Page 54 of Forever Player

“What do you mean byyou know?” I ask, not understanding.

“You were never one for public displays of affection. Even when you had a boyfriend, you kept them at arm’s length,” she reminds, and isn’t that a strange observation.

“Really? Even Seth?” I ask.

“Seth terrified you,” she remembers. “He was so head over heels for you.”

I had dated Seth senior year. He came from a nice family and he was such a gentleman. I didn’t know what to make of his kindness. He also liked to spoil me with gifts.

“I liked him too,” I admit. “But it was senior year, and I was leaving.”

Lucy frowns. “You’re still scared, aren’t you?”

I watch her as if I’m confused but I am not confused at all. I’m just surprised Lucy can see right through me.

“I wouldn’t say I’m scared. I wasn’t scared of Seth. He was a good guy. I knew that. I just figured it was better not to get too close.”

“Brett is a different story, Lucy. He’s a professional hockey player. He lives a different kind of life. We actually lost touch and had a big mix-up, which is why he only found out about Maylee recently,” I explain, and then I give her the sordid details of what happened. I’ve been in touch with my friends from New York, but it feels good to sit face-to-face with another human and interact.

“Wow, Willow, that’s quite the story,” she says. “So Brett wants to be with you and you don’t want to be with him?”

“That’s not exactly it. He’s a fuckboy. I knew it when I got mixed up with him,” I confess. “It was supposed to be one night.”

“But you have Maylee now. Things have clearly changed,” she says.

“And I love being a mom so much. I didn’t know I was capable of this kind of love,” I say and she nods in agreement, running her fingers through Smith’s hair.

“It really is rewarding,” she agrees. “Do you think there is any chance Brett wants to give up his old ways? You remember Casper in high school. That boy got around and yet today he is so loyal and loving. He’s an amazing father. I couldn’t imagine raising my children without a partner like him.”

Her words give me pause and get me thinking. These last few days have been so good because Brett is helping with Maylee and giving me time for myself. We have developed a partnership of sorts, but that’s all we can be. He has a long list of women in his life, and I can’t compete. I won’t compete.

“I get what you’re saying, but I think Brett and I are meant to be co-parents and nothing more.”

She frowns. Then she calls out to her housekeeper and tells her we are ready for lunch.

“Oh, we don’t need to stay for lunch,” I say.

“We have a lot more catching up to do,” Lucy insists.

The housekeeper makes us a beautiful lunch of different salads and mini sandwiches. We eat and then she takes Smith and puts him to sleep. I head into the other room and nurse Maylee. We somehow end up spending the entire day with Lucy, and by the time we get back to the farm the sun is setting, which happens early in the winter season. I don’t see Brett around but I hear the shower running.

I take a seat on the couch and just take a deep breath as I let my conversations with Lucy pass through my mind. Lucy was trying to say that I’ve always been on guard where guys are concerned. That isn’t news. I need to protect myself and my baby girl. I think back to the articles I read about Brett’s sexcapades this morning, and I feel more justified than ever. From here on out, I need to keep Brett at arm’s length. That’s just how it will have to be.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

Brett

I leave the shower with my clothes on and head downstairs. I hear Maylee mumbling and I can’t wait to get my hands on her and kiss her after not seeing her the whole day.

I reach the family room and see Willow sitting on the couch with her head leaning back and her eyes closed.

“Hi,” I say, and she startles and opens her eyes. She obviously does not owe me an explanation of where she was today. I also can’t ask her why she didn’t tell me she was going out, but it just seemed like since I got here she was kind of making me aware of her daily plans so we could figure out who would be taking care of Maylee.

She lifts her head off the couch. “Hi.”

“I missed you guys.” I walk over to the floor and lie on my side so I can be close to Maylee.

Willow doesn’t say anything. I don’t exactly expect her to say she missed me too, even after our hot little sexual encounter in the truck.

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