Page 35 of Bagging the Blueliner
Then, it was time for pictures. The Slate family gathered with the judge first, then beckoned other groups to join them to commemorate this special day.
Natalie and Jaxon were well-loved. The entire Comets roster was in attendance to show their support. Jaxon’s parents and brother were present, along with Natalie’s former in-laws. Their son might be a sadistic bastard, but they always had Natalie’s back. I could only imagine how hard it was to see their grandchildren given a new last name, but they couldn’t deny how much Jaxon loved those kids.
My best friend’s happy ending only kept getting happier, but I wondered when I would get mine.
Exhausted from the emotions of the day, our girl gang relaxed in Natalie’s living room once all the guests went home. We kicked the boys out, and they retreated next door to Amy and Liam’s house.
They were used to the drill by now. It was how we ended most major holidays and parties held at the Slate house.
“What a day.” Natalie sighed.
“But a great one,” Amy countered. “All is right in the world. The only thing better would be if Jaxon was their biological father.”
I jumped in, “Yeah, that would have been a trip. Jaxon wasn’t even drafted when Amelia was born.”
Natalie waved Amy off. “Jaxon’s a great father, but he needed time to establish his life before we fell into it. He’s here now. That’s all that matters.”
Amy set her sights on me. “We got Lucy married off, and Jaxon adopted the kids. Looks like you’re the only loose end left, Hannah.”
“Is that how you guys see me? Something to tie up?” I asked.
“No, of course not. I just meant we all got what we wanted. Now, it’s your turn. Any new developments since we last spoke?”
“Actually . . .”
Amy’s eyes lit up. “Wait. Did you do it?”
Natalie’s mouth dropped open. “Did you?”
“No,” I admitted. “But something really strange happened on the road.”
“Strange how?” Lucy asked. She’d been oddly quiet all day, unable to keep her emotions in check.
“It’s better if I show you.” I reached for my phone.
“Stop!” Natalie yelled. “I don’t want to see whatever dick pic is on there.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not a dick pic, Nat. But now I’m curious about what you and Jaxon are up to when he disappears for hours on end with the excuse of ‘calling his wife.’”
She blushed a deep scarlet, and I had my answer.
Impatient, Amy asked, “Well, then what is it?”
Pulling up my voicemails, I turned the speaker on and pressed play. All three of them leaned in to listen. By this point, I knew the words by heart.
“You think it’s funny to tease me, Hannah? To make it so I can’t get hard after watching some loser put his hands on you? I have wasted too many years watching you, wishing I could be the one making you scream. Well, guess what? I’m done. Get the fuck out of my head.”
The recording ended, and three sets of wide eyes stared at me.
Natalie found her voice first. “Was that Cal?”
Nodding, I confirmed, “Uh-huh.”
Amy asked, “When did he send this?”
If anyone could make sense of this, it was Amy, so I replied, “I woke up to this the last day on the road. The night before, we were in the hotel bar. I was with a couple of guys, let them buy me a few drinks, but went back to my room alone. Cal had some blonde bimbo with fake boobs all over him. They weren’t still there when I left. I’m assuming he took her back to his room. That’s what he does.”
“Interesting.”
