Page 113 of Play Dirty

I’m staring at her like she’s grown a second head. “Brenna, I honestly?—”

I’m cut off as Madeline comes barreling around the corner. “There you are! I was just coming to make sure everything is okay.”

“The kids are here and I’m heading back to Tennessee. Take care of yourself, Marty.” Brenna bends to hug and kiss each of the kids, and then turns and walks out of the room, leaving me staring after her in confusion.

“Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?”

“Anonymous donor wrote Brenna a check. Their attorney reached out to me, and I drew up the papers. It all happened within the last two hours, and you didn’t pick up when I called you.”

“Anonymous donor? What the fuck does that mean?”

Ivan rolls his eyes. “You’re not really this much of a dumbass, right? I mean, you have to know who did this.”

I turn and we stare at each other for a beat.

Stevie.

Oh my fucking God.

“Is that true?” I ask Madeline. “Was it Stevie?”

Her eyes twinkle. “I can’t really say. The attorney was cagey.”

“But—”

“Daddy, I have to go potty!” Martin tugs on my leg.

“I’ll take him,” Ivan says, scooping him up. “Come on, big guy. You and Uncle Ivan will find a bathroom.”

“Tell me,” I say to Madeline. “Was it Stevie?”

“She asked to stay anonymous.”

“I don’t understand.”

She makes a weird face, scrunching up her nose. “You’re too old to be this obtuse.”

“What does that mean?” I ask in frustration.

“She loves you.”

“But…” I feel like I have whiplash.

Brenna.

The kids.

Stevie.

Why would she do this if she didn’t want to be with me?

Because she does, dumbass.

I don’t know what to do about any of this, but I have a game in a very short time and I need to find someone to watch the kids immediately.

“How do you feel about kids?” I ask Madeline.

One eyebrow shoots up. “There isn’t enough money in the world.”

---