The Broken Marriage (New Hampshire Bears Book 14)

by Mary Smith

  “He’s not a biker. Stop being so judgmental,” she chastised her. “He’s a nice guy.”

  “Sure, he is.” Mikayla rolled her eyes. “You don’t have a great track record.”

  “Oh and you do?” she quipped.

  “Meh!” She shrugged, making them both laugh out loud.

  “Come on, we’re meeting him over here.” Jenessa moved toward the parking lot when they made it outside.

  “Yes, this isn’t how every Dateline episode starts,” Mikayla grumbled.

  “You really need to scale back your true-crime TV time,” she told her.

  “You sound like Mom.”

  This made Jenessa groan, and she slapped her shoulder.

  “Which car is his?” Mikayla laughed through their interaction.

  “Oh!” she exclaimed. “I don’t know. I never asked him.”

  They glanced around the parking lot trying to guess which was his. Jenessa believed it would be a silver Toyota Camry. Mikayla picked the BMW. She knew it wouldn’t be that one.

  When Shade finally walked out the side door, Jenessa’s heart skipped a beat.

  “Why is his suit so big?” Mikayla questioned.

  “Who cares, Mom?” Jenessa sneered at her comment.

  As he walked up to her, his smile grew.

  “Great game, Shade.” Jenessa hugged him.

  He held her for several seconds, then finally let her go.

  “This is my sister.” She had to force herself to step away from him. Only slightly. “Mikayla, this is Shade.

  “What up, bro?” she greeted him.

  “Hey.” He chuckled.

  “We’re not hockey fans, but after that game, I could be easily swayed to attend another one,” Mikayla blurted out to him.

  “I told you. No filter.” Jenessa sighed.

  “I hope I can keep delivering wins for you, Mikayla.” He smirked.

  “Great. Now, I’m hungry. Where are we going?” She swiftly changed the topic.

  “Maybe we want—” Jenessa started.

  “Mikayla, you’re more than welcome to come along anytime.” Shade jumped in before she could tell her sister to go away.

  “See.” Mikayla stuck out her tongue at her. “Shade likes me.”

  This made them all laugh.

  “Okay, who’s going to drive? Me or you?” she asked him.

  “Oh, I don’t have a car,” he told them.

  “Guess Nes is driving then,” Mikayla spoke for him.

  Jenessa tried to figure out how Shade got around the city. She guessed the bus. It really didn’t matter to her. Lacing her fingers with his, they all headed to her car.

  “Let’s get pizza,” Mikayla said as she climbed into the backseat.

  “Sounds good. Shade?” Jenessa glanced over at him.

  “Sure.”

  She thought he looked uncomfortable for a second. Playing it off as he might be nervous, she drove the three of them to the pizza parlor. In the car, they discussed hockey, the game, reasons for the penalties, and everything in between.

  By the time they arrived at the pizza parlor, they were all laughing and joking around. Jenessa saw how much Shade and Mikayla were getting along like they were best friends. It made her elated to see them cracking jokes at each other.

  They walked in, and Shade led them to an open booth. Jenessa slid in first, Shade next her and Mikayla across from them. They ordered drinks and when the waitress left the girls began discussing toppings for the pizza.

  “What do you want?” Jenessa asked Shade, who hadn’t even picked up his menu.

  “Whatever you want,” he said with a small smile.

  “Pepperoni it is then,” Mikayla cheered.

  They both noticed Shade wince. He tried to cover it up by taking a sip of his water.

  “I’m not feeling it,” Jenessa said, and Mikayla agreed.

  “Sausage it is then,” Mikayla said in the same enthusiastic tone.

  From that moment on they laughed, they joked, and Jenessa couldn’t remember a time she had so much fun with a boyfriend and her sister. When the bill came, Mikayla grabbed it before Shade. Jenessa was thankful because she had the impression Shade didn’t have a lot of money.

  When they got back into the car, Jenessa drove Mikayla home.

  “Shade, you’re my favorite person now, and I’m glad you’re going to be my future brother in law.”

  Jenessa gasped, and Shade chuckled.

  “I’ve always wanted a sister,” he told her.

  She hugged his neck then gave Jenessa a kiss on the cheek before jumping out of the car.

  “She’s a nut.” Jenessa tried to play off her comment.

  “She’s pretty cool,” he said.

  “Um…” She glanced at him. “Is there anywhere else you’d like to go? Or maybe we can go back to your place and watch a movie?” She really hoped he’d take the hint she wanted to go back to his place. The images of him stretching on the ice still played in her head.

  “Yeah. Sure. Let’s do that.”

  Unable to tell if he was serious or not, she began driving. Never visiting his apartment, he gave her directions to an apartment building near campus. Shade explained he lived with three other guys.

  “It’s not the greatest privacy, but they’re good guys,” he said sadly before opening the door.

  There were a few guys in the living room who barely looked up from their video game when he introduced her. Shade took her hand and led her to a long hallway. His door, the second on the left, seemed like a normal door. On the other side, she expected a bachelor’s room like the ones she’d been in before, several times before.

  She was wrong.

  Stepping in, she immediately noticed nothing was hanging on the walls. No movie posters. No athletes. No posters of half-naked women. They were completely bare. Shoved in the corner with mismatched bedding was a mattress on the floor. It appeared to be a full size one to Jenessa but not very thick. Next to it on a milk crate sat a small lamp and a clock radio. Both seemed to be several years old. At the foot of the bed, also on a crate, was a much older model TV.

  “If you don’t want to stay, I understand,” he said, still standing by the closed door.

  “Why wouldn’t I stay?” She stepped around him. Glancing around she saw the open closet door. Inside there were four shirts, two hoodies, and two pairs of jeans.

  “I need to change. Give me a minute.” He walked over to a laundry basket setting on the floor of the closet. He picked up a few items and left.

  She sat on the bed and scooted back closer to the corner. A moment later, he came back in wearing a pair of sweatpants, which were well worn, and a T-shirt. He carefully hung up his suit before joining her on the bed. They sat quietly. For the first time since their first meeting, there was a bit of awkwardness.

  “I don’t have much.”

  Finally, he spoke.

  “I’m not taking inventory.” She moved her body toward his.

  “Is there something you’d like to watch?” he questioned, motioning to the TV.

  Even though they only had two official dates, they’d talked every day for almost three weeks. She already knew, if anything was going to happen between them, she’d have to make the first move. He was too sweet and caring to do it himself.

  She made the move.

  Straddling him, she pressed her lips against his. He gripped her waist and opened his mouth inviting her in. Sliding her tongue over his, they both let out a moan. He grew hard between her legs, and she pressed her hips down onto it. He tugged her shirt up slightly, laying his hands on her hot skin.

  As she began rocking her hips, she became wetter. She began pulling at his shirt. They broke apart long enough to get it over his head. He gripped the bottom of hers and stared for a second.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” She yanked it off for him.

  In one swift motion, which made her head spin, Shade put her on her back. Hovering over her, he kissed her jaw
line before nibbling on her earlobe then moving to her neck. Grazing his teeth over her collarbone, she moaned, arching her body closer to him. Kissing down her chest, he kissed the cups of her bra.

  “Hang on,” she said, reaching behind her back, unhooking her bra and tossing it to the side.

  Shade worked her nipples with gentle bites and sucking. Jenessa was far from being a virgin, but it never felt this good before.

  She needed more of him.

  “We need to be naked,” she panted.

  “I agree.” Shade lifted his head from her chest.

  Together they managed to get naked, the blankets under them.

  “I don’t want bells and whistles. I want to feel you,” she told him.

  “Agreed.” He reached for his wallet on the milk crate.

  She watched him slide on a condom. Enjoying the view of how big he was, she spread her legs for him. As he slid in, she wrapped her legs around his hips.

  Jenessa felt the world shake as he pumped in and out of her. None of her other sexual partners ever made her feel like this. Digging her nails into his shoulders, she called his name over and over as his hips rocked harder into her.

  “Jen. Jen,” he moaned.

  Mikayla called her Nes since she could talk. Hearing Shade call her Jen made her feel special.

  Her body tensed up then shook as the wave of an orgasm washed over her. Shade pounded into her, stretching out her wave, before grunting out Jen one more time and almost collapsing on her. Easing out of her, he moved onto his side and moved the blankets to cover them.

  “I really wanted it to be more special and last longer,” Shade managed to say.

  “It was perfect.” She kissed his lips. A shiver raced down her spine.

  “Are you cold?”

  “I’m fine,” she lied.

  “Hang on.” Moving the blankets off him, he took off the condom and pulled up his sweats. He rushed out of the room, only to come back a few seconds later. He grabbed a hoodie and another pair of sweatpants out of the closet. He helped her put on everything.

  “I could dress myself.” She cuddled back under the blankets and curled up to him.

  Wrapping his arms around her, she never felt safer.

  “You’re special to me, Jen.” He kissed the top of her head.

  “You’re special to me, Shade.”

  “Someone is having dirty thoughts.” Mikayla’s voice brought her back to the present.

  “You think you know me so well.” Jenessa tried to play it off.

  “Oh, I do, big sister. I also know it’s been a very long time for you and Shade,” she informed her.

  “Are you keeping track?” Jenessa quipped.

  “All I know is Shade’s right arm is bigger than his left. He’s certainly tired of playing Whack the Willy.”

  “Mikayla,” she hissed.

  “If you just knock the cobwebs off your hoo-ha this might be an earth-shaking night,” she continued.

  Jenessa dropped her head into her hands, slowing shaking it back and forth.

  “You can be embarrassed all you want, you know I’m right.”

  Lifting her head, she saw Shade and the Bears moving off the ice. She avoided commenting to Mikayla.

  “Stay silent all you want. It only means you know I’m right,” Mikayla repeated, leaning in with her sing-songy tone.

  Keeping her focus on the ice, the lights began to dim as the introduction video started. She enjoyed the video because it showed all the top plays and players. Shade had been shown numerous times, making her smile with each flash of his face.

  The Bears came rushing out of the giant inflatable bear’s mouth. Shade was last since he was the captain. Every time she watched him on the ice, his determination was always clear.

  When the puck dropped all the guys rushed to gather control of it. Jenessa, as she did every time, watched each movement intently. Especially Shade’s moves. He never held an enforcer role, but he did shove players out of the way and into the glass if need be.

  The first period brought more excitement than normal. The buzzer had been loud, and the score was nothing/nothing. Jenessa and Greer volunteer to get more drinks.

  “It’s really great to have you here,” Greer said as they stood in line.

  “Same.” She nodded.

  “How are you feeling? I mean, after seeing Klara.” She kept her voice low, not wanting anyone else to listen in on their conversation.

  “Heartbroken, which will never change. I can’t blame her or Nova. Neither of them should run away from me.” She hated how they all hid from her. Even though she understood why.

  “Are you and Shade going to dinner tonight?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “I heard Mikayla. Has it been a long time?”

  She glanced at Greer.

  “I’m just being nosy. I’m sorry. It’s none of my business,” she rushed out the words.

  “About a week before I went into labor with Clay,” Jenessa confirmed. She thought Greer would pass out right where she stood.

  “Three years?”

  “Yes.”

  “Nothing? Nothing at all?” Greer couldn’t stop shaking her head.

  “Nope. Nothing at all.”

  They moved with the line.

  “Makes me sound horrible, huh?”

  Greer furrowed her brow.

  “Depriving Shade of sex,” she clarified her statement.

  “Not just Shade. You too.”

  Now, Jenessa seemed confused by her words.

  “This is going to sound sexist or whatever, but as women, some of us need to be touched to heal. Not only sexually, but comfort as well. I would go out of my mind if Edgar didn’t hug or kiss me for three years. Sure, our sex life has slowed over the almost twenty years we’ve been together but not our signs of affection.”

  “Oh my God,” Jenessa breathed out. Something she never thought about before, but it hit her in the head like a puck.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” Greer touched her arms.

  “I’m Shade’s mom.”

  “I don’t get what you’re saying.”

  “Shade’s mother never showed him affection or love. I’m the only person who ever truly had. Then what do I do?” she questioned.

  “You quit showing him affection and pushed him away,” Greer answered.

  “And treated him like shit.” Jenessa wanted to kick her own ass right now. “All these years I treated him like his mother had.”

  “And now you can change it,” she reminded her.

  “You’re right. I can.” Jenessa became renewed with a newfound determination.

  After they got the drinks and went back to their seats, Jenessa began to think about Shade’s pain. She imagined his childhood and all he went through. Only for her to drag him through the same emotions.

  To use Mikayla’s words, she was a royal bitch.

  Jenessa managed to go through the motions of the game. Cheer when everyone else did. Boo when everyone else did. Give the signature Bears’ growl when everyone else did. All the while mentally chastising herself for all she did to Shade.

  The Bears won by one point and the crowd went wild. They now sat in the top five of the PHL. Jenessa moved with the rest of the family out of their assigned door, back down toward the hallway off their locker room.

  They all stood around chatting, waiting on the guys, when Elexis made a comment.

  “Is Janan wearing bigger clothes for a reason?”

  Everyone who heard the question turned to study the co-owner of the Bears.

  “She seemed to be fine,” Greer said.

  Jenessa continued to inspect her as she moved around talking to the family members. She couldn’t put her finger on it, something was off with Janan. When she made it over to their group, she was eyeing them.

  “Are you all talking about me?”

  “Yes,” Mikayla answered as the rest said, “No.”

  “We were wondering what’s up with the ou
tfit?” Mikayla pointed at the attire.

  “I came over here to talk to Jenessa.” She ignored Mikayla.

  “What for?” Jenessa couldn’t think of what they would have to discuss together.

  “I heard from your gossipy sister, you’re unemployed.” She thumbed over at Mikayla.

  Jenessa rolled her eyes. “Who didn’t she tell?”

  “We need an attorney. You up for it?” Janan blurted out.

  “Janan,” Nova called her name as she strolled over to the group. “When will you learn how to be civil?”

  “What?” she gasped.

  Nova faced Jenessa. “I apologize. Let me explain this situation in a more professional manner. Janan and I have several charities we’ve started over the past year. Our regular attorney who helped Uncle Oliver is retiring. This has made us begin searching for someone to replace him. Recently, we learned you had left your position and currently are not with another firm. We’d kindly like to extend an invitation for you to look into our current open position and let us know what you think.” Then Nova glared at Janan. “That’s how you do it.”

  “I did the same thing. Only with fewer syllables,” Janan said sarcastically.

  “Wow, thank you for thinking of me.” Jenessa was seemingly shocked by the offer.

  “I can email you the job description,” Nova added.

  “Please do. I’ll look it over and let you know as soon as possible.”

  Just then the players began making their way out of the locker room. A few moments later Shade, Edgar, Jarvis, and Dag came out together, strolling over to their respective female. As the others greeted each other with hugs and kisses, Shade gave Jenessa a smile.

  “Great game.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Let’s go eat,” Jarvis announced and the crowd began heading toward the door.

  Jenessa gripped Shade’s wrist halting his movements. “Could we go home?”

  Shade studied her face for a second. “Are you sure?”

  “Please,” she begged.

  “Absolutely.”

  She noticed he tried to hide his smile.

  “I didn’t drive. I Uber’d over.” She did hoping he would take her home tonight.

  “I’m ready when you are.”

  Without thinking or worrying about what he’d think, she took his hand into hers. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and led the way to the truck.