Page 45 of Cold As Ice

“But ifs you’re Mommy’s friend, you can comes with us,” she pouted. “We’re going to see Jer.”

Jer?

Who the fuck was Jer?

“Oh no, princess. Austin has plans. He can’t come with us.”

“That’s right. I have to go now.” I started to back up, ready to get the fuck out of there.

“We’ll talk later?” Madison’s eyes drilled into mine, all the things she couldn’t say hanging between us.

A small nod was all I managed before I moved around them and took off toward the bar.

Ready to drown my fucking sorrows and figure out how the hell I missed this.

CHAPTER8

MADISON

“You know,babe. If you watch your phone any longer, it might spontaneously combust,” Jeremiah said as we sat in his apartment, watching Immy terrorize his cat Vader.

“Want to talk about it?”

“Yes… no.” I peeked over at him. “Oh, I don’t know.”

“I’m guessing this has something to do with the cryptic text Fawn sent me the other day.”

“She didn’t!”

“Mads, come on. It’s been five years. Of course, she was going to tell me. Hell, you should have told me.” He gave me a disappointed look.

“I wasn’t sure there was anything to tell.”

“Did you sleep with him?” He lowered his voice. Not that Immy was paying us any attention, too busy chasing Vader around the kitchen.

“I…”

“Oh my God, you did. Good for you, babe. It’s about time you dusted off your va—”

“Jer!” I scolded, casting my gaze back to Immy.

“Was it good? Fawn said he’s a hockey player. I’ve seen their pre-game workouts on the ice. All those stretches. Gets me hot just thinking about it.” He fanned himself dramatically.

“I didn’t think men in skates were your thing.” I smirked.

“They’re not, but it doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate their dedication to the game.” He winked, and we both laughed.

But mine quickly subsided when I remembered the absolute look of horror on Austin’s face when he realized Imogen was my daughter.

I should have told him.

God, I should have come clean and told him so he heard it from me first.

It was too late now.

He would probably never speak to me again, and if he didn’t, then it was his loss. I didn’t need somebody in my life who couldn’t accept us as a package deal.

Still, it didn’t make me feel any better about the fact I hadn’t told him before he found out.

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