Puck (Kickstarting My Heart #3) (COMPLETED)

Epilogue

"Chase?" I threw my head back, my arms still wrapped tightly around my son as I took in the man in front of me.

He looked a lot older than the last time I'd seen him the summer after leaving with Jordan to Spain. A once clean shaven face was now darkened by five o' clock shadow that looked as if it couldn't decide whether it wanted to fully form a beard or not. His blonde locks, which had been about ear length then, had been cut so short it was hardly visible under his black hoodie. Striking blue eyes that had once stared into mine, tortured and agonized, were bright and glistening.

"Oh my God, look at you!" I exclaimed, pushing myself to my feet, pulling Mateo up with me so he wouldn't run off again. "You look great."

But his eyes were no longer on me, but the kid in my arms. They didn't really hold any emotion, which was unusual as he'd always been a pretty open book, at least when I'd known him.

"I didn't know you had a kid." He eventually muttered softly.

My heart sunk seeing the little emotion that entered his eyes.

I had tried to keep visiting him when I could, but after we'd gotten back from Spain, the apartment outside the college Jordan, Chelsea, and I had agreed to attend together was a good two hours away from his institution. I'd tried to visit at least twice a month, but as soon as I got pregnant with Mateo Sophomore year of college I'd stopped showing, but started writing to him instead. I had tried to explain life was chaotic and finals were coming up and everything, but eventually even that stopped because of the pregnancy and the fear of how he'd react if he'd found out.

Not long after Mateo was born, I even started pushing away from Jordan. I loved him, I still do, but I couldn't find it in me to stay in the relationship when all we would do is go back and forth in arguments that never really went anywhere. I eventually told him to find someone else, that he should have in high school instead of giving up his life and time trying to start something with me. Him being him, he'd only reassured me he loved me and our son and didn't regret any of it, but had agreed it'd be best if we both moved on.

I'd tried to find some sort of record of Chase at the institute later my Sophomore year but he'd been released and had started traveling so he didn't have to come back here. So he didn't have to be anywhere near his father.

"Hi!" Mateo waved excitedly at Chase. "I Mateo."

A hint of a smile inched it's way across Chase's face. "Hey, little man, I'm Chase."

Mateo clapped, pointing at Chase, then looking at me. "That's him, Mama! He's the superhero you told me about!"

Chase looked from my son to me, confused. "What?"

"Mama said she knew a superhero, and dat he loved her, but he was sick so he had to go away for a long time to get bedder." I felt warmth spread through my cheeks once Chase started laughing.

"Holy shit! Chase, man, is that you?" Vic appeared, saving me from embarrassment as always.

"Language, Vic." I snapped. He mocked me as he had when he was a child and approached Chase, doing the weird man hug thing that all guys seemed to do.

"You should come back to the house with us so we can all catch up." Vic offered. "I mean, if V's okay with that."

Both men and my son looked to me. I smiled, nodding.

"That sounds like a great idea."

**

Once I'd gotten Mateo down for the night, I joined my parents, Vic, and Chase in the living room, all in the midst of a conversation. As if it were there cue to go to bed when I walked in, my parents hugged Chase, then my brother and me, and went to their room.