Page 29 of Dump and Chase

We talked more as Mom made sure I had a healthy breakfast. Leah slinked off back to bed while Dad went to pull out the largest luggage we had. I’d just finished eating and booking a flight out for Monday morning when Wolseley and Jill arrived.

“I guess it’s time to tell your friends, but you will be having dinner with us for your last two nights here. No excuses.”

I kissed Mom on the cheek and thought how cute she was assuming that my friends didn’t know what was going on. I headed to the door and let them in since they’d come together.

“Ladies, it’s time to pack.”

ChapterFifteen

Ethan

Ikept checking my watch. Tangi’s flight was coming in at 9:20 a.m., and I had to leave soon to get to the airport on time. Brandi had just showered and was getting ready for work. I sat on our bed and watched her. She smiled back at me, and I felt like a huge piece of shit. I still hadn’t told her, and now Tangi was coming to town and staying in my old condo. I couldn’t hold telling her the truth much longer, but I had no idea how to tell her. Every scenario I came up with sounded terrible.

“Training camp today?” she asked, pulling out something to wear. She normally dressed pretty casual at work, but for Brandi, that was still trousers and a blouse.

“Yeah,” I lied.

Coach had excused me for the day. I explained I was helping a friend out and moving them into my condo. First, my place on the team was in no doubt, so giving me a day off wasn’t a big deal. Second, I’d set up a lot of traded players in my condo when they had only a hotel to stay in. Coach knew this, so one day off wouldn’t kill anyone.

“Have fun. I’ll see you later.”

She gave me a quick peck on the lips and flew out of the bedroom. I fell back onto the bed and massaged my temples. The one good thing about training camp was that the Ravens trained out of a different facility, so I wouldn’t see Tangi. But when the season did start, there was some overlap when we both played out of Graham Place. I’d just have to avoid her unless it was about something baby-related. I hoped that would satisfy Brandi.

I took a shower and got dressed. I headed to the airport and got there just as Tangi’s flight landed. The plan was to get her settled in, show her the surrounding neighborhood—something she’d probably recognize easily, though it wasn’t the same condo she and I had lived in—and then ask her what she needed.

I hung around the customs area, waiting for her. I had on a ball cap and tried to remain inconspicuous. The last thing I needed was for someone to come up to me, or worse, take a picture of me with a woman who wasn’t my fiancée. I didn’t need that kind of gossip circulating.

Tangi appeared through the glass doors, pulling a large suitcase with a backpack slung over her shoulders. My heart hitched for a moment. No matter how long I lived, my heart would never stop doing that when she walked into a room. I ignored it for now and jogged over to her, grabbing the suitcase and insisting she give me her backpack to carry as well. Should I have given her a hug? This was all so awkward.

“How was the flight?” I asked instead.

“Good. Uneventful. I watched a few movies.”

“How are you parents? Leah?”

“All good. I told them the news on Saturday. My little sister didn’t take it well. I’m not surprised.”

If Tangi’s parents knew, it was only a matter of time before my mom and Ava found out.

“About that,” I said as I led her to my SUV, “I haven’t told my family yet. You mentioned waiting until the end of your first trimester.”

Tangi bit her lip. “Right. Sorry. I should have told you I did that but it didn’t feel right leaving without telling them everything. I did ask them to keep quiet about it for now, but I’ll send my parents and Leah a text. Remind them not to tell your family before you’ve had a chance to.”

She did that while I loaded my SUV with her stuff. Her luggage weighed a ton, and I hoped someone had helped her with it. I imagine guys from all around got in line at the MSP airport to help her. How could you not notice her?

“Okay, done. Mom has already replied back that they haven’t spoken to anyone about it, and I really doubt Leah will tell anyone. She’s still in denial.”

“She pissed at me?”

“Pissed at us,” Tangi said, throwing me a smile. How I missed that smile, and how it warmed me up inside.

We talked about Vancouver while we drove to the condo. She asked about the traffic, and I told her it was still hell. She wanted to know how far the rink was from the condo, and I explained that Graham Place was walking distance but that the practice rink was in Burnaby.

“I’ll need to figure out transportation.”

“I’ll get you a car.”

She shook her head. “Nope. You’re already letting me live rent-free. I can pay for my own stuff.”

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