Page 92 of Slap Shot Daddies

Reggie lets out a harsh, exasperated breath, running a hand through his unruly red hair, his freckled face flushed with emotion. "So, we were supposed to just, what? Figure it out ourselves?" he asks, his voice tight and strained, his Scottish brogue even thicker than usual, each word carrying the weight of his disbelief.

Kenzie’s eyes shimmer with unshed tears, and she shakes her head, her voice cracking under the pressure. "I was scared, okay? I don’t know what to do! My family is going to disown me over this, and I didn’t know if you guys even would want the baby and…” She chokes on her words, wrapping her arms tightly around herself like she’s trying to keep from falling apart.

Something inside me softens, the tension in my body loosening ever so slightly. Despite my anger, despite my frustration, the sheer terror in her eyes is unmistakable. She’s not just hiding things, she’s drowning in them.

I exhale slowly, forcing myself to calm down, to think clearly. "Kenzie…we need to figure this out. Together."

Her lower lip trembles, and for the first time, I see guilt flicker across her face, replacing the fear that has been so prominent.

I step forward cautiously, my hand reaching out to brush against hers, lingering there, waiting for her to take it.

She hesitates, her breath catching in her throat.

And then, slowly, she does.

The parking lot stretches out in an eerie silence, only occasionally disrupted by the muffled sound of tires rolling over asphalt in the distance. The cold air wraps around me like an unwelcome embrace, its icy fingers pinching at my exposed skin.

Yet, the chill in the air pales in comparison to the frigid tension hanging between us.

Kenzie stands before us, her lip trembling slightly as if caught in the tremors of an earthquake. Her dark eyes flicker back andforth between Reggie and me, searching desperately for words that seem to elude her.

"I-I didn’t mean to…" she begins, her voice faltering, but the words are too late. Disappointment carves its path deep into my chest, leaving a sharp, aching void.

"But you did," I retort, my voice dropping to a low, frustrated growl. "Kenzie, this wasn’t just a small thing you hid. You jeopardized the team, our friendship, and everything," I gesture at the space that binds us, my heart clenching tight. "Everything we've built."

Her face crumples like paper under pressure, and her hands ball into tight fists at her sides, reflecting her inner turmoil. "I didn’t mean to," she repeats, her voice cracking like shattered glass.

Reggie steps forward, his jaw set like stone, his Scottish accent thick with raw emotion. "D’ye not get it? It’s no’ just about the baby, Kenz. It’s about trust." His hands move expressively, slicing through the air as if trying to grasp the gravity of the situation. "Why couldn’t you trust us?"

Tears spill over Kenzie’s cheeks, glistening under the harsh glow of the streetlights, which seem to highlight her vulnerability, making her appear as fragile as porcelain on the verge of breaking.

I need to understand. I need answers.

"Kenzie," I say, my tone softening, almost pleading. "Why?"

She draws in a shaky breath, her lips parting as if to speak, but the words refuse to come. Instead, she shakes her head, turns abruptly, and hurries to her car, her footsteps echoing like a heartbeat in the stillness.

The door slams shut with a jarring finality, making me flinch. Before I can call out, the engine roars to life, drowning out any chance for reconciliation.

And then, she’s gone, swallowed by the night.

I stand there for a moment, my breath visible in the chilly night air, staring at the spot where her taillights vanished into the darkness, leaving only the murmur of her engine behind.

The cold air feels denser now, pressing down on me, on all of us, like a suffocating blanket. Reggie, beside me, lets out a string of curses, pacing like a caged animal, his hands gripping his hair in frustration.

"Fuck. This is a mess," he mutters, his voice tinged with desperation.

I remain silent, eyes fixed on the cracked pavement beneath my feet, as my mind races through a chaotic jumble of thoughts and what-ifs.

The sudden creak of the bar door interrupts my turmoil, and both Reggie and I glance up to see Jinx and Bruno stepping outside.

The neon glow of the bar's signage casts their elongated shadows on the sidewalk, making them appear like giants in the dim light.

Jinx crosses her arms, her expression one of curiosity mixed with a hint of irritation, tilting her head slightly. "So, are you two going to tell me what the hell that was all about?" Her voice cuts through the night air, demanding answers.

Reggie and I exchange a quick, knowing glance. We both understand that Jinx isn’t easily fooled, she's likely figured out most of the situation already.

"It’s complicated," I mutter, the words tasting bitter as they leave my mouth.

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