I turn to her, and she’s pointing off the ice, near where Jack’s skating. And my heart drops.
Alec and a few guys on his team just walked in and are heading for the entrance, right where Jack is about to be.
Oh God, I didn’t want their first meeting to be today, if ever.
I dig my blade in and take off, grinding my toe into the ice, flying between skaters, heading straight for Jack.
Alec’s laughing with Cam. They haven’t seen me yet.
I get to Jack, and Charlotte and Josh are a little behind me. I don’t need to use my words to tell them to get him out of here.
Charlotte and Josh take Jack and skate away.
Alec’s on the ice by the time I turn back. He’s definitely noticed me now, frozen in place.
I fly across the ice, barreling right to Alec, trying to make some kind of distraction so they can get Jack out of here. If and when Alec and Jack ever meet, it won’t be the same day that he cried in my arms about his boyfriend.
Alec shakes his head, wearing a hell of a shiner from Cam. His anger from that night seems to have faded. “The ice still suits you, Lu. Look, I want to apologize about the other night. I shouldn’t have overreacted. Just seeing you in another mans arms made me murderous. But I shouldn’t have taken that out on you.”
Holy shit, I have no time to process that right now. I’m so out of breath that I think I might faint. “Alec, can we talk later? I’m heading home right now.” For a brief second, I stare into his eyes, “I didn’t handle it the best myself. But I should probably go.”
Every cell in my body is begging me to turn around and see if Jack is gone, but I can’t give it away that I know Jack at all.
Suddenly, Jack’s voice cuts through the cheers and shouts in the room. “I don’t want to go. I want my mom!”
I don’t turn.
Alec breaks my gaze and looks to the noise, to the boy he doesn’t know who just wants his mom—wants me.
I hear Josh. “She’ll be out in a minute, bud.”
Alec’s head cocks to the side.
Oh no.
Jack shouts, and I hear Josh shriek. I can’t help but turn at the commotion. Jack is gliding across the ice toward me, like he’s been skating his whole life. I feel so much fear and pride at the same time.
But then my breath halts.
Everything’s colliding at once, and there’s nothing I can do right now to stop it.
I never wanted them to meet for the first time unplanned. I wanted to talk to Alec about how we would handle it, them meeting. I wanted time to figure it out. But time is running out as Jack glides on the ice.
Maybe Alec will just pretend he doesn’t know him, that this is just a little boy that he doesn’t want a relationship with.
Jack gains speed, and I suddenly realize we didn’t go over how to stop.
My eyes widen as he closes in.
“Jack, slow down!” I shout to him, instinct taking over. I drop down onto my knees on the ice and prepare for impact.
“Mom, look out!” Jack shouts.
Seconds later, he barrels into me, ice spraying around us. I slowly rise, holding Jack in my arms.
When I turn to finally face Alec, he’s completely in shock. His face is ghost white, jaw unhinged.
Alec studies Jack, looking over every inch of him like he is trying to decide if what he is seeing is real.
