Page 39 of Outlaw Heartstrings
“Home? You’re not home. We’ve been by your apartment,” Parker argues.
“Home,home. I came back to Fairy Bush,” I announce to them.
“Well, thanks for the heads-up, asshole,” Ronan grumbles. “So nice of you to keep your team captain in the loop.”
Tipton shakes his head in disgust. “And here I was, freaking worried about you. I couldn’t even enjoy the blowjob I got last night. Sabrina was so fucking pissed, I had to make her come three times just so she wouldn’t make me sleep on the couch.”
Ronan scrunches up his nose. “You were thinking about Easton in the middle of a blowjob? I think there’s a deeper issue that needs to be addressed over there.”
Tipton makes a bumbling attempt to backtrack on his statement but when the rest of us break out laughing, he can’t help but cackle along.
“I’ll be sure to bring it up with my life coach,” he says, all snark.
Parker shakes his head and changes the subject. “Hey, are you off the crutches already?” he asks me.
“Yes, I’m off the crutches and I started physical therapy,” I tell them, feeling proud of myself. “I’m finally making some damn progress.”
The guys start asking a million questions about my recovery. But that’s not what I want to talk about.
“Guys, guys. Slow it down,” I say appeasingly with a laugh. “Let me tell you why I called. I actually have some big news.”
“What could be bigger than your return to the ice, man?” Ronan jokes. “With you out of the game, we got our asses handed to us in our last few matches of the season.”
The Saints had been on a pretty solid winning streak midway through the season. But the team got eliminated from the running a couple games after I sustained my injury. I can’t help but feel guilty for not being there to support my guys.
But I push those feelings aside right now. There’s something even more important on my brain at the moment.
“I have a son,” I blurt out. “An eight-year-old son.”
For a moment, the guys are speechless. They stare blankly at the screen.
“I’m sorry. I think your phone is breaking up there.” Tipton blinks at me. “I thought you just said you have a kid?”
I laugh, nodding my head. “You heard me right. I have a son.”
“Easton Raines is a dad?” Parker splutters. “How the hell did that happen?”
I roll my eyes at the rookie right winger. He’s one of the youngest players on the team and I justknowthat he’s a virgin. No one can tell me otherwise.
“Well, Parker,” I say patronizingly. “When a boy and a girl—”
“Shut up,” he mutters, lifting his chin haughtily. “I just thought you knew how to wrap it up.”
I hawk. “Yeah, well, shit happens...” I say, scratching the back of my neck.
Man. I’ve always used a condom. The one time I gotdrunk and slipped up, I ended up leaving a baby behind. I’m so sorry for being a careless idiot. But then I guess I’m not all that sorry, because Jagger is amazing.
The guys start pressing for the juicy details but I don’t feel the need to air out all of my dirty laundry for them. I turn the conversation to what’s important.
“But man, you guys would love this kid. His name is Jagger. He’s smart, fucking hilarious, and he’s obsessed with hockey. He’s barely had any training, but he’s already a natural,” I rave about my kid.My son. I’ll never get tired of repeating those words in my head.
“Wow, man. Congrats. That’s huge,” Parker comments.
Tipton nods. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so excited.”
“Yeah, I’ve got to say I’m shocked,” Ronan adds. “You—Easton Raines—happily wearing the dad hat?”
“I know. I’m still wrapping my head around it, too.” I’ve always had a ladies man reputation. But now I have a son I love and I’m willing to change everything for him. “All I know is that I want to give Jagger all the things I never had. I’m not going to abandon him, like my own dad did,” I promise.
