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Technically, Gracen is neither of those things

But still, I bet Lilly would feel more comfortable if her mom was there

So I s both Lilly and Gracen"

And I tell myself that I want to have Gracen co to do with the fact that I' to spend more time with Gracen

Chapter 16

Gracen

Coach Pretore's house is massive, and the minute my foot hits the top step of his porch, I can hear the sounds of laughter andready to officially enter Marek's professional world I'ht co party earlier in the week "I want to bring Lilly so everyone can ured she'd feelThere will be other kids there, but--"

"Okay," I said softly as I folded a pile of clean laundry I had dumped on the kitchen table

Marek blinked once as he realized I'd accepted the invitation, then his gaze dropped to the laundry "You're folding my clothes"

"I washed them first Don't worry," I replied cheekily

"You don't have to do my laundry," he said somewhat flatly

I shrugged "Had nothing better to do, and you're letting me stay here rent and expense free"

"Gracen, you don't have--" he'd started to say, but I cut him off quickly

"What kind of party is this we're going to?" I said, and Marek was sufficiently distracted

It's apparently a hell of a big party, if the long line of cars down the streets of the neighborhood are any indication Marek said Coach Pretore likes to get all the players, coaches, training staff, and executive ether at the beginning of the season to bolster caame is in two days

Marek doesn't even hesitate Just pushes the front door open and steps inside I tighten my hand on Lilly's and we follow him in She was overly excited to come when she realized there'd be other kids here

I'm im around and the volume of the conversation I take in all the faces, and le soul here other than Marek, who I' to dump me within a matter of minutes

Marek, however, takes just a few steps to the left to enter what looks like a for there with a few people congregated around the a tiny baby, and everyone is cooing and s aht behind her

I walk a few paces behind Marek as he steps right up to the couple, actually shouldering another guy out of the way that I actually recognize

Max Fournier, the star goalie of the Cold Fury I never stopped following hockey after Marek and I broke up I love the sport, and of course I followed his career, particularly the last two years, since they won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships Max is one of the stars of the teanizable, so of course I knoho he is

Leaning over the baby, Marek strokes its chest with the tip of his finger before looking up to the rins and says, "Thank God he looks like Kate"

The oes back to the baby and a dopey, sweet, in-love smile takes over his face Clearly he's the father

Marek turns to me and to my surprise, holds his hand out to Lilly and me

Well, to Lilly Not to me

I ive her a tiny push toward Marek He takes her hand and pulls her up to the group

"This is Lilly," Marek says with so much pride in his voice that I'hter and ashamed this is his first experience with such an emotion

Everyone war smiles on their faces Marek told me that he told the tea camp The woman with the baby squats down and looks at Lilly "This is Caleb He was born just last month"

Lilly's eyes go round as she peers at the baby She then turns to me and says, "Look, Mommya baby So cute"

What follows feels like slow ht on roup now turns to stare at me

My eyes cut to Marek and he flushes with guilt To his credit, he sort of jumps at me and pulls me closer by my elbow "ShitI'm sorry Everyone, this is Gracen Lilly's mom"

To his further credit, he truly sounds sorry he forgot to introduce me, so I let it roll off my back I smile around at everyone as Marek tells me each person's name one by one