Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
The hardest part of the conversation was reminding them that Crystal still loves them tremendously. My inner asshole doubts it because I’m angry she can’t get clean, but the smart part of me that listened to the therapist knows Crystal is ill, and despite her inability to beat the addiction, I know she loves her kids.
I reassured them that I love them and that I will always be there for them.
And… that was that. Kids are fucking resilient, much more so than adults. They asked questions, but then they wanted to eat candy and watch Toy Story.
Jake asked where Brienne had gone, and I lied to him because I couldn’t admit I was an asshole. “She had to go take care of something at her house.”
“Will she come back?” he asked.
“Not tonight.” Then I distracted them with their trick-or-treat bounty.
Once the movie was rolling, I went into the kitchen to grab a beer—and Kiera accosted me. “You need to fix this with Brienne.”
I wasn’t ready to hear that. I shook my head. “Tonight with Crystal proved that I need to concentrate on my kids. I can’t let anyone else get close who could hurt them.”
“Brienne would never hurt them,” she snapped.
Snark was my friend that night. “Yeah… I didn’t think Crystal would hurt her kids, but here we are.”
“I don’t think you’re worried about the boys getting hurt.” I glared at her, fury raging that she’d suggest I didn’t have my kids’ best interests at heart. “You’re more worried about yourself getting hurt.”
That shut me right up because while I couldn’t even think about admitting it, deep down, I knew she was right.
Sitting up in my chair, I look between the two men, my gaze settling on Baden. “My lack of fucks to give about how I’m playing has nothing to do with Crystal. That shit’s been handled.”
“Then what the hell is wrong with you?” He throws his hands wide in confusion.
I rise from my chair. “I made a mistake coming back into the league. You should put Kace in goal.”
I turn for the door, but Baden storms out from behind his desk and steps into my path. “Don’t you even think about walking out that door. I’m your friend first and foremost, and I deserve to know what is going on.”
That punch lands, because Baden is my friend before he’s my coach. We played together for the Wolves, and when they cut me loose, he was there to support me. He’s the one who got me this opportunity to come back.
I rub my hands over my face and growl. When they fall away, I look at Gage, at a loss as to where to begin. He knows I’ve been seeing Brienne, but I never told Baden. Gage merely shrugs.
“Wait a minute,” Baden says, looking between me and Gage, brows knit. “Do you know what’s going on?”
“Yeah,” Gage admits, and his tone is so heavy and ominous, my gut cramps.
My head whips his way. “Jenna knows something. What did she tell you?”
“What the hell is this?” Baden demands.
I spare a short glance at my friend. “I’ve been seeing Brienne.”
“Whoa… what the ever-loving fuck,” Baden says, stumbling back until his butt comes up against his desk. He sets his palms down and looks at me in horror.
“It started out as a fling… a hookup.”
“You hooked up with the Titans’ owner? I thought you two hated each other.”
“Far from it,” I mutter. “It was just sex at first, but then it turned into something more. We kept it secret as I didn’t want to deal with the bullshit press. Not on the heels of everything that happened last year. We were trying to figure things out.”
“I don’t even know what to say,” Baden murmurs in confusion. “I’ve never heard of this happening before. I mean… can you even do that?”
I shrug. “There aren’t any written rules against it, but we know it’ll be about perception. Brienne didn’t care if she took any heat. She was confident it would be minimal since my contract is set, and she’s not the one who makes those decisions, anyway. But again, she didn’t want the press coming after me.”
Baden nods. “So I’m going out on a limb here, but you guys broke up? That’s what’s causing your shit attitude and even shittier play?”
“I broke up with her.” I explain how it all went down the night Crystal appeared. “I handled it badly, and I’m pissed at myself. I took my anger out on Brienne, and she didn’t deserve it. I told her to leave and that we were over, but that was impulsiveness driven by my rage for Crystal.”
“So, apologize to her,” Baden says, as if that’s the miracle cure for my ailment.
“I’ve tried. I texted her the next day, and every day after, asking her to talk to me. I’ve called, and it goes to voicemail.”