Page 2 of Puck, Marry, Thrill

Kenneth’s patience was hanging by a thread. “I don’t really want to skate with a guy who isn’t man enough to tell me he’s screwing my ex-wife on the side. And my entire team is married—except me—which means that guy is cheatingon his wifewithmy ex-wife. I’m not cool with infidelity or liars. I’m finalizing sole custody today and arranging to have my ex-wife’s spousal payments reduced, so we might as well lay it all on the line.”

“It’s more money…”

Kenneth snorted. “Oh mercy, don’t tell Candi that.”

“About Candi…”

“Yeah? What now?” Kenneth asked warily.

“How ‘over’ is your marriage?”

Kenneth blinked, momentarily thrown by the question. “Very.”

“Then we’ll have to pass on this offer.”

His fingers flexed on the wheel.

“Why is that?”

“It’s a new team. They’re announcing it in a few weeks, and they’re really pushing the whole family image.”

Kenneth scoffed. “I have a family—I’m a single dad with an amazing kid who would do well to play with other children.”

“It’s the word ‘single’ that’s a problem.”

Kenneth felt his pulse spike as he noticed an opening in the traffic and took it, his tires skidding slightly as he veered onto the exit ramp. A blaring horn erupted behind him, followed by a middle finger from a furious driver. He exhaled sharply, gripping the wheel.

“Terry, I gotta call you back.”

“Yup. Call me when you get out—or later tonight.”

Kenneth ended the call, the words echoing in his mind.

It’s the word ‘single’ that’s a problem.

Kenneth’s knuckles turned white as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his mind already spinning in a hundred different directions. This wasn’t how today was supposed to go. He had expected a routine custody hearing, the usual legal back-and-forth, but nothing out of the ordinary. Instead, his ex-wife had pulled another stunt, one he hadn’t seen coming.

“Will do,” he muttered into his phone, ending the call with his agent before pulling into the courthouse parking lot. His stomach churned with irritation, but he forced himself to take a steadying breath.

This was for Zachary.

That was the only thing that mattered.

Thirty minutes later, Kenneth stood at the front of the courtroom, his expression frozen in shock. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. Candi had lawyered up, demanding more money, renegotiating her holiday schedule with Zachary, and—unbelievably—going after his car.

His Maserati Quattroporte.

The very car he had bought four years ago was a purchase he had made for himself. Now, after over a year of divorce, she was claiming it had been a wedding gift.

His stomach burned with frustration, his pulse hammering in his ears.

“I’m used to a certain lifestyle,” Candi whined, flicking her manicured nails as if she were discussing something as trivial as an out-of-season handbag.

Kenneth’s blood pressure skyrocketed, his patience wearing thinner than ever. “On your back?” he snarled, his voice cutting through the room like a blade.

Laughter exploded in the courtroom. Even the bailiff smirked before catching himself.

Candi pouted, batting her lashes in an attempt to appear innocent. “Kenneth was always good to me…”

---