My right shoulder is all but covered with huge bruises and my arms aren't still fully healed, but I'll live.

I decided to visit the Lee's and to see baby Andrea. I only get the chance to see her a few times because I immediately moved out a week after Tori gave birth, because I gave Jade some time. I don't want her to feel shitty everytime she goes to visit Tori thinking that she'll see me. So I moved out.

Anders greeted me at the door holding a baby bottle on his right hand and a bibs hanging on his shoulder.

"Fatherhood totally changed you man!" I commented trying to hide a smirk.

"Shut the fuck up!" Anders said slapping my injured shoulder which made me flinch. He snickered. "You'll live."

"So you're on Daddy duty?" I commented following him to the living room which is now turning to be a nursery room based on the cribs next to the L-shaped sofa we used to play boardgames and pokers.

He nodded.

"Why where's Tori?"

"She went out with Jade."

By the mention of Jade's name I couldn't help my heart from skipping. I miss her so much. Fuck! I'm even surprised at the moment that I was able to survive this long without her. "Tori's been busy preparing for Andy's christening next week."

"Next week? Already?"

"Yup." Anders replied as he gathered some baby stuff out in the sofa. I on the other hand went into the baby's crib and stares at my friend's child. "Supposedly, during the off-season but since we are already cut out for the championships so she immediately decided that we'll do it next week. Besides, I'm planning to take my family on a trip in Florida in the next few weeks or so."

Honestly, the lose was so disappointing. It's been like this all the time, getting so close at winning but still ended up losing.

Andrea is calmly sleeping on her crib as I stare on her rubbing her chin slowly using my index finger. I let Anders shuffle around the house, few moments passed he finally settles on the couch across from me staring on his daughter too.

"What makes you come here by the way?" Anders started.

I sighed bracing myself. The reason why I went here is to ask for Tori's help in convincing Jade to take me back or maybe ask for an advise.

"Let it all out, is this about Jade?" Anders asked like he just read my mind.

"Yeah." I replied weakly.

"She's still not talking to you?"

"She's not returning any of my texts and calls. But we talked after our game actually, I saw her on the parking lot." I told him.

"How did it go?"

"Not good, but not bad either." I answered. "We talk for like ten seconds and hugged the whole time right before I took off. After that, in all seriousness I think she still feels the same way I do."

It's weird that I opened this up to Anders, I've never been on this kind of conversation talking about my love life but I'm desperate as fuck!

"Well make things right with her, take it slow." Anders started giving his advise. "If she still won't take you back then give her more time, make her as a friend as of yet. Slowly, go from there. Be the man who's always there for her."

Yeah, building her trust again.

It'll take some time that's for sure but I don't care, as long as I am with her. I have never fallen this hard because of a girl before and I am not stupid enough to let it go when I have a huge feeling that we can still work this out. That she still wants me, I can really feel it. The only thing that hinders maybe, is her trust. I need to prove to her that she can trust me, again.

"Shit!" Anders hissed which brought me back to my senses only to realize that the baby just woken up.

"Hey don't swear in front of the baby!" I scolded him.

"Sorry." Anders said chuckling. "I just hate it when the baby is awake and Tori isn't around because that means I have to carry the baby myself. I'm kind of afraid that I'll crash her and broke her delicate bones."

"What?" I muttered chuckling by how crazy his paranoia was. "Dude you have to practice carrying your own child!"

"I am!" He barked back. "But not like this."

"What do you mean not like this?"

"Not when she's from the crib and I have to lift her up!" Anders reasoned out which makes me so amused that on the ice you can really see him as a serious responsible captain that definitely knows what the hell he is doing, but in front of his baby? He looks absolutely clueless. "My baby is still three weeks old man! I can't."

"You have to try." I said.

"I will, but only when Tori's around." He said just in time the door opens.

"We're home!" Tori shouted which made us dart our eyes to the door. "How was our baby darling?"

"She just woke up." Anders said walking towards his wife. Tori was surprised when she spotted me on the living room.

"Hey Tori!" I greeted her.

"You're here." Tori said

"Why do you look so surprised?" I asked her but she didn't answered. Instead, Anders and her just exchanged looks.

"A little help is appreciated here please!" Someone shouted at the door and I totally recognize that voice.

"Is that Jade?" I ask the couple right away and I only see a nod from Tori. So I found myself standing up heading to the door.

Anders was about to do the same but I stopped him right away. "Leave it to me."

I went to the door seeing Jade hauling different huge shopping bags.

"Tori, it doesn't mean that I am the aunt you'll leave all the lifting on me. And will you please call your husband? I don't like this at all."

It's totally nice to see her again, and I couldn't help but smirk seeing the way she struggles lifting heavy bags. She hasn't noticed me yet.

She's still ranting when I finally cut her off. "Here let me help you."

She stopped on her tracks then looked up, she was in complete surprise when she saw me.

"What are you doing here?" She asked in a surprise, kind of neutral voice.

"To see baby Andy." I said and took the bags out of her grip, it was indeed heavy.

I let her enter the house first carrying few other bags and follow her inside. She put all the bags in the living room and head straight to Andy's crib and said her hello using a pitchy voice.

Tori and Anders looked at me smirking as I stood on the corner looking at Jade busying herself talking to baby Andy.

"Anders, let's go make some snacks." Tori announced heading to the kitchen the two of them winked on me, well then I guess these two are setting us up. "Jade, aunt duties-- yeah?"

"Go nuts." She replied.

When the couple left us, I instantly made my way towards her sitting just across the crib admiring the baby and admiring her too. We both stared on Andy who's now gripping our index fingers with her hands.

"She's beautiful." She broke the silence which made me felt a bit relaxed.

"Yeah, just like her aunt." I replied and looked at Jade. She did the same, but she didn't smiled or anything.

She looked away and stared back at Andy again and I just stared on her. I admire her face more than what I did before. I miss kissing those rosy lips, I miss staring right through her ebony eyes, brushing her hair when shes lying on my chest. I miss us, I miss all the small things that makes my heartbeat fast.

"Stop that." She said without looking at me.

"Stop what?"

"Stop staring at me."

"I'm sorry, I just missed you so much." I said in all honesty. I only heard her sigh. "Jade, I want you back."

"Mat--"

"We'll take it slow." I cut her. "I don't care how long will I wait for you to take me back but I'm willing to do it."

She just stared at me.

"I want to take you out on a date."

Another long stare.

“I mean it,” I insist. “Will you go on a date with me?”

Jade is quiet for a moment right before she replies.

“No.”

As disappointment clenches in my stomach, she grabbed her phone and stood up.

“I have to go. I'm picking my mom at the bus station.” She announced and walked to the kitchen. I instantly followed her.

"Tori!" She shouted on the way there. "Hey I have to go, mom is arriving in any minute now."

"Okay, you can use my car." Tori said.

"It's fine. I'll just go get a cab."

"I can drive you." I immediately offered.

"Yeah, Mat you should drive her." Anders agreed.

"No thanks, I can make it there all by myself." Jade said

"Come on Jade, let Mat drive you." Tori added. "It's just a ride."

And with that Jade didn't complained any further.

"Fine!" She said and walked out. Right before I follow her I said my thank you to the couple and took off.

All throughout the car ride, we were just silent. Not until another wave of desperation hits me that I decided to break the silence.

“One date,” I urge softly. “Please, Jade. Give me a chance to show you I’m not a total dick.”

She gazes at me, incredulous. “You cheated on me.”

"I know." I said which made her look at me in disbelief.

"So you finally admit that you totally cheated on me."

"I already told you what exactly happened that night Jade. And if you think I cheated on you then, okay! I'm fine with th--"

"After you fessed that up, do you think I still would want to go out with you?" Her cheeks turned out bright red.

I was silent too. Of course she's not going to give me another shot. What was I thinking?

"What about everything before that?” I said.

"What?"

"Before that night." I lower my voice. "All the amazing memories we shared together. I know you loved me then."

Jade releases a tired-sounding breath. “Yeah. I did.”

“So let’s just focus on that,” I say roughly. “On the good parts. I know I fucked up, but I promise I’ll make it up to you. I don’t want anyone else. All I want is another chance."

I parked my car when we finally reach the station. Damn! The bus station is quite far from the Lee's but it feels like only few seconds to get here.

"I still love you Jade. Damn it! Those weeks without you was torture.” I said turning towards her.

She sighed again looking straight to my soul. "I need more time Mat."

"Take it! Take all your time baby. I'm willing to wait. I love you." I said in complete desperation as I reach to cup her cheeks.

Tears starts to form on her eyes but she just blinked it all away as she eases my hands away. She stares on her hands right before responding to me.

"Look, if you want me to forgive you, then okay, you’ve got it. But I don’t want to go out with you, yet."

Yet.

I'm absolutely fine with that.