“Mine too,” I agreed, but my mind was elsewhere. Ziggy focused his attention on one of the bar TVs showing highlights from the night’s game, in which I’d scored a goal, and Ziggy had an assist. The coach put us on the second line together, along with veteran Scott Monet, and we’d been on fire. Usually it took several games for a line to gel, but we played as if we’d been together for years. Maybe we’d gotten lucky tonight and were in the zone, but I’d take it, whatever it was.

My professional life was on track, and I needed to fix my personal life once I figured out how I wanted to fix it. Did I want to pursue Caro, despite her resistance to being with me, her need to stay in control, and her stubborn refusal to listen to reason?

Yeah, I did.

I’d make her listen. Living in limbo wasn’t fun for any of us.

~~Caroline~~

The morning of New Year’s Eve, I woke to a typical gray Seattle day. I didn’t have any plans to celebrate other than hang out with my kids and maybe drink a glass of cheap champagne at midnight. Junie had plans to go out with Steele and Kaden, which was fine with me. She’d been hovering, and I’d been so despondent about the kids’ meltdown and my conversation with Fran.

Our doorbell rang. I looked up from the game I was playing with the kids and shot Junie a questioning glance. She shrugged and went to the door to answer it.

Easton walked into the condo, and the kids immediately leapt to their feet and ran to him. Mona bounded to his side, her entire butt wagging and drool flying. He hugged Heath and Hailey, patted Mona, then turned to me, one large hand on each child’s shoulder. I was struck one more time with how comfortable they were with Easton and how right they looked together.

“Can we talk?” His tone was unreadable, not giving me a clue as to the subject of this conversation.

“Uh, sure.”

“I’ll leave you two to discuss. Kids, help me walk Mona.” Junie glanced from one of us to the other. She helped Hailey and Heath put on their coats, grabbed a leash for Mona, and they were out the door, and we were alone.

He sat on the barstool, so I sat on the one next to him. After running his hands over his face, Easton met my gaze. “I don’t know how to start this conversation. I think we should see if we can make this work.”

“This? What do you mean by this?” I wrung my hands together, not sure what he was getting at.

“You, me, the kids. Being a family.” He reached for my hand again and squeezed it. “We’re in this together whether we like it or not.”

“We are?” Of course we were. What a stupid question.

“Yeah, we are. We also have this insane chemistry between us. I’m tired of denying it when you creep into my thoughts no matter how hard I try to keep you out.”