering emotion.
“Do you want a coffee?” he asks, breaking the awkward silence.
“No, thanks.” I gesture to my outfit. “I’m going to go run.”
“Oh—” There is an awkward pause. “Right. I’m sorry, I can’t go with you today.”
He sounds like he means it, but it doesn’t make the ache in my chest feel any better.
“We have an early practice today, so I’m trying to save my energy. Coach made a comment the other day and I want to show up with peak energy.”
“Sure. Okay.” I try to mask my disappointment. I know hockey is more important. It is his career.
“You alright?” he asks.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just, uh—” I just saw you with another girl. I swallow down the truth. “I’m just going to head out. I’ll see you later?”
“Yeah.”
I start to walk away when he calls out my name.
“Hey… Astrid?”
“Yeah?” I turn to face him, anticipating his words.
“I promise, we can hang out tonight. Victoria has Violet again this week.” He closes the distance between us and pulls me against him. “I’ll see you tonight, okay?”
“Okay.” The small bit of hope simmers in my chest, warming the parts of me that began to wither away last night. He kisses the top of my head before letting me go.
“Tonight?” he repeats, seemingly seeking affirmation.
“Tonight.” I turn to make good on my commitment to run, holding onto a piece of hope that might mend the fractures emerging in our relationship.
CHAPTER 23
SEAN
Ileave practice in a hurry. It took up my entire day. Another entire day. The coaches made us run drills way past the point of reason. I push my hair back, adjusting my rear-view mirror as I back out of my parking spot. I know Tommy is mad at me. But I don’t know what we did to piss him or Matt off as a collective. I hope winning the next game softens him up a bit.
I speed down the highway towards Violet’s school. I hate being late to things, especially things that involve my daughter.
By the time I get to the school, most of the other parents are gone. The pickup line is short, and I spot Violet right away. She looks so much like me. Her sharp cheekbones, her dark hair. She walks to the car, her arms crossed against her chest. She really is my daughter.
“You’re late,” she says the moment I get out to open the door for her and help her into the car, confirming what I already knew.
“I’m sorry, princess,” I say, holding back my laugh. She wouldn’t appreciate that, but she really is a mini me. I think she probably gets tired of hearing it so much.
I hold out my arms for a hug. It’s only been two days, but I’ve missed her.
Violet hugs me reluctantly at first, but then her little arms constrict tighter. “Dad, I can’t wait to show you what I made in art class.”
“I can’t wait to see it.” I make sure that she’s buckled in.
“You have to wait until I can show Astrid too.”
I close the door when I see Violet’s teacher walking over to us. She waves at me, which seems to indicate that she wants to talk.
I wonder what Violet could have done.
