Page 146 of Scarred

“The goalie. The athlete. The guy who can shut down reporters easier than most people can breathe,” she says, her lip twitching before continuing.

“But the man who just kissed you in front of the entire room, knowing how much work that creates for me tomorrow?” She glances over at me, and a brief smile appears. “That’s Cayden. And I haven’t seen him in a very long time.”

My eyes drift back to him as he finishes up his interview, but I don’t see the goalie everyone else sees sitting behind that mic.

I see the man who sits through pink tea parties for his daughter.

The man who leaves notes on my pillow.

The man who still carries scars that no one else can see.

I see Cayden…I always have.

FORTY-TWO

CAYDEN

“He’s here,” I smile at the message from Knox that just came through our group text with the team as soon as we got in my car. Luna’s phone dings seconds later, and a big smile lights up her face.

“He’s beautiful,” she whispers, looking over at me before studying the picture again of him curled up against Savi’s chest. “Look at all of that dark hair.”

She smiles when another text comes through.

“Sophia says both he and Savi are doing amazing. She and Travis are headed home soon, so Savi can get some rest.”

She texts her back while I stare at my own phone as the messages start to come in one by one.

A few months ago, seeing this would have cracked open something inside me.

A new baby…a new family…a future someone else got to have.

But tonight, all I feel is happy for them.

Hayes

Thank God he looks like his momma.

Kane

He’s fourteen minutes old, and you’re already starting?

Hayes

I’m complimenting him.

Kane

By insulting his father?

Hayes

The truth hurts sometimes.

Stone

I’ll remember you said that the next time you start crying when I tell you your slapshot needs work.

Hayes