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“That’s not very nice of your dad, Callie.” Ami sighs. “Why would he do that?”
“He’s a dick. You can say it.”
She won’t. Probably never will. “All right, enough hockey.” Her eyes light up as she sets down her food. “Let’s talk baby showers.”
And so we do. But just like Leo, my mind isn’t on the baby tonight. I’m worried about the direction our relationship is heading, and I desperately want Leo to be okay with everything.
I didn’t need him in the beginning, but the more I get used to the idea of being with him and raising a kid with him, the more I want him in my life. I’d also like to hear the words I love you, but I’ll take it one step at a time.
CHAPTER21
DELAY OF GAME
LEO
Deliberately causing a stoppage of play; player is penalized with a minor penalty.
Late August
I want to tell myself,pull your head out of your ass. I’m gonna be a dad next month, and it feels like the last five months have passed in a blur.
My life’s like a hockey game at the moment. I’m pushing the puck up the ice, scrambling toward a goal, only I’m not sure I can make the shot. About a dozen other players—my own demons—are battling with me, each one going for the same objective. Wanting to snag the puck away. It’s an ongoing battle for three periods, never able to let my guard down, never able to just sit back and watch.
You want to know what’s really eating at me? Walker. Do you remember him?
Yeah, well, if you don’t, I do, and now that he’s going to be playing with us this season, all I can think about is him fucking my girl. Okay, he won’t be, but he has in the past, and that doesn’t sit well with me. Probably because every chance he gets, he reminds me that they used to have a thing.
Mase sits next to me. “What’s up? Why are you acting like a bitch today?”
I stare at my phone. I don’t even look at him when I ask, “Would you be mad if I slept with Ami?”
“What?” He chokes on his beer and then raises the back of his hand to his mouth. “What the fuck kind of question is that?” He turns toward me, chest puffed out, ready to knock me out if I said I did.
“Oh, calm down. Not like that.” I groan, blowing off his unnecessary rage. His posture relaxes. “What I mean is, say Ami slept with all our friends…and me… before you dated her.”
“Oh.” He nods, smirking as he sets his beer on the coaster in front of him. “I see what this is about. You’re upset about Callie fuckin’ all of us. Why are you letting this shit bother you now? She’s getting ready to have your kid. Not mine, not Remy’s…yours.”
He has a point. A good one. I’m just not sure I’m ready to see it yet. “I never thought I would be, but now… it’s just different.”
“Well, it has to be different. She’s having your baby.” Our eyes meet. “You just gotta realize that she’s not like that anymore. I haven’t seen Callie like that since Dave. I think in a lot of ways, it woke her up to the reality of what she was doing.”
I’ve had one-night stands and messed around with hundreds of women. I know what nights like that are like, and the thought of them doing that with Callie—a girl I’m in love with—well, it doesn’t sit well. I’ve never experienced jealousy quite like this. The thoughts are nauseating.
Remy calls Mase over to the pool table. “I’ll be right back,” he says, taking a quick drink of his beer. “Don’t jump off the ledge just yet.”
“I won’t.” I pick up a coaster and throw it at his face. “I’m afraid of heights.”
And then, as my shitty luck would have it, Walker comes into the bar.
Newly traded to our team and a center himself, we haven’t had any friendly words for one another.
“Man, it’s good to be back in town,” he says, winking at me and then Mase. Then he sits down at our table like the motherfucker was invited.
“Bitch, get up.” I wave him away. “Nobody said you can sit here,” I snap, glaring at him.
I know, rude, right?
Oh, just wait.