After playing a great game the evening after he’d kissed Emily, and in Vancouver, Patrice couldn’t wait to pick her and Lucas up at the kindergarten. He’d missed them. He’d talked to Dennis, and some of the other guys who were Dad’s while they were in Vancouver. He’d had to break the news to the rest of the team before the interview with Miss Switaj. They’d been shocked, obviously, but happy for him. He was one of the guys who was a real family-man, and ever since Stephanie had left him, they’d been a bit worried about him. It was a good thing that his games had been marvelous as well. The only downside was the cut along his left eyebrow, but it would heal, and only leave a thin scar.
Patrice pulled up in front of the kindergarten and got out of the car. He wasn’t sure whether to go inside or not. They hadn’t talked about this, so he stood outside and waited. If they didn’t come out in the next fifteen minutes, he’d go inside and check.
Just when he was about to enter the building, little Lucas came flying out the building, directly towards him. He was about to hug Patrice, but stopped short, not sure if it was appropriate or not. But he wanted to hug him so badly, now that he knew, that Patrice was his Dad.
Sensing that, Patrice squatted down and spread his arms wide. Seeing the grin on his son’s face made his heart skip a beat. When Luke threw himself into Patrice’s arms, he was completely gone. There was absolutely no question about whether he would love him and spend time with him or not. It was his obligation as a father, yes, but he wanted to do it, more than he’d wanted to do anything lately.
“How was your day, big guy?” Patrice asked him, picked him up from the ground and straightened, so that he could look at Emily as she approached him.
Lucas immediately put his fingers to the stitches on Patrice’s eyebrow, his eyes glazing over with wonder. “Did that hurt?” he asked in a hushed voice.
“A little. I’ve had worse.” He grinned at the little man on his arm, but drew his attention away to say hello to Emily. “I was a bit early, so I waited out here. I hope that is okay.”
“It’s perfectly fine. You could have come in as well.” Emily said with a tense smile, adjusting her purse in her shoulder.
“I’ll remember that.” Something was wrong, but Patrice couldn’t tell what it was. Maybe he’d get a chance to talk to her later that day.
He put them both in his car and drove them home. Once in the house, Patrice had just enough time to take off his shoes and his coat, before he was taken by the hand and led up to Luke’s room. He showed him everything. All of his toys, his hockey gear, the photos he’d put up. He was talking a mile a minute, and Patrice couldn’t really do anything but smile. Lucas was such an energetic, little boy, it was refreshing.
Patrice listened to everything he had to say, while he was sitting on the floor. His room was very clean. All the toys he’d shown Patrice had been brought back to their place immediately. Emily had taught him to do that, because it took one thing she had to do every day off her plate.
Then it was Patrice’s turn to tell him about the past couple of days. Two games had been played, and Lucas was very interested in the story behind the stitches. It wasn’t anything spectacular, just a bad check into the boards. He couldn’t even really recall how it had happened.
“What is your favorite position in hockey?” Patrice asked his son with a grin. Son. It was still strange to think of him at that, but looking at Lucas made it easier from minute to minute. There was no mistaking him for anyone else’s son.
“Center!”
“Good boy.” Patrice ruffled his hair, letting out a laugh. It was then that Emily called them down for dinner. Lucas jumped up immediately and ran down the stairs.
“You didn’t need to cook for me, Em.” Patrice looked over the table, his stomach giving an appreciative growl. The last couple of days he’d eaten at restaurants and stuff, so home cooked food was highly appreciated.
“I don’t mind. And Lucas would like you to stay.”
They sat down together at the table, and started eating. Lucas was talking to both of them again, or rather to Patrice, since he was talking about his day at kindergarten. Emily was right there to witness everything. She kept quiet during dinner, because she was tired, exhausted. She’d hardly slept the last three nights, so she needed a quiet night.
Patrice offered to take Lucas to bed after dinner, and Emily accepted. He’d have to tell Lucas a story before he’d fall asleep, so she could use that time differently. When Patrice was upstairs, she put everything in the dishwasher, wiped down the surfaces, and sat down in her favorite armchair in the living room with a cup of steaming tea in front of her.
She didn’t know how much time passed until Patrice entered the living room again. He stopped next to the armchair, waiting for her to face him. When she did, she wanted to stand up, but Patrice put a hand on her shoulder to keep her seated. He slowly sat down in the other armchair. Yes, he’d wanted to leave immediately, but how could he when there was obviously something on Emily’s mind?
“What’s going on, Em?” he asked eventually, not sure whether he was in a position to talk to her like that or not.
“I’m just… It’s nothing.” Emily shook her head and looked down at her cup of tea.
“Is it because I kissed you?” When Emily’s head shot up, he knew that he was on to something. “Okay. I won’t apologize for kissing you, just so we’re clear. I can’t help being attracted to you and I wanted to have a taste of you. I probably shouldn’t have done it, but it’s been a time since I last kissed a woman. And I know for a fact that you’re good at that, that we’re good together, so I couldn’t resist.”
“I don’t want you to apologize. That kiss was… I haven’t felt like this in ages.” Emily sighed, lowering her eyes again. “And that’s the problem. This should be about Lucas and here I go fantasizing about and what we could have done after that kiss.”
“You fantasized about me?” His lips curled up at that.
“That’s not the point.” She threw a pillow after him, a little smile playing on her lips. “I can’t think about myself. I need to put Lucas first.”
“I understand that you have to put Lucas first,“ Patrice said, standing up and walking over to her. He leaned down and whispered in her ear: “But it won’t help anybody if you forget your own needs and wished completely.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek and started getting dressed again. Emily was watching him from her seat. “Have a good night.” He winked at her and left the room.
Even when he was gone, Emily kept staring at the door until her tea was cold. Maybe he had a point. Oh, for crying out loud, he definitely had a point, but Emily needed to accept that and remember it.

Notes

Sorry for keeping you waiting so long :/