Page 40 of Dump and Chase

“Yes.”

“Oh god,” she said, turning away from me.

I gave her a minute to absorb this. I expected her to be shocked, but when she turned to face me again, I saw only rage.

“You need to go,” she said, her voice shaky. “I want you gone. I don’t ever want to see you again.”

Despite what Ava and Craig had said, I truly hadn’t expected this. “Why don’t I give you a few days to think about this. We can talk again. I know this is a lot to take in.”

“No. We are done talking. I vowed to myself when we started dating that if you fucked around on me or did anything to humiliate me, I’d dump your pathetic ass. So that’s what I’m doing. You will not make a fool of me. We are done. Engagement over. And just to be clear, I’m keeping this house and the engagement ring. I’m going to auction it all off for charity. And you can go back to your little bitch and have a happy life with her. I’m going to leave now, and when I get back, if you’re still here, I’m calling the cops and they’ll get you out of here.”

Stunned wasn’t the right way to describe what I was feeling. Brandi had lost it.

“Like I said, maybe take a few days to think things through—”

“Get your shit out. Take what you need and I’ll have someone pack up the rest and send it to wherever you end up. But I’ve got a good idea where that is. Everyone warned me that a hockey player couldn’t keep his dick in his pants. I didn’t want to believe it, but here we are. I’ll have my lawyer draw up papers for the house and ring. And you will give them to me.”

I was kind of scared of her, but the last thing I planned to do was argue with her.

“Okay, fine.”

“Be out of here in an hour. I mean it.”

I watched her leave, then slowly sat down on the dining room chair. I waited until she was gone to breathe again. What had just happened? How did I miscalculate so badly?

And why was I okay with all of it?

ChapterTwenty

Tangi

My first day off and I had so much planned. Initially, I’d planned to clean the condo, but it turned out Ethan had a service that came in every Friday. So I’d gotten home the night before to a spotless condo. I sort of felt bad that the housecleaner had to do a few days’ worth of dishes. But how was I supposed to know?

I wanted to get groceries, then hit the markets and visit the mall to pick up some new towels. I hated the ones in the condo. And I needed to buy some new underwear because my non-maternity panties weren’t fitting the way they should.

But that was all turned upside down with a single text.

Can I stay there a few days?

I stared at the message for a few moments. I had a feeling I knew what he had to tell me. He’d finally grown a spine and told his fiancée the truth? I could hardly tell Ethan he wasn’t allowed to stay in his own condo.

Sure. Do I want to know what happened?

I’ll tell you when I get there. Be by this afternoon after training camp.

I decided not to let him derail my plans completely. New underwear was a priority and so were groceries. Since I now had a houseguest—he’d promised me that this place was mine, and I refused to start thinking likeIwas the guest—I had to get extra food. Knowing Ethan like I did, he would eat everything in sight.

Mid-afternoon, Ethan knocked on the door, then let himself in. I was in the kitchen putting together lunches for the week. I’d made a hearty bean salad that I’d add grilled chicken to. I’d also made some peanut butter energy ball snacks to keep me going through the day.

I washed my hands and met him in the living room. He had a two pieces of luggage and a garment bag, and he set them down and smiled at me sheepishly.

“Sorry about this. I know I could stay in a hotel, but at least this is home to me, and it’s near the rink.”

I hated how handsome he looked. Part of me wanted to hate him so much for screwing around with my feelings, but the other part of me wanted to be in his arms.

Nope. I couldn’t go through that again.

“It’s your place and you can stay as long as you want. Do you want the main bedroom? I can get my stuff out of there.”

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