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I clear my throat, trying to cough away the sudden emotion clogging it. "Okay?"
"Okay..." She sounds unconvinced but drops the subject. "Now back to that printer..."
We continue talking for a few more minutes before saying our goodbyes. Hanging up the phone, I reach for another dress on the rack, thinking of a life beyond this one.
A life after the birth. With the baby. A road to making PR history as one of the few women in a pro hockey executive position.
A life of exciting games on ice. A life of lasagna and Nonna's secret sauces.
A life with Gio, Nonna and Lex. And without Jacob...
I squeeze my eyes shut as the painful realization hits me. Hot tears slide down my cheeks, and this time, I make no attempt to stop them.
"Excuse me, miss?"
I glance up and notice a sales associate standing a few feet away, concern etched on her face.
"Everything all right?"
I wipe my tears away. "Yes, thank you. I'm fine."
I nod at her, and she drifts away, still carefully watching me.
At least I didn't lie. I do think without Jacob I'd live a life that's just "fine".
But what if it's never anything more than fine? What if I'm no longer okay with fine after sharing love with a man like him?
Want if I want more?
Chapter 27
Jacob
Istep into the arena, the familiar smell of popcorn and the chill of the ice hitting me hard. The weight of the atmosphere feels heavier today.
With three losses now in the Western Conference finals, Game Four is make-or-break.
With the pressure of the championship looming, I can't shake off this knot in my stomach. My heart races as I navigate through the hectic hallways, past the busy staff and the vibrant banners of the Chicago Blades.
But even the bright colors beckoning me further and further into Blades arena can't erase the last thirty-six hours. Or soothe the ache inside my chest.
An ache that's probably there because there's a Gabi-sized hole in my chest.
Funny. How a man like me, who couldn't commit to one woman for thirty years, is now being emotionally obliterated by one in thirty days.
But if I'm being honest, Gabriella De Luca has been breaking me down from the moment I walked down the street of my family's tree-lined neighborhood and saw her smiling face on the porch outside her grandmother's house. Sure, that smile was missing a tooth or two, but from then on, I'd been hooked.
The feelings haven't waned since then. And it's not just about the wild chemistry or the fact that she's beautiful, smart, and funny.
It's her strength. Her kindness. Her unwavering loyalty to her family and friends.
I've never met anyone like her.
Without Gabriella, I would still be stuck in my destructive ways, hiding behind a facade of fame and fortune.
But now...now I have something real to fight for.
As I reach the locker room, I take a deep breath and try to shake off the heavy thoughts. Today is about hockey. About winning this game and staying alive in the playoffs.
