Page 106 of Wyatt

Sarai turned to Mikka and spoke in Russian.

Coco was nodding, her face pinched. She reached out for Mikka and pulled him back into her arms.

And in his gut, Wyatt knew it was bad.

Are you ready for that?

No. Yes. Oh, he didn’t know what he wanted.

He loved Coco. And he loved Mikka, too, but…but the life he’d dreamed for them hadn’t included an instant family.

Hockey is all I have. It’s my whole world.

His instincts just took over, and he found himself moving into game mode, not thinking, not feeling, just…

“I gotta go to practice,” he said and turned. His legs obeyed, and like the coward he was, he fled the hospital and the life that certainly couldn’t belong to him.

Wyatt was leaving?

Leaving?

Coco turned, but he was gone before she could call after him.

Which shewouldn’tdo, thank you.

The silence in the room rose up to choke her as Wyatt’s steps disappeared down the hall. Because oh, she’d been right. Frustratingly, painfully, regretfully right.

For all Wyatt’s honorable, romantic words, hedidn’thave room for Mikka—or her—in his life. And as soon as hisreallife rose up to remind him of everything he would be sacrificing, he ran.

She half expected him to smile big, maybe offer to sign autographs.Yes. I’m Wyatt Marshall. Goalie for the Blue Ox.

Oh, shoot, she shouldn’t blame him. Wyatt had lived for hockey since long before she met him.

Her mistake had been falling for a man whose heart was already taken.

Now she’d just have to figure out a way to protect Mikka too.

Sarai had briefly stopped talking when Wyatt left.

“Um, I have to, uh…” RJ got up and left the room. Probably to run after her stupid brother.

Of course, York went afterher.

Which just left her with Gerri Marshall, who had stepped back, watching, a wrinkle across her brow.

Coco hadn’t a clue what to say to her.

Meet your grandson?

No. Not now. That would be a longer conversation that by rights she should have with Wyatt, the coward, by her side.

Besides, Mikka was clinging to her, small and afraid in her arms. She climbed on the bed with him and pulled him into her lap.

“Mamichka. What took you so long?”

“I got here as soon as I could, little man.”

“Should I wait until Wyatt comes back?” Sarai asked, still in Russian. “I shouldn’t have spoken Russian—”