Page 31 of Break

“All of it is gone. There’s photos of herself and James up… that’s it.”

I frown and place my hand on her shoulder. “I love you girls. We need a break from him and we can still watch his games, but no more coming over here, and no more dinners, okay? He needs to figure his shit out and all he’s doing to us is hurting us. You’re both more important, your feelings matter.”

She nods and sniffles. “I think that’s what’s best.”

Caroline joins us and turns up the volume on the radio and we drive to the house without speaking again. I want to ask her how her talk with James went, but her face is completely closed off. Definitely need to spoil them tomorrow before the dinner at the Evanses house… They need happiness, stability. And they’ll always have that with me.

Chapter 8

James

__________

It’s been a month since I’ve seen the girls. Well, I see them at my home games when Marie works and I see Marie around the rink almost every day when we practice.

But she doesn’t talk to me. The girls aren’t answering their phones. I finally broke and begged Nolan and Landon to forgive me for the shit I’ve been putting them through and told them I’m done asking about Marie. We hugged it out and I’ve been going out to the bars again with them. Sometimes Logan joins, but he’s always busy with Bianca.

Alex refuses to go out and meet them, anyone really, so she sits at home and online shops. She only leaves the house to go to the airport to her mom in LA, or to go shopping. Alone. Every time I ask if she wants to go out to eat, she makes up excuses on why we should stay in. I mean, it’s fine, we don’t need to go out to have a nice night.

She met Nolan several weeks ago when he showed up unannounced to watch a game and drink some beers. He wasrespectful towards her, and she still comes up with excuses on why he can’t ever come over again.

She seems to really love her privacy.

I’m also waiting on the results from my last appointment with the doctor on my latest sperm sample. It’s been over two months since the procedure and I haven’t been shooting blanks yet. Close, but not close enough.

Which also means I haven’t slept with Alex yet. We’ve done everything else, but I just fall asleep right after so that she can’t beg for me to fuck her, blaming the hockey season and how tired I’ve been. I’d have done it. I’m too weak to not cave to a begging, naked woman wrapped up in my red silk sheets. At least I can admit it.

But I’m too paranoid now after what the guys and Marie pointed out. I’d rather not take any chances.

We have more away games this week and will be gone for ten days this trip, then we have a few weeks off for Christmas. I just hope that the girls let me see them so that I can give them their gifts, and it’s my birthday tomorrow.

Marie sent me a package and it was delivered a few days ago. There was a card and a new duffel bag that she had all decked out for me. My last name, team name, and number are on it. There was even a gift certificate to my favorite restaurant in the card.

The girls both called, but since Alex wanted to celebrate my birthday with me at home, they declined on joining.

“Carter! Get your head in the game!”

I nod at my coach and get back in formation, letting the icy air calm me. Breathing in and shaking out my limbs,I stare down Logan who’s my direct opponent today during practice. The asshole is getting married on New Year’s Eve and I’m looking forward to having Alex come out and finally meet everyone. Even if I had to tell a white lie about who’s actually attending.

The puck is dropped and Logan and I skate forward towards each other, shoving each other as we chase the puck. The sounds of our heavy breathing, our skates gliding in the ice, our sticks pounding and slapping against each other as we chase the black rubber puck.

He gets it away from me and shoots it to the other side of the rink. I chase after it, shoving and maneuvering my way towards it, slapping it to Blake to make the shot.

Goal.

Fuck, yeah!

Our first line center forward, Morgan is right behind me, hollering and hooting. He came out last week for drinks and told us about the problems he’s been having with his wife, apparently she’s been secreting money away into a separate bank account and he found out she’s been talking to and seeing other men… He said they’re trying counseling but I feel like everything is going to shit for everyone around here lately.

We play for another hour before our coach calls it and tells us to get showered.

I turn to check across the rink and see Marie shuffling away, staring down at her tablet as she types up her notes. No one got hurt today, but she still checked out a few of the guys that went down too hard. I still have no idea why Patterson has to be with her and she refuses to get on the ice.

Am I that repulsive?

I scowl as I make my way to the locker room, shucking off my gear and hitting the showers. I rush through my shower, making sure to rinse off completely before I turn off the water.

I wrap my towel around me as I pad over to my locker and shuck on my sweatpants and a t-shirt, placing my hoodie on my arm as I step into my shoes.

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