Page 32 of Sleepless Nights and Hockey Fights

I swing back toward the entrance and run smack into a firm chest. “Oh! Sorry!” I say as strong hands grip my biceps to steady me. But when I look up, my surprise turns to delight. “Blake!”

My ex grins down at me. “I see you still don’t watch where you’re going.”

All I can do is shrug. “Matty will be so happy you’re here. They’re doing a scrimmage today.” I turn to wave our kid down, but Blake stops me.

“Just a second.”

I shoot him a questioning gaze, but his eyes are scanning the practice facility. “Which one of these guys is Bobby Rhodes?”

I groan inwardly. I’m going to be forced to act like the mature adult I claim to be, aren’t I? Little could make this situation any more humiliating than having to introduce my gay ex-husband to the guy I just kissed—the same one who is currently flirting with his next conquest right in front of me. Where is that python siren when I need it?

As if sensing the mortification rolling off me in sonic waves, Bobby turns away from the raven-haired beauty and starts in our direction. They’ve probably already arranged a rendezvous later tonight at some club where rich, beautiful people bang. A glance at his face reveals an expression I haven’t seen before on him, and I can’t quite read it.

Blake stiffens next to me, and then his arm wraps around my shoulders, his palm pulling me into him so I’m all but cradled into his side. What in the world?

“Molly!” Bobby greets me with a smile, but it’s not the one that shows his dimples. This one is tight.

“Hi, Bobby,” I reply as he draws near. For a second, I think he’s going to lean in and kiss me, but instead, he stops short and sways back on his heels, his skates giving him at least an extra two inches in height.

Bobby’s eyes rake my face before he shifts them to Blake and thrusts out a hand. “Bobby Rhodes.”

Blake takes the offered hand and the two shake for what feels like an uncomfortably long time. “Blake Sparks,” Blake says in atone that begins to sound a little strangled by the end. What is going on here? They finally release each other. “So, how do you know my wife?”

My head whips up as I stare dumbly at Blake, but he won’t meet my eyes. Before I can say anything, Bobby cuts in.

“I’m sorry. Don’t you meanex-wife?”

“Six of one,” Blake inexplicably replies with a shrug.Six of one? Really?Since no one else is volunteering, I nominate myself as the adult in the room and turn to Bobby as I extricate myself from Blake’s grip.

“Bobby, this is Blake, Matthew’s father and my ex-husband. Blake, this is Bobby Rhodes, my client and one of the hockey instructors for the kids’ league.”

“Bobby,” Blake begins again. “Do you mind if I have a word with my wife in private?”

“Ex-wife,” I correct. Has he taken a blow to the head while on the road?

“Not at all,” Bobby responds, reaching out to squeeze my bicep in a way-too-familiar gesture for current company. “We’ll talk later, Sparkle.” He winks at me, not giving Blake another glance before striding on his skates to the rink door.

Oh, for the love of god. Did these two men just metaphorically pee on me to stake their claim? Last I checked, one of them is gay, and the other was just securing a date with another woman right in front of me!

Before I can think of the appropriate words to express how idiotic Blake is being, he starts in on me with a whisper-hiss. “You didn’t tell me you weresleepingwith the guy!”

I draw in a sharp gasp and glance around to make sure nobody heard him. Thankfully, no one is paying any attention to us, so I erase all but one inch of distance between us and bite back, “I’m not sleeping with him. Oh my god! What are youdoing here? Spying on me? I thought you were here to see your son play hockey!”

“I am,” he retorts, each of us continuing in forceful whispers. “But I also wanted to make sure this guy mentoring Matty wasn’t some deviant. It didn’t occur to me that you’re the one who’d need looking out for instead of Matty.” His tone is accusing, and it has me grinding my molars together.

“I don’t need ‘looking out for,’ Blake.” I poke an index finger into his chest. “I can take care of myself. Besides, it’s none of your business if I’m seeing someone.”

“So youaresleeping with him.”

That’s it. I’m going to jail for murder. “No.” It takes all I’ve got to force levity into my tone. We’re in a public place, after all. “But that’s beside the point. I could if I wanted to, and it would be none of your business.”

Blake thrusts his fingers through his loose hair. “It’s my business who’s spending time with my wife and child.”

“I’m not your wife anymore, Blake!” My voice rises to the point where we both glance around this time. I immediately spot Bobby watching us from the rink. Great. I sigh and turn back to Blake.

“You know what I mean,” my ex says.

“No, I don’t. We don’t have that kind of relationship anymore.Idecide what’s best for me now.Itake care of myself and count on myself. Nobody else does that anymore.” Fuck. Why do I want to cry?

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