Andy sighed and locked his hands on top of his head, looking up at the ceiling. “Listen, about all this Kacie stuff … I just want you to know I don’t blame you for going off on Blaire, or for firing me.”

“I’m glad you understand about Blaire, she deserved it.” I looked him straight in the eye. “And I’m sorry about the firing thing, but I can’t have her interfering with my personal life because she thinks I need to concentrate on hockey. I won’t let that happen.”

“I know. I get it.” He sighed. “I’m not worried about the money part, Brody I just hope that we’re okay.”

“You and Blaire?”

He laughed. “I couldn’t give two shits about how Blaire and I are at the moment. She has some major work to do on herself or I’m taking the kids and I’m gone. I told her that.”

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “You did?”

A sly smile spread across his face as he narrowed his eyes. “Yep, you would’ve loved the look on her face.”

“Hmm, a shocked Blaire? I’d pay a lot of money to see that.”

“That face wasn’t nearly as good as the one she made when I told her we had to put the Vail house on the market to make up the difference in losing your contract.” His head fell back on the chair as another laugh escaped him.

A twinge of guilt rolled around in my stomach. “About that … I know a couple young guys just graduating college who are looking for agents. I’ll send them your way to make up for it.”

“I’m not worried about it, really. I have money stashed that she doesn’t know about. We’re fine, financially.” His eyes darted nervously around the room before settling on mine. “I just hope that we are okay.”

“Andy, my boy, we’ve been best friends for almost twenty years. It’s going to take something bigger and badder than Blaire to scare me off.”

Nodding and smiling contently, he looked at his watch. “Shit, I gotta get to work.”

I stood and followed him to the door.

“Please tell Kacie I’m so sorry about what happened. Keep me posted, if you guys need anything.”

“I will, buddy. Thanks.”

He shook my hand and disappeared down the hall.

I worked out with Viper … checked my phone.

I took a shower … checked my phone.

I made myself dinner … checked my phone.

Kacie brought Piper home from the hospital at some point today and I was really hoping she’d call or text and let me know how it went. Was she all settled in? What were they doing right now? Did they need anything? Not knowing what was going on, and not being there to help out was killing me.

I thought about that morning out on the back deck with Sophia when she told me about Kacie’s past and asked me to be patient with her. Patience wasn’t my problem, I was in no rush to move on, there were no other women, nor would there ever be now that I knew Kacie was out there. Patience I could do, but how the hell could I win her over if she kept pushing me away?

Everything Sophia said that morning was rattling around in my head.

“Kacie was damaged.”

“She blamed herself for her and her dad’s failed relationship.”

“She fought like hell to keep her family together with Zach, but ultimately it didn’t matter.”

“To protect herself now, she panics and she runs.”

This was it, Kacie’s defense mechanism rearing its ugly head. “Get them before they get me,” like Sophia said. The feelings were becoming too real for her, and instead of dealing with them head on, it was easier for her to push me away and pretend they didn’t exist. If she admitted that she loved me too, it meant leaving herself vulnerable to the possibility of more pain and that was something Kacie was clearly willing to go to great lengths to avoid.

What Kacie didn’t know was that she may have met the one person on the planet more stubborn than her. When I set my sights on something, I get it one way or another. I’d never given up easily and I sure as hell wasn’t starting now.

“I can’t believe they’re six.” I pouted as I plopped myself down at the kitchen table.

Mom handed me a cup of coffee. “I know, where did the time go?”

“Seriously. It feels like I just had them.”

“I feel that same way about you.” She smiled sadly as she sat across from me. “Now look at you. You went and grew up and had kids of your own when I wasn’t looking.”

“You know, none of this would have been possible without you.”

“Of course it would have, Kacie. You’re a strong girl, way stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

“I don’t know about all that, Mom.”

“Well, I do and Mother knows best, so hush.”

I grinned at her as I sipped my coffee.

“It’s been one hell of a week, huh?”

“That, my dear, is an understatement.” Mom stared outside and her mind went somewhere else. It had been almost a week since that bastard plowed over my baby in the lake, and while Piper was mending, she wasn’t completely back to normal yet. Her bruises had faded to a dark yellow and she wasn’t having headaches anymore, but her nightmares were off the charts. Every night since we’d been home from the hospital, she woke up with an ear-piercing, blood-curdling scream that almost made me jump right out of my skin. The only thing that made her feel better was sleeping with me and that made Lucy feel bad, so she’d been sleeping with me too. Needless to say, I was beyond exhausted.

Mom had suggested pushing their party back a couple weeks, but that wasn’t an option. School was starting in a couple weeks, for all three of us, and it had been such a bad week, I wanted them to have something good to look forward to this weekend. However, I threw it together so quickly, hopefully I hadn’t forgotten anything.

“Okay, so today … the food has been ordered and should be here by noon. Alexa is bringing the flowers and balloons later, you took care of the cake … was there anything else?” I asked.

“Nope, I think you got it all. What time is everyone coming?”

“Two o’clock.”

“Good. You should go nap, Kacie.” She pushed back from the table and took our mugs to the kitchen sink. “You haven’t been sleeping well and today might be a long day.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” I yawned just thinking about how tired I was.

I left the girls snuggled up on the couch watching Snow White under Mom’s watchful eye as I tiptoed down the hall to my room for a quick snooze.

My body was completely relaxed in that last stage right before you actually fall asleep, where you’re still aware of your surroundings, but your arms and legs feel heavy and out of control. My mind was starting to drift, when I heard my bedroom door open and then close again.

I didn’t even open my eyes. “Girls, go back out with Gigi, Mommy needs a nap.”

“They’re watching Snow White, but you look more like Sleeping Beauty.”

My eyes snapped open, and I sat up straight at the sound of Brody’s voice. He was leaning against my bedroom door with his hands shoved in his jeans pockets, his signature hat on backwards and the killer smile accented by those irresistible dimples cemented on his face.