Page 4 of Anti Player

I seriously want to cry. I had been with Nathan for two years. I thought he was the one. He told me I was the one. I moved in with him and got rid of my apartment. Then things started to change. He didn’t come home until late. He was a real estate agent and said he was working late in the office every night. I stopped by to bring him food, only to find that he was screwing the secretary.

Tears prick my eyes. I’m such a fool. My brothers like to say I’m like our mom. I’m too trusting and give my heart too easily. That is going to stop. From here on out, I do not believe in relationships. I will not give my heart to anyone. I need to go on a dating cleanse. No men. No sex. I need to purge whatever it is inside me that makes me fall so easily for a guy. I think back to my sophomore year of college. I was seeing a guy named Joel. He was so handsome and smart. I thought he was the real deal. We went to a party and drank too much. When he told me he would die if he didn’t feel me bare during sex it should’ve set off alarm bells, but I hopped on for the ride, enjoying a very wild night of sex. I also got knocked up and Joel didn’t want to have anythingto do with a baby. I’m grateful for my son but I need to stop being so naïve.

I drive along, heading towards my brother’s apartment building. There was no way I could stay in Jersey. My life just crashed and burned there. It’s summer and Asher and I need a fresh start. New York City is the perfect place. I should’ve maybe given Brett advanced warning of my arrival, but my brother is one of the best people I know. My other brother, Henry, lives out in Connecticut. He is amazing too but he’s the brain in the family, working on his immunology PhD. Besides, I don’t think Connecticut is for me.

I call my oldest brother on speed dial.

“Maddie, what’s up?”

“I’ve been better,” I sigh.

“What happened?” Brett asks angrily. He’s a big guy and I can just picture his angry expression. “Do I need to drive to Jersey and beat the shit out of Nathan?”

He’s also a hockey player that may get into one too many fights.

“I left him,” I say.

“Shit,” he swears.

“I moved out of his place. Asher and I are about ten minutes away from you,” I say to my brother. His team just won the Stanley Cup, so he is in the offseason right now.

“Um, what?” he asks, confused.

“I moved out of Nathan’s, we have nowhere to go,” I say, because why try to sugarcoat it?

Brett hisses and is muttering profanities under his breath.

“I’m not home. I went for lunch with some of the guys,” he says.

“Does Kaleb have an extra key?” I ask.

“Yeah, let me get a hold of him. I also need to let management know you’re staying for a prolonged amount oftime. You’ll need a parking spot in the underground. You and Asher can have your own rooms.”

“Brett, you’re the best.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” he snickers. “Let me get a hold of Kaleb, and I’ll let security know to let you in the building.”

“You’re a lifesaver,” I say to him.

“Some advanced notice would’ve been nice,” he scolds and he’s right.

“Sorry. We won’t get in the way,” I assure my brother. “I’ll get a job and put Asher in camp or something.”

“Ahuh,” he says.

When I got pregnant, I dropped out of college. Not that I knew what I wanted to be. Then after Asher was born, I started culinary school but it was too much with taking care of a newborn so I dropped out. I’ve been cooking and baking most of my life. My mom is the best cook on the planet, and I always loved spending time with her in the kitchen. I can make delicious food, but most places want to see a degree to hire you as a chef.

“I’ll call you back. Just head on over.”

“Thanks, Brett.”

“Mhmm.”

My brother has the softest warmest heart.

I finally pull up to his building. Security is expecting me so when I press the button on the intercom for the underground parking garage, the security guard lets me through. I also ask him about a dolly and he says he will come down to the garage to bring it to me.

When I park the car, the security guard is waiting at the door.

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