Page 56

“Let’s move on.” Kyle’s fake-ass voice has enough saccharine to rot teeth. “Shall we, gentleman?”
Robert, the team owner, and Colby, Jackson’s agent, glance at me with raised brows, seeking my response.
“Hold up. I know where he is.” I’m already calling Aurora, my hands trembling with fury.
“Ethan!” she answers excitedly, her beautiful face appearing on the screen.
Damn it, I hit our last call, not realizing it was a FaceTime.
“I need to talk to Jackson. It’s important.”
She peers up and off to the side. “It’s your boyfriend.”
The heat of embarrassment radiates from my cheeks, but my lips don’t get the memo and smirk at the brat.
My captain’s shit-eating grin fills the screen. “That was quick. Miss me already?”
“I’m in the meeting we talked about…” I fix him with a pointed stare that sobers him.
“Sorry,” he mouths.
“Do me a favor: look at the people in attendance and tell me if someone doesn’t belong.”
“Okay…” he drags out, his brows furrowed.
I turn the camera and scan the room.
When I land on his father, he shakes his head. “Hell no.”
For all to hear, I clarify, “You don’t require or want Kyle at this hearing, correct?”
Jax gives a curt nod. “Correct.”
“Are you in agreement with the plan we discussed earlier?”
“Yes.” Agitated, he pulls at his hair. “You have the power of attorney?”
That sets Kyle off. “Clearly, you can see there’s more going on here.”
He thrusts a hand in my direction, and I end the call. I don’t need Jax’s temper disrupting this appeal, and I don’t want him to be affected by his father’s manipulation tactics.
“No further argument.” The president raises his hand. “We’re all adults here. Please leave. I’d like to get started. My plate is full.”
Kyle shoots me a scathing look and storms out the door, slamming it behind him.
“I’ve always hated that creep,” Coby mumbles.
The hearing goes well. Jackson’s twenty-game suspension is reduced to nine, with the agreement I’m his sponsor until the end of the season. When he returns, he’s to live with me, travel with me, and see a therapist. If he tests positive again, he’ll receive a mandatory one-year suspension.
Now, I only have to convince our girl to come home…and stay home.
Walking out to my car, I’m flooded with relief, and my thoughts turn to my next pressing issue: preparing for our little guy.
I’m nervous about our upcoming doctor visit in a few days. Aurora is nineteen or twenty weeks along now and still sick, and I haven’t been to a single appointment with her.
I can’t believe we’re havingababy. It blows my mind. I’m not at all ready. I won’t even have an extra bedroom after Jax moves in.
Fuck, this is about to get weird. I can’t imagine sleeping with Aurora while Jackson is in the other room. Or the opposite—Jackson with Aurora. Jesus, that’s fucked up.