by Mary Smith
I pick up the other beautiful girl. “Which one do I have?”
Dacey looks up. “She is Sarah and Janan has Laura.”
“You named them after yours and Vance’s mothers?” I ask.
“Yes we did. We fought over a ton of names and nothing seemed right. I went into labor with no names. When we saw the girls, we knew then.”
For the next hour, we spend time swapping stories and laughing. It’s great to have Dacey back and soon I’m back at my place trying to whip up some dinner. The doorbell ringing startles me, and I quickly head over to open it.
“Liam.” I’m surprised to see him.
“I brought dinner.” He holds up a large bag of takeout. “And since I don’t know what you liked, I had to order a lot.” He strolls in and heads to the kitchen.
He stops first to speak to Klara, who’s enjoying her time in the high chair. I like Liam. He and I seem to get along and I do have fun with him. The problem–he’s not Teo. I want Teo. However, Teo doesn’t want me. He’s told me more than once. Maybe I should give Liam a real chance.
“I’ll grab us some water,” I say as he sets everything out on the table.
“I know I’m intruding on your night, but you said you can’t go out, so…” He waves at the table.
I smile. He went out of his way to bring me dinner knowing Klara will be here as well. “Thank you, Liam.”
Through dinner we discuss Liam’s travels, my obsession with cooking and how much I miss it, hockey, and football. The food is good and Klara is babbling away next to me. However, it doesn’t feel like a date. Shouldn’t it feel like a date?
After I put Klara to bed, I come back to the kitchen and help Liam clean up. “Thank you for tonight.”
“You’re welcome.” He smiles down at me.
“Liam.” I clear my throat and lean against my counter. I need to be honest with him. “I enjoy our time together.”
He wipes his hands with the towel and looks down. “I figured this was coming.”
“What?”
“Nova, I’m certain I like you a hell of a lot more than you like me.”
“No, Liam—”
“Wait, hear me out. I knew going into this it would be a long shot. You love Teo. I can see it every time you both are in the same room. He loves you too.”
I shake my head. “No, he hates me. He’s never going to forgive me.” Tears burn my eyes. “He’s never going to give me a second chance.”
“Hey.” Liam hugs me. “Nova, he loves you. He just needs time to heal and then you both can go back to being together and parenting Klara together.”
I step out of his hold and wipe my eyes. “Thank you, Liam, but it’s not going to happen. Teo is adamant about it. He told me he doesn’t give second chances.”
“You know you kept a huge secret from him. He needs time to heal from it.”
“I just love him and I want us to be back to the way it was before.” I flinch. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Nova, I’m not a kid. I understand your feelings for me are nothing more than friendly. I know who holds your heart, and I hope he figures out what an amazing person you are before it is too late. Eventually, you will get tired of waiting.”
“I don’t think I will.” Teo is who I want and I can wait until he’s ready to forgive me.
“You will get tired of waiting.” Liam nods. “But for your sake, I hope it’s not too long.”
I hug him. His words mean a lot to me, and I try my best to hold back my tears. Someone clearing their throat makes me jump.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Teo looks mad. “Your door was unlocked.”
Before I can say anything Liam says, “I was just leaving.” He kisses my cheek. “Good luck,” he whispers and leaves Teo and me in the kitchen.
“Klara is asleep.” I inform him, wiping my cheeks. I’m not really crying, but I want to make sure my makeup is okay.
“Are you traveling with us this week?”
“Yes. Uncle Oliver wants me to join you all in Alabama after Janan and I negotiate some contracts for the Cats and Rams tomorrow.” Uncle Oliver is really pushing us more into the business world. Especially me. I’ve been doing more and more every day.
“I’ll check on Klara and leave you alone.” He stalks out of the kitchen and I wonder if he heard Liam and me talking.
I LAY OUT the files on the table. We have to do three contracts today for the Manchester Cats. Their season has ended with a loss in the second round of the playoffs. Janan sighs and sits down next to me.
“I have looked over everything all night and still don’t understand these notes.” Janan points to everything in the margin.
I give her a quick overview. The highs and lows of where we want to keep the budget and pay.
“You’re really good at this.” Janan admits.
“‘I guess.”
Uncle Oliver walks in with Crew Ramsey. Janan beams. Crew is her favorite player. I’m not too sure about the guy. Crew is extremely political and very outspoken about government and laws. The one thing keeping him on the team is he’s a huge hitter and is a big name for fundraisers. We spend about an hour with Crew and his agent but finally sign him to a two year deal.
When Crew leaves Otto Rivas comes in. If you never heard the expression heart-stopping gorgeous, then you never saw Otto. He’s so handsome it’s stupid. The issue–he knows it and has a bigger ego than Alden. He’s actually an ass of epic proportion. His negotiation took longer than I thought it would. Otto is the leader in hits, home runs, and RBIs. We need him, and he knows it too.
I’m exhausted when I get home. I’m already packed for the trip. Thankfully, Uncle Oliver doesn’t need me the whole week long road trip. I can’t be away from Klara for that long or I’d have to bring her then. Emma is playing with her as I kiss Klara goodbye. I keep the tears at bay as Uncle Oliver’s driver navigates through traffic to get me to the airport. This time I’m not on the team plane, just a commercial flight to Birmingham.
The entire flight, my mind is on Teo. How can I get him to forgive me? Is there a way? I’m not sure there is just by the way he looks at me. Yes, he stayed with me when I had my breakdown, but he couldn’t get away from me fast enough. He hates females. Well, it’s the way I’m taking it. He told me about his mother and sister and I can’t blame him for having such a shitty outlook. Then I go off and stab him in the heart and lie to him.
I’m just as bad as they are.
“YOU BROKE UP?” Janan sounds surprised over the phone.
“We weren’t even dating. I mean, we were barely dating. Whatever.” I sigh. “How’s Klara? I miss her.”
“She’s fine.”
I made Janan promise to go over and check in on her while I’m out of town. I know Emma is more than capable of taking care of anything that arises, but I still worry.
“Has Teo talked you?”
“I’ve not see him. I just arrived and now I’m going to bed,” I tell Janan I love her and end the call.
It’s hard for me to go to sleep. I’m used to hearing Klara’s breathing on the baby monitor. I toss and turn trying to find a comfortable position, but nothing seems to work. I give up and pull on a pair of jeans and grab a shirt. Going down to the bar seems dumb since I don’t drink, but I need a distraction.
As I go to the lobby, I notice the restaurant is still open. I head over there instead. Maybe food will be better. I find a table quickly and thank God there aren’t too many people. I order a small plate of fries and a glass of water. I have my phone out, checking emails, when someone slides into my booth next to me.
“Hi, Alden.”
“Nova, you’re sexier every time I see you. How are you?”
“Fine.” I’m apprehensive on why he’s talking to me. Alden isn’t a bad guy, but he is a man who likes the females.
A lot.
“Why are you all alone?”
“I just arrived. You know it’s almost curfew.” Maybe giving him th
e subtle reminder will push him along.
“I do.” He nods. “I was heading to my room and I saw you. You look sad and in need of a friend.”
I shrug. “I miss my baby. I’m not a fan of the travel schedule.”
“Who is? Well besides me but only because it breaks up the variety of pussy.”
I groan. “Alden.”
“I heard you and Janan are going to be our bosses soon.”
I roll my eyes. “No. Only if, and if is the key word, Uncle Oliver retires.”
“The man is getting old. Could be sooner than you think?”
“Shut up.” I huff. “Uncle Oliver is a healthy man and could live a very long time.”
“I guess. But seriously are you okay?” He bumps my shoulder.
“Yes.” I smile. “Thank you for caring.”
“Nova.” Hamilton’s voice calls my name and then he slides in across from me. “What are you doing?”
I told him the same story as I did Alden. At least Hamilton understands better. He misses Janan terribly when he’s gone.
We all sit for a bit and chat about the upcoming hockey schedule and different teams. We’re then joined by Cabel, Bas, Vance, and Shade. I like all the guys, but I know the difficulties Shade and Jenessa have been through with the loss of their baby boy. I can’t imagine their pain and I pray I never do.
I didn’t get to eat many of my fries since the guys ate them, but I do feel better as we all exit the restaurant and head across the lobby. We’re laughing at some joke Alden made when I bump into Hamilton’s back.
“Let’s take the stairs.” He suggests and grabs my forearm.
“Why?” I ask as Vance steps in my line of vision. “What’s going on?” It’s then I see why the guys are huddling around me. Teo is having a hardcore make out session next to the elevator doors. My heart sinks to the bottom of my stomach. I almost feel as if someone is cutting out my soul with a spoon as I take in the scene in front of me. The one thing I know is I can’t lose it in front of the guys. “I’m fine. He can do what he pleases.” I push past them and hit the button to call the elevator.
“Teo, it’s curfew,” Hamilton says next to me, and I turn to see Teo’s pale blue eyes connect with mine.
He’s drunk.
“Hammy, he’s wasted,” I say only loud enough for him to hear me.
“I’ll get him.” Hamilton strolls over and exchanges words with the female and almost carries Teo back to us as the doors open.
As we ascend Alden is the first to comment, “I didn’t think you were a royal prick, Elgin.”
I swallow back the lump of emotions in my throat and shrink closer to the corner. Cabel picks up on this and puts himself in front of me.
“Fuck off, Brockman.” Teo slurs. “You don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh I don’t, do I? Well, from what I can tell you’re a little dickhead who’s hung up on one girl but too much of a fucking prick to do something about it. Therefore, you go off, get drunk, and find a hooker to take care of your problem.”
“She wasn’t a hooker.”
“Yes she is.” All the guys say in unison.
“Whatever. You guys are bitches,” he yells. “You don’t fucking know anything.”
“You’re a prick. I think we all have that memo.” Alden eggs him on as the elevator door opens.
“Fuck you.” He shoves Alden back.
We all rush toward them both as Alden comes back and shoves Teo. I knew not to get in the middle, but we can’t have either one of them hurt. Teo’s fist came from nowhere and connected with my cheek. It’s the hardest punch I’ve never taken. Sharon could really knock the wind out of me, but Teo made me see stars. Actual stars as I fell to the floor.
All the guys stop fighting and focus on me. Cabel and Shade hold Teo back as Hamilton, Vance, and Alden are tending to me. Bas bolts down the hall to Uncle Tad’s room. He comes running to me and everyone is talking at once.
“My room,” I manage to say. Hamilton picks me up in his arms as if I weigh nothing and with Alden and Uncle Tad, they get me to my room. Ice appears and the coldness is soothing to my burning cheek.
A moment later, Uncle Oliver blows into my room. I can’t figure out how he got in but there he stands pissed off.
“What the fuck just happened?”
Alden explains everything from the restaurant, to seeing Teo with the woman, the elevator conversation, and Teo shoving him.
“Are you okay?” Uncle Oliver inspects my cheek.
“He’s drunk and he would never hit me. He was upset.” I’m quick to defend Teo. I know him and he is adamant about never hitting a female. He would get sick when I would discuss Sharon and what she did to me.
“I’m still going to kill him,” Hamilton says and Uncle Oliver agrees.
“No.” I growl. “Let him sober up and sleep a bit. Trust me, he feels worse than anything.”
No one is behind me on this, but I don’t care. Teo would never hurt me no matter how mad he is.
“I need to rest. Everyone go. We have an early morning.” I stand and open my door. No one makes a move. “I’m fine. Please let’s all get some rest.”
Finally, the guys leave my room and the tears flow down my cheeks. The pain is real and it hurts. I try my best to cry softly since I know the guys are probably still in the hallway. I go to the bathroom, shut the door, and inspect my face.
This is going to bruise–badly.
This is a mess.
Chapter Ten
Teo
YESTERDAY I HAD my day abruptly interrupted when my mother called me from out of nowhere. She never talks to me. In fact, I’ve not physically spoken to her in almost five years. Our conversation began with the simple pleasantries, all faked, until she finally told me the truth. She received word about me quitting and wants to know what is happening. After I explained to her it was none of her business she went off on me. She remembers my love of architecture and knew what I planned on doing. She wants me to come home. It’s then I told her about Klara. Then it all started. She told me how I needed to gain custody of Klara and get her to Sweden for her education and upbringing. I tried to explain the arrangement Nova and I had, but it ended with us shouting at each other and me hanging up on her.
After the phone call, my head was still filled with Mother’s words and Nova’s words as I overheard her and Liam talking the night before. How she still loves and breaking up with Liam made me really think. However, I don’t give second chances.
This is what caused me to go to the bar and drink until I didn’t have any more feelings or thoughts. I remember the female talking to me and us making out. The painful memory of hitting Nova is the reason I’m sitting on the side of my bed with my head in my hands.
I’m the worst human being alive.
I can’t believe I struck her. I hadn’t been trying to. I’d never hit a female, no matter how much I hate them. I wanted to hit Alden’s fucking dumb ass. He’s who I was aiming for. I still don’t know how I caught Nova. She’s much shorter than me. Then again, I was drunk and have no clue what was happening.
Now, I’m sitting on the bench in practice. No one is talking to me–not even Nathan. The entire team knows what happened and the looks I’m getting could kill me. Coach Long told me I wouldn’t be playing tonight even though I’m supposed to. He also told me I won’t be practicing today. Most of all, I’m not to go around Nova.
I need to speak with her. I need to apologize to her. I need to tell her the truth.
“Elgin.”
I turn to see Oliver standing next to me, arms crossed, and he also looks as if he could kill me.
“Come with me.”
I follow him to the locker room and the second the door closes he shoves me hard against the wall.
“I don’t fucking care if you report me to the police, the commissioner of the PHL, or God himself. I care about my goddaughter whom I just sent home on a plane with a black eye and a bruised cheek because
of you. Now, she’s still defending you, but what I see is a fucking piss ant in front of me. Just because you were drunk doesn’t mean it’s an excuse to fight anyone. I was pulling for you, Teo. I was pulling for you and Nova to be together. I was pulling for you to be with Klara. I was pulling for you to leave the Bears and become whatever you wanted to be. But you can kiss my ass because I don’t give a flying fuck what happens to you. You don’t give second chances, well neither do I.”
He and I are nose-to-nose. I’ve never been disappointed in myself expect for this very moment.
“You’re released from your contract. Get the fuck out of my sight.”
My mouth drops. He released me? I’m no longer a Bear.
“Get out of my sight, Teo.” He repeats. “And don’t come back.”
Oliver turns and leaves me standing alone. For the first time, in a very long time, tears roll freely from my eyes.
I’VE SAT IN my apartment for two days. Mostly in the dark with no noise around me. I feel like shit. I’m the lowest of the low. Scum of the earth is better than I am. My phone hasn’t gone off, and I’ve not tried to contact anyone either. There’s no point. Everyone hates me.
The knock on my door is a huge surprise. But when I open it my breath is taken away.
“Nova.” I gasp. “Klara.” There stands Nova in dark sunglasses holding my daughter. “What are you doing here?”
She hands me Klara’s bright pink diaper bag and then Klara. “I have some errands to run and Emma is under the weather. You can watch Klara until I’m finished.”
“Um…really?”
“You’re her father and she needs to be with you as much as me. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
Before I can say anything else Nova quickly leaves me holding Klara and the bag.
“Okay,” I say to Klara and kiss her cheek. “I’ve missed you, söt flicka.” I kiss her other cheek and forehead.
For the next couple hours, I have a blast with my daughter. We play, eat, and play some more. It’s amazing. I’m expecting Nova soon, but Nathan walks in.