Page 86 of Slapshot Bride

“And... please try to calm Dad. This is all so much. I'm still trying to make sense of it myself.”

I take a shaky breath. “I loved this man, Mom. I really did.”

The words hurt more than I expect.

“So please... give me a little time to put myself back together. When I'm ready, I'll tell you the truth.”

I wipe at my eyes.

“But I need you to know one thing now. If I come home, it won't be for Preston. It won't be to get back together with him.”

I shake my head. “It'll be because I miss you. Because I miss Dad. Because I still want you in my life.”

My voice breaks. “I just... I need you to be on my side. Please.”

There is a long pause on the line.

“Honey…”

“Mom,”

“You sound tired.”

“I'm tired.”

“This isn't like you. You and Preston have been so happy. Surely whatever has happened, the two of you can sit down with someone, a counselor, a—”

“Mom…”

“I'm just saying that sometimes a girl needs to come home and let the people who love her—”

“Mom!”

She stops.

“Will you wait?” I ask quietly. “Will you wait until you've heard my side? Before you decide his version is the truth. Before you keep believing he's the right man for me... will you wait for me? Will you let me explain?”

There is another pause.

“Of course, sweetheart.”

I don’t hear the conviction in her voice. It doesn’t make me feel better or lighter. But I know I’ve left her with something to think about until the next time we speak.

“I love you, Mom. I have to go.”

“Riley…”

“I love you, Mom.”

I hang up.

I sit with the phone face down on my thigh.

I don’t know how long I sit there, but when I look up again, Easton is by the foot of the stairs.

“Ready for bed?”

I blink.