Chapter 30

CHAPTER THIRTY

RYAN

Maddy’s eyes widened as she looked at me standing at her doorstep. “Ryan?”

Confusion mixed with something else, longing maybe, swirls in her stare as she holds my gaze. Those long auburn curls are twisted into a loose bun. Her form-fitting dress showcases every curve I have seared into memory.

She steals my damn breath.

My fingers ache to touch her. But I don’t know what to do. We’re in this strange holding pattern, tiptoeing around land mines, and I do not want to make a fatal mistake.

“Maddy,” falls from my lips in almost a whisper. Whether intentional or not, we step closer. My breath increases. I press my hands against my jeans to keep from touching her, but when she sucks in that bottom lip, I cave. There’s no thought, just action, as I close the distance and pull her against me.

“I’ve missed you so goddamn much.”

“I’ve missed you, too?—”

I don’t give her time to respond before my lips are on hers. Her sigh of surrender is the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. She melts into me, her hands fisting in my shirt as I deepen the kiss. It’s an apology, a promise, and a plea all rolled into one.

I pull away reluctantly, my palm cupping her cheek. My thumb brushes over her freckled nose, and she blinks up at me, those green eyes hazy with want. Damn, what this girl does to me.

“Why are you here?” she asks softly.

“I’m here because I made a mistake.” My voice remains steady despite wanting to swoop her in my arms and run off. “Fuck, Maddy, I’m sorry I blew up. I should’ve handled everything better.”

“We both could’ve. And I’ve been thinking a lot. It’s unfair for me to hold you accountable for something that happened when we were seventeen. That was a painful time. For both of us.”

My heart fucking leaps. Leaps! Not so much for her forgiveness but for her getting me like no one else.

“I love you. More than you’ll ever know. You may need more time, but I want you to know I’m here. Whenever you’re ready. I’m willing to go the distance for us. It doesn’t matter what our future holds if you’re in it. If that’s me struggling in PT school with you making incredible art by my side, then sign me up. I’m ready. I want this. I want you.”

Tears prick her eyes. “I love you too, Ryan. So damn much.”

Her words knock the breath out of me but also fill me with hope.

“Let’s go somewhere away from here,” she says.

“As lovely as that sounds, I can’t right now, Toots. I came to talk to your parents.”

“My parents?” She pulls back, biting her lip. She glances behind her and back to me. “You don’t have to do that.”

“But I do.”

“Why?

“Because I love you, Madison Grace Grimes. For us to move forward, I need to talk with your dad. It’s long overdue.”

She puffs out a breath. “Just to warn you. I didn’t leave them on good terms.”

My mouth twitched. “One more kiss for good luck then?”

Her smile is breathtaking. “Only if you promise to take me to Malibu.”

“My dirty good girl.”

Then our lips meet, and everything feels right. One hand wraps around the base of her head while the other slides down the length of her body. Her leg wraps around mine as my hand inches lower. I’m about to squeeze when a throat clearing breaks us apart.

Shit!

Accosting his daughter isn’t how I wanted to approach the man who controls my family’s future.

“What the hell is going on?” The vein in the side of Mr. Grimes’ head throbs as he turns a menacing glare to Maddy. “Madison?”

She returns the same scowl, and I sense that something terrible had gone down before my arrival.

“Sorry, sir. I am actually here for you.”

“Really?” He turns toward me. “I’d have never known.”

Smooth, Sorenson. Real smooth.

I open my mouth to speak, but Mrs. Grimes steps into view. “What’s going on?”

I clear my throat and step forward before Maddy can respond. “Mr. and Mrs. Grimes, I apologize for the intrusion, but I wanted to speak with you both.”

Mrs. Grimes arches a perfectly manicured eyebrow, her gaze sharp as a skateblade. “And you couldn’t have called ahead, Mr. Sorenson?”

I meet her stare head-on, refusing to be intimidated. “Some things are better said in person, ma’am.”

Maddy steps beside me, and that subtle support is all the encouragement I need.

“I know you don’t approve of my relationship with your daughter,” I begin, my voice steady despite the nerves buzzing through my veins. “But I’m here to tell you that I love Maddy and won’t let anyone stand in the way of that love. Not even you.”

Mr. Grimes scoffs, his eyes narrowing. “You think you can just waltz in here and make demands, boy? You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”

I take a step closer, my gaze locked on his. “With all due respect, sir, I know exactly who I’m dealing with. I’m dealing with two parents who want the best for their daughter, just like I do.”

There’s a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but I press on. “I may not come from wealth or power, but I can promise you this: I will love and cherish Maddy with every fiber of my being. And I believe in her and her dreams. I’ll be there for her, no matter our challenges.”

Mrs. Grimes studies me, her expression unreadable. “And what about your own dreams, Mr. Sorenson? How can we trust that you won’t sacrifice our daughter for your hockey career?”

I meet her gaze unflinchingly. “Because Maddy is my dream, ma’am. She’s the reason I push myself on the ice and strive to be a better man. My love for her only makes me stronger, both as a player and as a person.”

Where did that come from? I’m not even going into hockey. But as the words settle, I realize there is truth behind them. Whether it’s prepping for a physical therapy program or hockey, Maddy makes me better.

Maddy’s hand slips into mine, our fingers intertwining in a silent show of unity. “I know our relationship may seem unconventional to you, but it’s real. It’s the most real thing I’ve ever known.”

Mr. Grimes regards me for a long moment, the tension thick enough to cut. And then, slowly, he nods.

“You’ve got guts, kid. I’ll give you that.”

Hope surges through me, but I keep my expression neutral. “Thank you, sir.”

He sighs. “I can’t say I’m thrilled about this, but I can see that you truly care for my daughter. And that’s all a father can ask for.”

Maddy squeezes my hand, her smile brighter than the Cessna University scoreboard after a game-winning goal. “Thank you, Dad. Thank you both for understanding.”

Mr. Grimes grunts, butthere’s a glimmer of respect in his eyes. “I only want what’s best for you, Maddy,” he says, his voice gruff. “Just remember, Sorenson: you hurt her, and you’ll have to answer to me.”

I nod and meet his gaze straight on. “Understood, sir.”

Mrs. Grimes steps towards us, extending a hand. I take it, feeling the ice-cold touch of her diamond-studded rings against my knuckles. “Take care of our daughter.” Her words are a warning wrapped in velvet, but I don’t waver.

“I promise.” I keep my expression neutral and hope like hell she can see the truth in that statement.

“Alright, then,” Mr. Grimes says after an awkward silence that lingers for a moment too long. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have some things to discuss.”

Maddy and I head toward my car. When we’re out of earshot, I lean over and ask, “Malibu?”

Maddy beams up at me, and her smile slowly spreads. “Malibu,” she confirms.

But as much as I can’t wait to have her beneath me, I’m just glad to have her back with me. She means everything to me.

“You know. When we have kids, all they’re going to know is love. None of this pretentious bullshit.”

Her eyes gleam as she looks up at me. “Our kids?”

“Yep. And we’re having a boatload.”

She pats my chest. “Let’s get through college first and revisit that topic later.”

I laugh. “Sounds perfect.”