Page 65 of One Pucking Life

I don’t wait for his response. Holding Caroline close, I head upstairs, suddenly desperate for the quiet of the nursery.

In just a few minutes, I’ve learned of both a Brittani and an Aubrey. And while there might be completely reasonable explanations, I feel sick. Growing up, my dad had a revolving door of mistresses. I know Max isn’t my father, but he is one of the hottest players on a professional hockey team. Since I’ve started learning more about the sport, I’ve heard about “puck bunnies.” Apparently, they’re a thing. A big thing. Given what I know about Max’s past, I probably don’t want to know how many of them he’s been with.

I lay Caroline down and back away slowly. My heart thuds in my chest. I don’t want to go back downstairs. I don’t want to face any of this.

I sink into the glider in the corner and rock in the dim light of the nursery, the sound machine filling the silence. A few tears slip down my cheeks.

There’s a sick, sinking feeling in my gut that I made a mistake dropping my walls. If I’d kept them up, I wouldn’t be sitting in the dark crying over Brittani and Aubrey. Maybe I was wrong for loving Max. What did it get me? Two weeks of bliss... and now this?

Sure, I don’t know who those women really are or what they mean to him. Maybe it’s all innocent. But if it’s not? Is this what my life will look like? Random women showing up at our door, messaging him online, always wondering if someone else will catch his attention?

The worst part is I already knew better.

I told Iris from day one that I don’t mess with jocks for a reason. I’m not here to compete for a man’s attention or prove my worth to him.

I don’t know if I can do this anymore. I don’t want to live in fear of another woman catching his eye. I don’t want to feel on edge. This isn’t who I want to be.

After a few minutes, I pull myself together and quietly leave the nursery. I might be terrified of the conversation ahead, but I’m no coward. It’s better to face it now than wait until I’m even deeper in this relationship.

I find Max in the kitchen.

“Hey,” he says when he hears me enter. The refrigerator is open, and he grabs some ingredients. “I was just about to make a sandwich. You want one?”

“No.”

My tone must have caught him off guard because he freezes, then slowly closes the fridge and sets the food back down.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, turning to face me.

I raise a brow, crossing my arms.

“Right.” He sighs. “Obviously, Brittani.” He runs a hand through his hair. “She was one of the women I interviewed for the nanny position. The one I told you about—the influencerwho was more interested in filming content than interacting with Caroline. I haven’t seen her since that day. I don’t know why she showed up, but I made it very clear she’s never to come back.”

“And Aubrey?”

He shifts uncomfortably, his weight rocking back and forth. “Okay, so you heard that too. You have to believe me. Nothing is going on with Aubrey.”

“Who is she?”

“Someone I hooked up with once, maybe a year ago. She showed up at the arena after practice last week and has been DMing me since. I told her I wasn’t interested and blocked her. I swear, Laney, there’s nothing to worry about.” He takes a step toward me and reaches for my hand. I pull it away.

“I don’t know. I don’t think I can do this.”

“Laney, no.” He steps closer and gently runs his hands up and down my arms. “Listen, I know your dad cheated, and that left deep scars. But I’m not him. I never will be. I swear. I’m sorry those women think it’s okay to reach out or just show up uninvited. I’ll do everything in my power to stop that from happening. But I promise you—I’m a one-woman man. I only want you.”

“For now, maybe.”

Real fear flashes across his face. “No. Forever. You’re the only woman I will ever want, Laney.”

“You don’t know that. Time changes things, Max. What we have now could fade. A new girl could come along, and even if you don’t act on it, she might still get your attention. I don’t want to live like that—always waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

His jaw tightens as he inhales slowly through his nose. He looks like he’s working hard to keep his voice calm. “You’re wrong,” he says gently. “I am absolutely sure you’re the only one I’ll ever want. You know I’ve been with my fair share of women—I’ve never lied to you about that. But that was a different life. With all those women, not once did I fall in love. Not once did I get serious. Until you.”

He cups my cheek, his voice softer. “You’re different. You’re my first and only love. I don’t know how to convince you I’ll never want anyone else except to tell you that I won’t. Because I know myself. And I know what I feel for you. What I will always feel for you. We have a connection I didn’t even know was possible—and I would never, ever betray that. Never.”

My eyes sting, tears threatening. “I don’t know.”

“If this is going to work, you have to trust me. Trust us. Believe in what we have.” He brushes a tear off my cheek with his thumb. “I know your parents didn’t give you the best example of love, but what they had isn’t what we have. What we have is real. You see that, don’t you?”

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