Page 15 of Break

“Well, just keep it to yourselves, please. I don’t want James to know.” I smile softly at them and slowly get up off of the couch. “Anyone still hungry?”

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After we spend the day shopping, and letting the girls talk me into going to the spa for manicures and pedicures, we stop off at home to drop off their bags. They also talked me into heading over to James’s house for them to pack up more of their stuff andhope to talk to him about living with me full-time. They don’t want to blindside him.

I don’t blame them, if it wasn’t for Alex, they would probably have stayed with him. Maybe. He’s not home very much during the season.

We’ll just blame it on her anyway.

I stay in my SUV in the driveway after they jump out and head through the front door. I left my garage door opener here after I moved so they have to go around anyway. I just hope he doesn’t come out and try to talk to me. With any luck, his little girlfriend is keeping him nice and occupied.

I stare down at my phone, scrolling through my emails and responding to Annika and Dr. Patterson that I’m ready for the rink whenever they are, I guess. What’s the harm in going back now? Getting out of the clinic might help clear my mind, even if I have to see James all the time.

I just need to sign the forms. Maybe I can call the OB tomorrow and ask their opinion on being on skates instead of waiting for my appointment, if Dr. Patterson even lets me on the ice. He’s been back and forth about it since I told him about being pregnant. At least until Annika gets the second location open so that I can work across town and not seeanyhockey players.

Let’s hope I can do that. Gosh, all of this back and forth and the hormones and crying is driving me insane.

Someone knocks on my window and I hold my breath as I glance over and narrow my eyes at James. I roll the window down and blink at him. Damn.

He looks like shit. His blonde hair is in a disarray, dark circles under his sky-blue eyes. He’s wearing baggy clothes and looks like he’s been on a bender. “Yes?”

He sighs and runs his fingers through his hair. “Can we talk?”

I shrug and set my phone in the cupholder, leaning back against the leather seat, wishing I can put my feet up to get more comfortable. My damn legs have been going numb and swelling up a little bit lately.

“Why did you move out? Was it because of Alex? You didn’t need to leave, Marie. This is your house, too. I just don’t understand why the girls are with you.”

I tilt my head at him, pressing my lips together. “Talk to them, I never asked them to move in with me. This is their idea, too. You know I would never do that.”

He looks away and leans against my car door, crossing his arms over his chest. “What happened to us, M? I thought we would live together until we were old and gray. You could have moved someone in, we have the damn room for it.”

I snort at him and send him a look. “I never brought another man here, just as you never brought another woman… until Alex. It was out of respect for our home and the girls. They didn’t need to see dates and men and women in and out of their lives. They deserve some stability, safety, and happiness. All they’ve known is you and me here for them. I really don’t want to talk to you about this, James.

“One. You didn’t even tell me you were dating anyone. You blindsided both me and the girls with you moving a stranger in. Two. She’s rude as hell and the girls don’t want to be near her, and I’m sure as fuck not going to subject myself to that shit inmy own home either, neither should they. Three. Just make sure you’re not making a mistake. You knock her up, which is going to happen without using protection, then you step up and deal with the ramifications. Sorry, but… Who goes months of talking to, ordatingsomeone, and out of nowhere they say they have a latex allergy and she needs STD tests done? Are you even sure she’s on birth control?”

He blinks at me for several, long, quiet moments and sighs. “She said she went into the doctor’s office and had an implant put in.”

I nod and tilt my head. “Did you ask for proof?”

He furrows his brows and shrugs. “I can’t really ask her to spread her legs and let me check, can I?”

I roll my eyes and glance out the windshield, staring at the garage door. “She probably had it put in her arm if she specifically said implant and not IUD… Just be careful, James.” I wave and roll up the window. The girls come skipping out with some over-filled duffel bags and ignore their brother as they hop in the back of my car and we drive off.

If he knocks up that Alex woman, that’s his karma, I guess. He knows we don’t like her and he’s driving away his ownunderagesisters out of the only home they’ve really known. Then he’ll have two babies on the way.

I guess it’s just time for me to step upagain.

Chapter 5

James

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The words that Marie uttered to me before peeling out of the driveway circle through my mind. I did think it was strange that Alex is suddenly allergic to latex and needed all these tests done, and when I went to the doctor’s office, they told me that an Alexandra Miller had not had an appointment at all that day. But why would she lie? There’s no reason to.

She’s always been genuine and honest with me. I don’t see why that would stop now, especially since she has plenty of her own money.

I step up onto the bus and sit down next to Logan before we head off to the airport for a long week of away games. Once we get rolling I pull out my phone and send out the text messages to all of the girls.

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