Page 37

CHAPTER

THIRTY-SIX

FORD

After getting the coffee going, I run back upstairs to grab my tennis shoes. I’m off today, but I’ll still workout on my own in my garage gym. Entering my bedroom, I walk straight to the closet for my shoes and socks, but when I hear Amber’s phone go off—pinging not once, but five times—I turn and walk toward her phone instead.

What if it’s her doctor? I decide to peek so I can run her phone across the hall if it’s urgent.

But the name on the screen makes me stop in my tracks, and I nearly drop her phone.

Theo

Did you stalk my mom? How did you know where she would be?

Theo

My life was going great, and now my mom is practically begging me to take you back. She wants to know her grandchild.

Theo

If you had just left me and my family alone, my mother wouldn’t even know about the baby.

Theo

But no. That was too easy for you, wasn’t it?

Theo

My mom wants a relationship with her grandchild. I hope you’re happy now.

She obviously doesn’t have a passcode on her phone because all these texts are up on the lock screen. I know it would bother me—a lot—to have my privacy invaded. So despite wanting to play detective and see if she’s been communicating with her ex before today, I set the phone down and traipse back to my closet. My mind is reeling with possibilities and playing out the ways Amber might react to these texts. I’m moving back and forth between anger at how Theo is speaking to Amber, and frustration that his mom met Nella and Amber never mentioned it to me.

There’s a third feeling coiling around my stomach, too. I can’t quite name what it is, but the gist is this: if Theo changed his mind, and he did want Amber back, if he wanted to build a family with her…I’d have to back down. I’d have to give her up.

I could never tear a family apart, and he’s Nella’s father by blood. They have a genetic bond I will never have with her, even though she already feels like mine. Which is scary after reading those texts.

Also, I remember Amber mentioning that Theo’s family has money—lots of it. How far are they willing to go to be in Nella’s life?

This is all too much. I sit on the edge of the bed and rest my head in my hands, rubbing my temples.

“You’re not a kid anymore. Get it together,” I tell myself, jumping back to my feet and taking a deep breath to calm my racing thoughts.

I need to work out, need the physical activity to settle myself. Quickly, I lace up my tennis shoes and make for the bedroom door. But I pause and walk back to my nightstand. Grabbing my stupid coin, I study it for a moment. It’s worn now, my dad’s college hockey team logo in the center—the Cincinnati Tiger’s—in the center is almost completely rubbed smooth from all the time I spent running my fingers over it as a kid. Now I mostly just like the weight of it in my pocket and knowing it's there. I guess that’s progress, that I don’t need to play with it and hold it anymore? With a groan, I thrust it into the pocket of my workout shorts and head to the garage.

Mom and Farrah are up, sitting at the island in my kitchen and partaking of the fresh coffee, when I walk by.

A terse nod is all I can manage as I pass by them. They stop their conversation and concern etches their expressions. I ignore it, not slowing my stride until I open the door between the garage and my home gym. They probably think I’m angry, but I’m not. A lot of my emotions have been translated as repressed anger over the years, but usually I’m just frustrated and too overwhelmed to talk about whatever is bothering me. Amber was always the person I could confide in, but what happens when my confidant is the reason for my dizzy, swirling brain?

I connect my phone to the speakers in the gym and select a classical music station. Now’s not the time for heavy metal. I want to calm down, not amp up .

A text pops up on my phone, and it’s not from any of them women inside my house, so I open it.

Bruce

Hey, man. You working out today? And can I join you?

I close my eyes and release a sigh. Bruce would be the perfect distraction since he never shuts up.

Ford

Sure, I just got out here, actually. The side door to the garage is unlocked.

Bruce

Great! See you in a few, Cap’n.

He must’ve been near my neighborhood already, because ten minutes later Bruce waltzes into my gym with his signature grin, and his hair cut into a modernized version of a mullet. My eyes widen at the new cut. It’s shorter around the ears than I’m used to seeing on him. Bruce has completed the new look with short black workout shorts that are stretched to the max by his powerful legs, and a D.C. Eagles tee that he’s cut the neck and sleeves out of. I can almost see his nipples since the cutouts are so big. With his goofy personality and Swedish features, he somehow pulls the look look off.

“Nice haircut,” I offer dryly, already feeling calmer with Bruce here to distract my brain.

He winks. “Thanks. I went to your man, Peter. Cool dude.”

The salon . I nearly forgot the call I made on the road last week and make a mental note to follow up on that.

“I thought you never cut your hair because it’s bad luck?” I ask, knowing how superstitious he is. “And we have a home game tomorrow night.”

He shrugs, setting up his weights for chest presses. “You were brave enough to change up the first line, so I figured I could embrace change too. Sometimes change is a good thing, right? Keeps things fresh.”

I grab a fifty-pound plate and slide it onto the bar on the squat rack. “Good point. How do you think the rookie did?”

Bruce shifts his head back and forth. “So-so. But it’s only been a few games. I think he has the instincts but just needs to adapt to working with you guys.”

I nod, agreeing with him. “He’s a powerhouse, even though he’s one of the smaller guys.”

Bruce chuckles, laying on the bench and getting his hands in position on the bar. I don’t spot him since he’s got a doable load on the bar, nothing too crazy. “Right? He’s tiny compared to Mitch the Machine.”

I smile at Mitch’s nickname, given to him because of his defensive skills, and all the fights he used to get in…before therapy taught him how to channel his anger.

Bruce does eight reps of chest presses, groaning as he lifts the bar one last time, then sits up. “How’s married life? Is Amber healing okay?”

Running my tongue along my front teeth, I think on how to answer. An hour ago, I would’ve been shouting from the rooftops about how amazing life is, and I still feel that way. But now there’s this looming dread in my gut. And its name is Theo.

“Married life has been busy,” I answer honestly. I’m not going to wax poetic about how amazing it is because I’m a terrible liar, and our marriage so far has been a wild ride. And I’ve been gone for most of it. However, having Nella and Amber here to come home to was pretty amazing. “It was nice having people to come home to. And Amber is feeling great.”

He quirks a brow at my bare-minimum responses. “All right. Good.”

“How have you been? Still looking for a wife?” I ask, turning the conversation on him instead.

Bruce’s thunderous laugh fills the gym. “I was doing okay until I heard you all went lingerie shopping for your wives and didn’t invite me.”

I busy myself with the squat bar, completing my reps, desperately trying not to blush. “It was West and Colby’s idea,” I mutter.

Bruce gives me a disbelieving stare, one that says, right…I’m sure you hate lingerie.

We finish the rest of our workout in amicable silence, him doing upper body, and me doing lower, so we stayed out of each other’s way.

“You want some coffee before you head out?” I ask once we put the weights away.

“Sure! And I haven’t met your wife yet, so you can introduce us.”

At my nervous expression, he claps my back with his hand. “Dude, don’t worry. I’ll keep the charm at a minimum. I’m not trying to make her fall in love with me.”

I shrug his hand off my back and roll my eyes. I’ll let him think that’s what was worrying me and not the fact that this will be the first time Bruce will see me and Amber together as a married couple—and he might be the most perceptive one in the bunch.

Bruce follows me through the garage and into the kitchen where Farrah is pulling a fresh batch of muffins out of the oven. How early did she wake up this morning? She’s still in her pink plaid pajama shorts and an oversized tee. Farrah’s long, dark hair is tossed up in a messy bun, which seems to be her new thing.

She smiles at me, and her eyes go round and wide when she notices Bruce trailing behind me. Probably because she didn’t realize anyone had joined me for my workout.

Amber comes down the stairs holding Nella and smiles at us. Thankfully, she changed into navy blue leggings and a floral top that flows around her as she walks.

“Do we have company?” she asks, pausing to give Nella a kiss on her head. Nella coos, in a better mood now that she’s been fed.

“Yeah,” I say, my voice coming out breathy from how pretty she looks. Calming down before talking to her about the texts was a good plan. I feel levelheaded now and realize Amber is trustworthy and wouldn’t do anything to put Nella at risk. I have no clue what Theo was talking about, but there has to be a reasonable explanation. “Amber, this is Bruce, our starting goalie.”

She smirks, raising her eyebrows and flicking her eyes to the man behind me. I turn to see what she’s looking at and I find Bruce, in a trance. I follow his line of sight to see he’s either staring at my sister, or the muffins she’s holding.

My sister is flustered, probably because a strange man is staring at her. I wave my hand in front of Bruce’s face, and he shakes his head. “Sorry, what?”

“I was just introducing you to my wife, Amber.”

He finally turns in her direction. His mouth widens in a grin as soon as he sees Nella. “Oh, my, she’s so cute. Can I hold her?”

“I hope you’re talking about the baby.”

He snorts a laugh. “Yes, of course. Although, you’re cute too, Amber.” He winks, and ambles over, holding both hands out to Nella. She kicks her feet and Amber lets him take her out of her hands.

Bruce looks natural with a baby, being an overgrown child himself. I can’t help but smile at the joy on his face as he cradles her, baby-talking and making faces until she smiles up at him.

Amber laughs at his antics. “It’s nice to meet you, Bruce.” Then she turns her attention to me. “Looks like we found a new babysitter.”

“I will absolutely babysit,” he says. Bruce walks with Nella back toward the kitchen—and my sister. “And what’s your name? I’m Bruce. Starting goalie for the D.C. Eagles.”

My sister rolls her lips, trying not to laugh.

“That’s my married sister, Farrah,” I respond for her.

He glances down at her hands, causing me to do the same…and that’s when I notice she’s not wearing her wedding ring. What the hell.

“Farrah,” he says, like he’s testing her name on his tongue.

I glare at him, but he’s not paying attention to me.

My mother chooses that moment to come down the stairs as well. She beams at Bruce and rushes toward him, pulling him and Nella into an embrace. “Bruce!”

“Mrs. Remington, long time no see! How ya doing, babe?”

I groan. “Would you leave my mom and sister alone?”

Mom waves me off. “I see you met my adorable granddaughter.”

My eyes move to Amber, wondering how she feels about my mom referring to Nella as her granddaughter. Her face is soft as she looks at my mom. For the first time since reading those texts earlier, my heart leaps with hope. Surely she wouldn’t want Theo’s mom in Nella’s life when she already has a doting grandmother.

And even if Theo or his mom do want to be in our lives, that’s okay, I tell myself. It’s just more people to love Nella.

Farrah turns off the oven and puts the oven mitts away in the drawer nearest the oven. She dusts the flour from the front of her pajama shorts, then messes with her bun.

I take a step closer to her. Bruce and Mom are distracted, fussing over the baby.

“You okay, Farrah?” I ask, keeping my voice low.

“Of course,” she whispers. “Does your, um, friend, want a banana nut muffin?”

My eyebrows scrunch together, unable to decipher why she’s acting so nervous. “No. He’s not staying,” I answer. Something inside me is telling me I need to get Bruce out of this house and away from my sister as soon as possible.

I clap my hands together. “Well, thanks for coming over to workout Bruce. I’ll see you at practice in the morning.”

He looks up at me, his bottom lip sticking out. “But I’m not done holding the baby. And I haven’t had coffee yet.”

Mom gives me a look full of motherly reprimand and moves toward the coffee pot, pulling a mug out of the cabinet above it and pouring it full of steaming coffee for Bruce.

Giving up, I walk into the kitchen and grab a mug and fill it with coffee for myself. Apparently, Bruce is the only one getting served in this house. He grins at me as Mom hands him his mug.

Not trusting Bruce to hold Nella and a mug of coffee, I set mine on the countertop and take her from him.

As she’s sliding out of his arms and into mine, he whispers, “You’re super territorial, I’m seeing a new side of you.”

I heave an exasperated sigh. Amber comes up behind me, looping her arms around my waist. I’m still sweaty from my workout, but she doesn’t seem to mind and rests her head on my bicep.

“Wow, you guys are adorable,” Bruce says, removing his phone from his shorts pocket and pointing it at us. “Cutest family ever. Let me take a pic to show the guys.” He sticks his tongue out in concentration, tapping on his iPhone screen to capture shots of us. “Remy, could you smile? You have a house full of beautiful women. Smiling should come easy, man!”

My mom playfully shoves his shoulder. “Oh, Bruce! You rogue!”

I glance at Farrah to see if she’s as charmed as our mother, but she’s gawking at Bruce like he’s a cartoon character come to life. Honestly, I’ve looked at him the same way once or twice.

My sisters made me watch Disney’s Frozen last Christmas, and the blond guy in that movie who sells ice looked eerily like Bruce. I think he had a moose? Or a deer?

I smile at the camera, and he’s right—it is easy to smile when my girls are with me. Speaking of Amber and Nella, of course. As much as I love my mom and sister, they’re not my girls.

Bruce flips through the photos he took with a satisfied smile, then puts his phone away and resumes drinking the mug of coffee Mom gave him.

My house is chaos.

Not for the first time since getting married, I crave normalcy. Not the normal I had before Amber married me, but the new normal we can hopefully find once we don’t have a house full of people.

I want Mom and Farrah to head back to Ohio, I want Bruce to go back to his own damn house, and I want the woman filling all my thoughts to have a successful follow-up appointment with her cardiologist.

But despite the chaos whirling through my usually very calm, very quiet home, I must find a moment to talk to Amber about Theo’s texts.