Page 91 of Play Dirty

She knows I’m serious and she also knows Phil doesn’t have a lily-white reputation either. If I’m honest, there’s probably less to find on him than on Stevie, but Stevie was young when she did all the crazy things I saw in the press. All of Phil’s transgressions, such that they are, are much more recent.

I don’t know what’s going to happen but I’ll be damned if I let her attempt to drive a wedge between me and Stevie by getting some bullshit TRO.

That’s all this is.

Misplaced jealousy and possibly…regret?

Realizing she’s made a mistake?

The hockey rumor mill is pretty active, and I have friends across lots of organizations. Rumor has it that Philippe isn’t thrilled to have a girlfriend with kids, and that he’s been bitching about how much of Brenna’s time they take up. That’s probably the only reason she let me have them for so long in the off-season. Now that she has them back, she has to do something to…what?

That’s the part I can’t figure out.

Is she trying to get me back or at least feel things out? In her mind, she probably figures there’s no way I’m leaving my young, hot supermodel girlfriend for my soon-to-be ex-wife, so her first step would be to break us up.

What she doesn’t realize is that I don’t love her anymore.

I’ll always care about her as the mother of my children, but the love we once had died the day I saw the nude photos of her on Phil’s phone. She broke our relationship that day in a way that isn’t fixable. She can come between every single woman I meet, between now and when I die, and I still won’t love her again.

And my feelings for Stevie go way beyond the fact that she’s some hot, young supermodel. Yes, she’s breathtaking on the outside. I won’t even pretend that I don’t notice or that she’s probably way out of my league in the looks department. But on the inside? She’s sweet and caring, kind and vulnerable, a kindred spirit who needs me as much as I need her.

She makes me smile every day.

She surprises me too.

I didn’t know she can cook, didn’t know she loves baseball, and had no idea she plays piano—I found out the last thing today.

Every day we’re together our bond strengthens, and though I know she worries about not being able to have more children, I’m starting to realize there’s more to family than a bunch of kids. I always thought that having four or five of them meant I’d have it all.

Now I know having it all means having the right people, the right woman, at my side. The children I already have are perfect. There’s no reason for more, and I know Stevie will be the best stepmother ever. I see how good she is with Ally, who’s a pain in the ass on her best days. Yet Stevie is kind and patient and loving with her, but also firm or stern if she has to be.

That’s how she’ll be with my kids in a few years, as they become pre-teens and teens.

And I can picture it.

I know she’s the right woman for me.

For us.

I don’t need a babysitter—I can afford nannies from now until doomsday.

All I need is Stevie.

And I’ll be damned if I let Brenna fuck this up for me.

* * *

The meetingwith my attorney is annoying as hell but I don’t waver in my determination to protect Stevie. The kids aren’t even with me right now, so this is bullshit and we both know it.

“On paper, she’s problematic, Marty.” My attorney, Luke Johansen, has represented several of my teammates and is supposed to be one of the best for pro athletes getting divorced.

“I don’t care what it looks like on paper, I’m telling you she’s a good woman. A thousand times better than Brenna.”

“That may be, but a judge is going to look at this—” He waves the stack of papers on his desk—the ones highlighting all of Stevie’s issues over the years. “—and he could rule in Brenna’s favor.”

“And I’m paying you a fuck ton of money to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“I specialize in divorce, not restraining orders for kids. This is actually my first time coming across this.”

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