Page 17 of Pucking Fake

"I planned to hire her before I slept with her."

"You are not helping your case any whatsoever," she says, her tone flat. "In fact, you should probably stop talking now."

Winning Kelsey over to the Dark Side was so much easier. Maybe because she was born in hell. Alice is a hard sell.

"I think she's my one, but I fucked up. She thinks Lauren is my wife and Lachlan is my kid. I need a chance to explain so I can fix it before I end up alone forever." I grin at her. "Do you really want to be the reason I end up alone forever, Alice? That's bad karma."

"Boy, bye. Get your ignorant ass out of my office," she says. But she cracks a tiny smile.

"You know you want to help me."

"Not really."

I gape at her, but she just shrugs at me.

"You said that youthinkshe's the one. If you don'tknowshe's the one, I'm not helping you blow up your career because you're horny."

"That is not what this is," I growl, narrowing my eyes at her. "I knew the moment I set eyes on her that she was going to change my damn life."

"And yet you didn't tell her about Lauren."

"Stop trying to psychoanalyze me, Alice," I warn, my voice hard. I fucking hate when people poke and prod at shit related to Lauren. She isn't anyone's business, goddammit. And neither are my feelings on the subject.

"I'm not. I'm just concerned, Logan," Alice says gently. "The fact that you're here right now, asking for help with this is a big deal. You've made it crystal clear that Lauren is off-limits to everyone. But it's impossible to try to keep a relationship in a separate compartment when you juggle the things you juggle. They're going to touch one another. You can't compartmentalize life, and I'm not sure you know that because you've been compartmentalizing it your entire career."

"I'm aware," I grit out. "Lauren isn't off-limits to Peyton. I simply didn't think to mention that she and Lachlan live with me part-time."

"And the rest of it?"

"I'll tell her." Obviously, I'll fucking tell her. I'm not ashamed of or embarrassed by my sister. That's never been the case and never will be. The people who matter know about her. They've met her. Hell, they've spent time with her. And if there's ever a day when she tells me that she's ready to step out into the spotlight, I'll be there, cheering her on the whole goddamn way. But that day hasn't come. All having a famous brother has ever done for her is made her life harder.

She didn't get a choice in me joining the league. I made that decision. The least I can do is ensure she gets to decide whether she's part of the circus surrounding me or not. I owe her that much.

Alice eyes me silently for a long moment and then nods before flipping open her schedule to look at it. "I'll cancel everyone but her. Be in the conference room at ten on Monday. She's scheduled for then." She pauses. "And don't fuck it up, Logan."

Relief blasts through me.

"I won't fuck it up," I promise.

"Are you at home?" Lauren asks as soon as I answer my phone after practice.

"I'm on my way. Why?"

"Lachlan and I need to spend the night with you."

"Why? Is everything okay?" I ask, instantly on alert as I cut through the parking lot, heading toward my truck.

"Everything is fine, Logan," she sighs like I'm getting on her damn nerves. "Roland got called out to a site. I didn't want to be home alone."

I pinch the bridge of my nose. Lachlan's father, Roland, owns a construction company. When he has to go out of town, Lauren and Lachlan stay with me because she doesn't trust herself to stay alone. She's been on her meds and doing well for months, but she's still anxious as hell that something will go wrong. She's doing everything right and she's an incredible mother, but she's fucking terrified she's going to lose Lachlan or end up in treatment again like she was right after he was born. She was postpartum and her meds needed to be adjusted. She still feels guilty as hell about it.

"I'll be home, sweetheart," I murmur. "But you and Lachlan don't need me, Lauren. You've got this. You can handle it."

She's quiet for a minute. "I'd rather come stay with you."

"Come on then," I say, giving in. Maybe I'm enabling her. I don't fucking know. But I'm not telling her no if she needs me. Roland and I are her support system. We're her only support system. If she isn't ready to trust herself alone yet, I can't force her into it. Baby steps. "I'll stop and pick up Thai for dinner."

"You're the best brother ever. Have I told you that lately?"

---