Page 40

40

BLAKELY

It’s odd being in the Pythons stadium without Jamie. The cleaning staff is here, waxing the floors and disinfecting all of the bathrooms. I offer the few of them smiles on my way out.

I’m hot and sweaty from a Monday afternoon spent prepping for tomorrow, but I feel good. Really, really good.

I’ve never been so excited to see calluses and tiny nicks on my hands and have sore shoulders and feet. Every change to my body over the past couple of weeks I’ve spent working in the kitchen again has made me confident in a way I haven’t been in a long time. I’m excited for every shift, and even though I know it’s not smart of me to get my hopes up, I’ve started looking into university classes again.

Going back to finish my degree is a far-fetched dream, yet I can’t get myself to dismiss it completely.

One of the many security guards lurking around the stadium turns to look at me when I exit the hallway and close the gap between us by the entrance doors. He’s a familiar face yet still a nameless stranger.

I wave at him and pull out my phone to check if Jamie’s here yet. He’s insisted on neither me nor Nate taking the bus anymore and instead has started chauffeuring us everywhere. Our driving lessons have been going well, and I think I could pass my test soon. Maybe .

The contact name he chose for himself has me rolling my eyes as I scroll through our messages.

The Prettiest Husband Ever: Nate’s too good at this game. He’s making me self-conscious.

The Prettiest Husband Ever: I need you to be done soon so I can be saved.

Me: I’m moving extra slow now.

The Prettiest Husband Ever: See, now you’ve distracted me and he just got another touchdown.

Me: Poor baby. I’ll be done in half an hour. Beat him and I’ll give you a kiss.

The Prettiest Husband Ever: Consider it done. See you then

With it still being above zero outside, I head for the doors to wait for him. A bit of a cooldown will be nice. I’ve never quite understood why we have to wear a heavy coat in the kitchen when it’s ten billion degrees in there. I’m sure I could get away without it, at least during prep days. It’s just me back there now that Clyde has officially moved to his new job.

I almost wish I’d have gotten a bit more time with him. It’s no wonder he was hired as a head chef at a fancy restaurant downtown. He made the kitchen his bitch every time he stepped foot inside of it. Not to mention how patient he was with me. Obviously, I was a bit out of practice, and he didn’t mind at all as I adjusted to the work.

The security guard opens the door for me and holds it as I step outside. “Have a great day, Mrs. Bateman.”

My stomach flutters as I reach for my wedding ring and rub the band. While I love both Bandit and wife, Mrs. Bateman is my favourite.

“Thank you,” I say, heading out before stalling and looking back at him. “You’ve never actually told me your name.”

“Jake.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Jake.”

With a soft smile, I nod and move out of the doorway. It’s a couple of minutes’ walk from the doors to the player and employee-only lot. There’s another one underground that Jamie uses during game days, but I have something against wandering around dark underground parking lots by myself.

At least while it’s not freezing outside.

Jamie’s not here yet, so I lean against the light pole illuminating the parking lot and wait. Despite being early evening, it’s loud outside with construction equipment groaning, people chatting as they walk to and from work, and car engines sputtering. I’m close enough to the Warriors arena to make out the tall green column at the front and the domed roof, and I wonder if Giana’s there.

I’ve only seen her the one single time, but there was something about her that I really connected with. She felt genuine, and that’s hard to come by. Especially when you’re someone who doesn’t go out of their way to make friends.

Letting that thought go, I check my phone for the time and frown. Jamie’s never usually late. Although, it wouldn’t surprise me if Nate convinced him to play one more game first.

“You have no idea how many times I’ve been to this place looking for you.”

I turn into a statue when I register my mother’s voice. Her shoes scuff the pavement on my right, and slowly, I force my neck to turn so I can look at her.

Wearing the same jacket with the broken zipper and her hair up in a bun, she stares expectantly at me. I almost wish she had forgotten me when she left five years ago just so I wouldn’t have to be forced to see her ever again .

“Why bother? That sounds like an incredible waste of time,” I deadpan.

“You know why. And I’ve grown really impatient.”

“That’s not my problem.”

“Yes, it is. If you want me to leave you alone, you’ll give me what I want.”

I blow out a laugh. “You’ve been gone for half a decade. I don’t care about what you want.”

“Maybe not. But you do care about your brother.”

“That’s the last time you bring up Nate,” I warn, pushing off the pole. “I’m not playing games with you. You’re nobody to me, and you’re sure as hell nobody to him.”

She cocks her head, trying to read me with little success. Her sigh is exasperated. “I’m not interested in playing games, Blakely. I was just hoping that you would still feel some loyalty to your mother and be open to helping if I came to you.”

“Loyalty?” I spit the word and sneak a look around us before pinning her with a glare. “You wouldn’t know loyalty if it bit you in your ass, Mother . The fact you thought for even one second that you’d be able to just show up out of nowhere and try to get anything from me shows how little you paid attention to me when you were still around.”

“I really wish you weren’t being this way,” she grumbles.

I blink, staring at her in disbelief. “Do you want an apology?”

“No. But, you’ve left me no other choice but to remind you again that you need to remember who you are and who I am to your brother.”

“Don’t.”

“You love him, don’t you?”

“I love him more than you’ve ever loved anyone in your life,” I declare, throat tightening as my fear starts multiplying.

“He was always a good boy. A bit dim, but quiet. Talented too. Like your husband. I’m sure he’ll go far in his football career. ”

I keep looking for Jamie, but he’s still not here. And now, I don’t want him to be. Not if he has Nate with him.

I’d take a million more conversations with this woman before allowing her to see him and for him to be reminded of who she is and why she didn’t stay.

“Get on with it, then. Tell me what it is you want so I can get you out of our lives and keep you there,” I snap.

Her eyes light up, assuming she’s won. “I need money. My rent is due at my place, and I can’t get away without paying it another month.”

“How much?”

“Ten thousand.”

I suck in a breath, jaw hanging open. “What do you mean, ten thousand?”

“It’s been six months.”

Rubbing my mouth, I shake my head. “You can’t expect me to have ten thousand dollars to just give you.”

“I searched your husband up online, Blakely. Have you been unaware that he makes three million dollars a year this entire time you’ve been together?”

It’s hard to keep from visibly showing my surprise because no, I wasn’t aware of that. I never cared. The money he makes has never mattered to me. He could be broker than I was when we met, and I would have fallen in love with him had I still gotten the chance to get to know him the way I have.

“I’m going to be honest, Blakely. I need that money. Without it, I’m going to be on the street, and I won’t survive a winter out here. If you’re not going to get it for me, then I’ll have better luck trying to convince my landlord for another break with my son with me.”

“And if that didn’t work? You’d make him live on the street with you? Why? To prove a point to me? No one in their right mind would allow you to have custody over Nathan with the way you abandoned us,” I push, having trouble pulling in a full breath with the terror seizing my throat and lungs .

“You wouldn’t have a choice but to agree. In the eyes of the law, he’s still my son, sweetie,” she drawls, pushing her lips out in a demeaning pout. “I’m his mother, not you.”

I can no longer breathe. My reply is wheezed, hardly audible. “I have a few hundred dollars.”

“What is that going to do for me?”

“It’s all I have. If you can wait until?—”

“I can’t, Blakely. Don’t you get it? I’ve pushed it too far to wait. If you had done an interview and grabbed my attention earlier, maybe we could have found a better solution. But now, I’m too short on time,” she says, annoyed.

Tears drip down my cheeks too quickly to dry them all. I’ve faced a lot in my life, including my fair share of back-against-the-wall situations, but I’ve never had anything like that thrown at me. Nathan might not be my son, but he’s still mine. He’s my brother and the other half of me. I’ve done everything for him, and I’ll continue to do that every day for the rest of my life.

“It’s impossible for me to give you more money than what I have.”

She shakes her head, scoffing loudly. “Do you think I’m stupid? Your husband?—”

“He’s not really my husband!” I scream, angrily swiping at my face, ashamed of the tears. “Jamie’s not my husband, you evil bitch. Now, leave me alone. Leave my entire family alone.”

“Don’t tell me this was all a fucking joke, Blakely. What have you gotten yourself into?” she hisses, stomping toward me and grabbing my shoulder, shaking it hard.

“I don’t have the money to give you.”

“Yes. You do. I saw the wedding photos. You signed the certificate. You’re married to that man, and you’re going to give me what I need.”

“You’re not listening to me! It’s not our money. It’s his. Everything is his. I don’t own any of it!”

She shakes me harder, like maybe I’ll give her what she wants if she rattles me around a little bit more .

“Let me make this even clearer for you. Either you give me the money I need, or I’ll make sure everyone knows that you’re not Jamieson Bateman’s wife. Because what? This was for publicity? You were so desperate to feel wanted that you sold yourself to a man? We are not that different, sweetie,” she hisses. “And unless you want the entire world to know that, then you will do as I say!”

I choke on a sob before stumbling back from her. “You have no idea what you’re asking for.”

“Yes, I do. I know too well.”

“Why did you even have children? You could have made it impossible to have Nate.”

“Your father was adamant about having a big family.”

My hands and knees shake. Any minute now, I’m going to collapse. And Jamie can’t see me like this. Neither can Nate.

“Dad would have hated you. He’s rolling in his grave right now,” I whisper.

She swallows, features tightening. “He lost his right to feel one way or another when he left us.”

“At least he got away from you.”

The sound of footsteps approaches us, and I whip my head toward the guy heading our way. Jake, the security guard from earlier, glances between me and my mother, a silent question in his eyes.

Despite how weak it makes me, I nod, taking the opportunity to leave. I’m grateful for the saving. I don’t know if I’d have been able to extract myself before Jamie got here.

“This is private property. You need to leave before I call the police.”

She guffaws. “Tomorrow, Blakely. You have until tomorrow.”

I don’t have the energy to turn to look at her as she speaks. A day isn’t enough for me to find enough money for her. Not even with my job now.

One step after the other, I go back to the stadium, needing to collect myself before going home. I’m almost there when the guard catches up to me.

“Should I put her on the list?” he asks, hanging back a bit.

“What list?”

“If she shows up here again, we’ll notify the authorities.”

“Don’t bother. It’s fine,” I mutter.

“Do you want me to stay out here and wait for Jamie?” he asks.

“You’ve already gone above and beyond your job description. I appreciate you stepping in, but I can take care of myself.”

“You’re a member of the Pythons family,” he argues.

“So, you didn’t hear what we were screaming about, then?”

A pause. “I was working the door at your wedding. Nothing about your marriage is new information to me.”

Maybe later, I’ll wish I’d have grilled this guy more. But for now, his answer is good enough. Plus, if he was at our wedding, Graham must trust him enough.

“I’m going to the bathroom. If Jamie shows up?—”

“I’ll let him know.”

“My brother can’t see that woman. If she comes back while I’m inside, I need her gone.”

“You’ve got my word.”

I stop walking long enough to look at him. He’s not smiling or frowning, but even with a straight face, there’s nothing scary about him. If I were to stick around forever, I think I could be friends with him.

Too bad my time here is approaching its end faster than I originally thought.