Page 38 of Rematch (Stingrays Hockey #3)

“Stop!” Chelsea said, when it was clear slick lawyer Rick was on a roll, and only just getting started. “Preston is a great father, and his name will be going on the birth certificate.” She intended to make a call the second Rick got out of here, in fact.

“Chelsea, that’s a mistake.”

“No. The only mistake I made was in foolishly thinking you were capable of being just my friend. It’s obvious that’s not something we can be to each other.”

Rick looked her in the eye. “You’re right.

We can’t. I’m in love with you, Chelsea.

I always have been. My goal these past seven months has been to win you back.

” He moved closer as he spoke, forcing Chelsea to step backward to maintain distance.

That attempt failed when she ran out of room, her back hitting the counter.

She placed her hand in the center of his chest when he shifted as if to kiss her. “If you try to kiss me, I will kick you in the balls.”

Her threat caught him off guard, and he took one step back, though not nearly big enough. “I don’t understand.”

“You cannot be this oblivious. I know you’re an only child, and I know you’re used to getting your way, typically by steamrolling over all obstacles, but none of that is going to work in this case. Any relationship you and I might have had ended the day you failed to show up at our wedding.”

Confusion marred Rick’s features. “You said you forgave me for that.”

“I did. But I’m never going to forget , and I’m never going to trust you again. The most I could offer was a casual, surface-y friendship, and I only did that to appease our mothers, who are driving me up the damn wall!”

Rick scowled. God, he was such a mama’s boy. “My mother has been very good to you. She made Lennon’s Halloween costume, for Christ’s sake.”

“She did. And he was a super-cute pumpkin, but that doesn’t mean I want her as a mother-in-law. She’s my mom’s best friend. That’s it.”

“I helped your dad build Lennon’s crib and repaint the nursery.”

“And I appreciate that. But to be honest, I thought you did it because you felt fucking guilty and were trying to make amends, not because you were living in some la-la land where we got back together.”

“I’ve been there for you since Lennon was born.”

Chelsea wasn’t sure what equated to “been there” in Rick’s mind—then she realized she did.

It meant, he had been there—like, in the room—watching while she took care of her son.

Apparently, his mere presence was supposed to be some great gift he offered while she fed Lennon, changed his diaper, and rocked him to sleep.

Rick had only held Lennon a handful of times, always done at her request—not because he offered—when she needed to go to the bathroom or grab a bottle from the refrigerator.

There was absolutely no comparison between Rick’s contributions and Preston’s.

Preston was a true partner when it came to caring for their son.

Perhaps the argument could be made that was because Lennon wasn’t Rick’s son.

But she knew her ex well enough to know that even if they’d gotten married and had kids, the majority of the childrearing would have fallen to her, because he made more money and therefore would have considered himself the bread winner.

“Rick, I’m sorry you got the wrong impression about my feelings, but?—”

Rick cut her off. “You’re saying all of this because of him , aren’t you?”

“Not at all. I knew we were in two different places the morning you kissed me.”

“How convenient that also just happened to be the day he showed up.”

“His name is Preston,” she said, louder than she intended.

“You’re making a mistake, Chelsea. You barely know this guy, and yet you’re ready to throw away a lifelong relationship with me in the hopes that what?

He’ll pick you ? Just because you had a baby with him?

The guy is using you, and he’s going to hurt you.

The only reason he’s hanging around is because you gave him a son.

I’m sure that’s feeding his overweening ego for now, but something or someone else will come along soon, and you’ll be left on your own.

I’m offering you a real future. I know you’re unhappy living with your parents.

Move in with me. Today. Let me prove myself to you.

And then…maybe soon, you’ll consider marrying me.

I’ll be a good husband to you and father to Lennon.

I’ll give you a home and provide for you. ”

“I seem to recall you making that offer before. You didn’t show up.”

Rick stilled, and for the first time, she got the sense her words were sinking in. “You’re right. I didn’t. And it was the biggest mistake of my life.”

Preston said Rick would regret letting her go the night they met. He assured her that he’d be sorry one day. It looked like that day had arrived, but it didn’t make her as happy as she thought it would.

“I know you don’t want to hear it again, but I am sorry, Chelsea. More than words can say.”

She nodded, her throat tight. “I know that. But you and I are done. And I mean completely. I don’t want to see you again. Not for a long, long time.”

“That might be tough…our mothers…”

“You managed to avoid me for months after the wedding. I have no doubts about your abilities there.”

Guilt suffused his features. “You’re right again. I did. Chelsea, I hope, for your sake and Lennon’s, that man…” Rick drew in a slow breath. “That Preston sticks around and follows through.”

“He will,” she said, with a certainty she felt all the way to the core.

Rick leaned forward, attempting another kiss. She pulled away, shaking her head.

A rustling sound captured their attention, and they turned toward the door of the kitchen, spotting Preston standing there, Lennon sleeping soundly in his stroller in front of him. She’d been so distracted by Rick, she hadn’t even heard the bell.

Preston didn’t say anything, simply looked from her to Rick, then back again.

One of these days, she was going to have to ask him for pointers on how he managed that poker face of his because, while she couldn’t read a single thing on his face, she feared he was seeing every speck of the panic on hers.

“Uh…Preston Jacobson, this is Rick Dwyer. Rick, this is Preston.” While Rick didn’t need the introduction, Preston did—and the slight furrowing of his brows told her that he remembered exactly who Rick was. That was when the poker face faltered, just slightly.

Both men nodded by way of greeting, but neither reached out to shake the other’s hand. Instead, they looked like kickboxers sizing each other up before the ringing of the bell.

So…this was going well.

Rick cried uncle first on the stare down. “I need to get back to the office.” He turned toward Chelsea. “I’ll see you…” He paused.

“Goodbye, Rick,” she said firmly, reinforcing her stand.

Rick walked away without another word, ignoring Preston—and Lennon—on the way out.

Preston leaned on the doorjamb, clearly waiting for an explanation.

“So…that was my ex,” she started lamely.

He nodded. “Yeah, I figured that out on my own.”

“I should have told you that he was sort of back in the picture, hanging around since Lennon was born. Actually, before that.”

Preston tilted his head. “What does that mean? Hanging around? I thought you said you weren’t seeing anyone.”

“I’m not,” she replied quickly. “Not at all. And definitely not him. It’s just…he and Vanessa broke up before I moved back to Baltimore. I told you that his mom and mine have been best friends forever. Rick and I grew up together, so our paths cross from time to time.”

Preston nodded, but didn’t ask any questions, waiting for her to fill in all the blanks.

“Obviously, when he showed up shortly after my return to apologize, I told him to take a hike. But he kept coming back, trying to make amends. He gave my parents a check to cover all the money they lost on the wedding, and he helped my dad build Lennon’s crib and repaint my old bedroom, turning it into a nursery.

I didn’t speak to him for months, even when he was doing all that, but after a while… ”

“He wore you down.”

She lifted one shoulder. “Being angry at him all the time was exhausting. So I told him I forgave him and we could be friends,” she stressed.

“ Only friends. But a month or so ago—the day you found me, actually—he kissed me, and I realized he wanted more than just friendship. I told him I wasn’t interested, but Rick’s not the type to give up easily.

Apparently, my mom’s been telling him about you and your career, and… he showed up today to…” She stopped.

“Warn you about me?” Preston correctly surmised.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about professional athletes out there.”

“In some cases, they’re not wrong. You haven’t met my friend Tank yet.”

Chelsea forced a grin, grateful he was giving her a chance to explain without getting angry. “Rick knows I’m going out of my mind living with my mother, so he said I could move in with him. Said he wanted to marry me and adopt Lennon and?—”

“Lennon has a father,” Preston interjected hotly, glancing over his shoulder, as if he was tempted to chase Rick down and make that fact painfully clear.

She raised her hands to calm him down. “I know he does, and I told him that. You are Lennon’s father. I’ll call someone this afternoon, try to figure out how to add your name to the birth certificate?—”

“I have a friend who practices family law, Colm Collins. I can call him and see what we need to do…if you’re sure you’re ready.”

“I’m very sure.”

“I saw him kiss you the day I found you,” Preston confessed. “I saw the bakery on my way to meet Victor for breakfast. Before I could cross the street, you came outside to talk to Rick. When he kissed you, I walked away.”

Chelsea was shocked by this information. “Why didn’t you say anything before now?”

“You said you weren’t seeing anyone, and I knew you wouldn’t lie to me.”