Page 185 of Over the Line

“True.” He paused. “And I know you’ve been trying extra hard to keep things good with me. Like… walking on eggshells a bit.”

I avoided his eyes and didn’t argue with him.

“I don’t want you to walk on eggshells,” he said. “I just want you to be my dad. The past—we’re good, you know? You messed up, but you’ve apologized a million times, and when you say it was a mistake, I believe you. Yeah, I was angry for a while, but we’re cool now.” He grimaced. “Telling Liam you cheated on Mom—that was a cheap shot. I’m sorry.”

“You were angry and embarrassed. I think anyone would lash out at that point.”

“Maybe. But still. I kind of get the impression you’d chew glass before you cheated on anyone again.”

“You’re not wrong.” My throat was tight and my eyes stung. “I feel like I should be doing more to make up for⁠—”

“No,” he whispered. “You can’t change the past and neither can I. I just want to go forward, you know? With you as my dad.”

I chewed my lip.

“If there was any tension left,” he said, “it’s been gone since the night Asher was born.”

I met his gaze. “Really?” Nick had said something about that, but something about hearing it from Chris brought me up short.

“Are you kidding?” Chris laughed. “You were there for Jasmine. You calmed me down so I didn’t upset her. And like, she told me about you putting one of the nurses in her place. She told me later that for as much as she wished her mom could’ve been there, she couldn’t have asked for a better support person.”

“I… oh. She did?”

“Yeah. And maybe that should’ve been a clue. That you knew I can freak out about stuff sometimes. You pulled me down to earth so I could be what Jazz needed. You didn’t want her to see me panicking when she needed me to have my head together.” He offered a tight shrug. “So, maybe it makes sense that… I don’t know. Like you know how stressed I can get about things even when I shouldn’t.”

“I do,” I said softly. “And I’ve just been so afraid that if I stepped out of line…” My voice threatened to break.

“Dad, I’m serious. We’re good. The past is the past. I just want you to be my dad and be Asher’s grandpa.” He paused. “And I want you to be happy.”

“Even if that means dating your teammate?”

Chris huffed another laugh and rolled his eyes. “No, Dad. I don’t want you dating the hockey player I idolized who ended up being my linemate, and who’s cool as shit and a really good guy. No, no, anything but that.”

I managed a laugh, but it was hard. “I just wish we could’ve told you on our terms. I didn’t want last night to happen.”

To my shock, Chris stepped closer and hugged me.

To my even greater shock, I didn’t collapse into tears. I just wrapped my arms around him and breathed.

Somehow, I collected myself enough to whisper, “I’m sorry. I know I keep saying that, but…” I squeezed my eyes shut and exhaled. “I suck at this. I know I do. And I know it doesn’t matter, but it’s always been because I’ve been trying to do right by you.”

Chris sighed. “Yeah. It matters. I… I know your heart’s always been in the right place.” As he let me go, he swiped at his eyes. “Especially this time—I mean, it wasn’t even your fault or Saints’. Someone outed you. It wasn’t anyone’s business—not even mine—until you guys were ready to come out.”

“Still.” I wiped my own eyes. “I should’ve been honest with you.”

“Your hand got forced.”

“I know. But…” My shoulders sagged. “We knew it was a risk. That someone could out us. I didn’t think it would happen like this, or that you’d get humiliated on camera like that, but it was always a possibility.” I swallowed hard. “I just wanted you to hear it from me. And from Liam. Privately.”

He acknowledged that with a nod. “I get it.”

I studied him. “And you and Liam—you can still work together?”

Nodding, Chris leaned against the counter and exhaled. “Yeah, we talked. And, um… I guess our GM told Saints yesterday that either he and I could continue being linemates without issues, or one of us was going on waivers today.”

My heart dropped into my feet. “Oh, shit. Seriously?”

“Yeah. So Saints and I talked, and yeah, we can play together.” He rolled his tight shoulders. “I think that’s what made me realize I went off too hot. When it was like, this is suddenly going to start affecting careers and the team.”