Page 38 of Dump and Chase

“Good start. So let me review your file and I’ll come up with a battle plan and have it to you Monday. You’ll be playing with the Kodiaks before Christmas.”

He pulled himself up and grabbed one more peanut butter cup. “I’m holding you to that, Tangi.”

He walked out and I couldn’t help but smile. I’d finally made some progress with one of the players, and I was feeling good about it.

ChapterNineteen

Ethan

Icalled Craig at work. He was a sales rep for a sports supplement company, and he was always dropping my name—with my permission—and sending me free stuff, so it was all good. More importantly, he didn’t work out of an office, so I could call him anytime. And right now, I needed to talk to him. Brandi was due home in the next half hour, and I vowed to myself that today was the day. We’d have the weekend to hash it out.

“Hey, Ethan, what’s up?”

“Did I catch you at a bad time?”

“Nah. Just on my way home.”

I kept forgetting the two-hour difference. It was dinnertime for him. “You working late?”

“Yeah. I banked some extra hours. I’d like to take a winter holiday this year, so the more vacation time I’ve got, the better. I can’t do another Minnesota winter without a break. Enough about me. Why the call?”

I groaned. “I’m telling Brandi tonight.”

“Did you hide all the breakables?”

I rolled my eyes. “Funny. I figure if I keep it positive, she won’t freak out.”

“I think you should expect a freakout. Let me put it to you this way. Let’s say she came home tonight and told you she was pregnant with her ex’s baby. What would you do?”

“I’d probably be mad.”

“You’d kick her out.”

No, I’d be relieved. Because if I was honest with myself, it would be a way out, but I’d never admit that to anyone. I’d had a hard time finally admitting it to myself. Then it dawned on me that even without Tangi’s pregnancy, this was how I felt. I wanted out.

“We’d talk it through.”

“You’re dreaming, bro. You’d lose your shit.”

“Then how do I approach this?”

“I don’t think there’s any way you can win here. You be matter of fact and tell her. Don’t get cute about it. Then tell her how sorry you are and that you’ll spend the rest of your life making it up to her. Maybe then you’ll have a chance to salvage your relationship with her, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.”

“Thanks for the words of encouragement.”

“Do you want me to lie to you?”

“No. I have enough people who do that.”

“Look, get the deed done, and if you need to, call me back later and we can talk. Make sure to pick a hotel you’re staying in tonight.”

Craig didn’t know Brandi like I did. Yes, she’d be angry, but once we talked it out, she’d be fine. We’d get through this. We’d move on, get married, and start our own family. So why did that thought bother me?

I worked out in my home gym until Brandi got home. I could hear the pitter-patter of her heels on the floor. She didn’t come down to the rec room, and I waited a bit to let her settle in. I took a shower and headed upstairs to find her rummaging through the fridge, pulling out food for dinner. My heart was pounding at the thought of what I had to do. I couldn’t put it off any longer. News would get out soon.

“How was training camp?” she asked, putting together the ingredients for a salad.

“The same. How was your day?”

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