Page 50 of Breaking the Ice

Either Yolanda is one heck of an actress or Zach did not tell me the truth about what went on between them. “If that’s true, then why is he telling everyone you were never a couple?”

She loudly blows her nose into a napkin before answering, “Zach has been hunted by a lot of women who see him as a means to an end.”

I remember what Zach said about Yolanda wanting to be seen with him so she could get her own national talk show. “But not you?”

Yolanda shakes her head. “I’m successful in my own right. I make a lot of money, and I don’t need Zach for anything other than …” She leans toward the center of the table before lowering her head like she’s about to confess to murder. “I’m going to need you to sign a non-disclosure agreement about what I’m about to tell you.”

This is my chance to make sure she agrees to pay me in cash, so I tell her, “I’m happy to, after you pay me.” My face flushes by how mercenary that sounds, so I add, “I would prefer being paid in cash so I can start paying my mom’s medical bills. She’s in the hospital right now.”

Yolanda doesn’t appear shocked by my request—almost like she’s paid a bribe or two before. “What’s your PayPal handle?” I write it on a napkin and slide it over to her as she picks up her phone. She hits several buttons before declaring, “Sent.” Then she puts her phone down and refocuses her attention onto me.

As soon as my phone pings, I pick it up and discover that Yolanda did indeed transfer the money. I’d no sooner be able to initiate a transaction like that than I would be able to fly to the moon by simply flapping my arms. “What is it you need Zach for?”

Once again, tears pool in the reporter’s eyes. “I need him to give our child his last name.”

I don’t know what I was expecting her to say, but it was not that. “Excuse me?!” I didn’t mean to yell that, but I cannot believe what she just said.

Yolanda looks from side to side to see how many people are staring at us. Luckily, with all the famous hockey players around, my outburst didn’t create much of a scene. “Zach and I slept together for the first time on our first date.” Cue the tears to start falling harder.

It’s not that I find it hard to believe Yolanda would sleep with someone on the first date, but Zach made no move to do more than kiss me last night. Could that be because he doesn’t find me as attractive as Yolanda? My heart sinks as doubt circulates through me.

Yolanda doesn’t appear to notice my turmoil. Instead, she sighs dramatically and says, “That man could kiss the spots off a leopard.” The little hairs all over my body shoot straight up in response. Even though I agree with her, how would she know that unless she’s been kissed by Zach—which is something he claims never happened.

“So, you slept with him on your first date …” I know I sound judgy, but I don’t care. I’m madder than a wet hornet. I believed everything Zach told me.

Yolanda’s left eyebrow lifts toward her hairline. “I’m not embarrassed that I did. I’m just mortified he won’t be truthful about it.” She moves her hands around herself like she’s spokes-modeling a microwave on The Price is Right. “What man in his right mind wouldn’t want the world to know he’d been with me?”

“I … um … that is …” I’m in awe of any woman who has this kind of innate confidence about herself. Even though I’m reasonably attractive, I’m not cocky about it.

Yolanda continues, “I’m about to be visibly pregnant and the father of my child is going out of his way to make me look like I’m a crazy stalker.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way,” I tell her. “But you’re the one raking him through the coals in the press.”

Her posture jerks upright. “Are you taking his side over mine?”

I obviously don’t want her to think that, especially because I’m no longer sure who’s telling the truth. “I’m just playing the devil’s advocate,” I tell her. “But you’re the one giving the interviews.”

Her nostrils flare slightly. “In the first interview I simply said that Zach and I were in a committed relationship. Nothing more.”

“The following week, you told Whoopi Goldberg he was a misogynist pig,” I remind her.

Yolanda slams her water glass down, sending icy drops flying in my direction. “Because he claimed I was nothing to him! I’m growing the man’s child, Ellie.” She starts crying again, and darn if she isn’t portraying a sympathetic character.

“Does Zach know you’re having his baby?” My throat tightens as the word “baby” comes out. It sounds like I’m gasping for my final breath on earth.

“No, but he’ll say it’s not his when he finds out.”

“And you say otherwise.”

Her left eye narrows like she’s activating a death ray. “Zach is the only man I’ve slept with in the last six months. I’m only two months pregnant. You do the math.”

I’m so off kilter right now, I don’t know what to think. The only reason I’m starting to believe Yolanda is because she knows what a great kisser Zach is—and he is. He, on the other hand, is claiming they never kissed. How would Yolanda have this information about him if she wasn’t telling the truth?

“I suppose you could get a DNA test,” I tell her.

“That’s a given.” She says this with such certainty I feel a stab of pain in my heart. If Yolanda is that sure Zach will be confirmed as the father, then he likely is. My skin burns hot with betrayal. I can’t believe he lied to me about this. Worse yet, I can’t believe I changed my mind about him and believed he was telling the truth when he told me Yolanda was making everything up.

If what she says is true—and I’m now realizing it probably is—then the only reason Zach kissed me last night was to ensure I’d be on his side when I met with Yolanda. Why else would the man agree to give me forty thousand dollars unless he was trying to buy my loyalty? I suddenly feel hollow, like I’ve been drained of all my strength.

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