Page 125 of War

“No idea.” I head for the door. When I spot Brooks’s oversized blue truck and Gavin’s dad-mobile—it’s really just a van, but we love to tease him about it—my lips tick up at one corner.

One by one, my best friends file out of the cars. It’s like a circus. The people just keep coming. First it’s Brooks and Sara. Then Daniel, Aiden, and Lennox climb out of the back.

Gavin pops out of his van and Fitz slips out of the passenger seat. Next, the sliding back door opens, and Gavin helps Millie, who’s carrying a bundled up Vivi, climb out.

I step outside and stuff my hands into my pockets because it’s damn cold out here. “What’s going on?”

Brooks raises his brows like I’m an idiot. “The girls are here to take Josie to school, Millie and Vivi are here to hang out with Scarlett, and we’re here to take you to court.”

“But how—” I shake my head and close my eyes. How did they know I needed them? Like in this exact moment. Because I really fucking did. Two more seconds of Josie’s eyes pleading for Ava and I might just have cracked wide open and fallen to the floor.

“Ava asked us to come,” Sara says softly.

I swallow, the ache in my chest only intensifying. “Is she?—”

Sara squeezes my arm. “Not yet. But she’ll be okay. I can’t believe none of us knew what she was going through all this time.”

My heart stumbles. She told them? That makes me feel a modicum better. If I can’t be there for her, I’m glad she has her friends.

“Okay, Ms. Josie,” Lennox says, brushing past me, though she doesgive my shoulder a pat as she goes. “You have a date with Sara and me. What do you say we stop at Starbucks on the way to school for a pink drink and one of those cake pops?”

“It’s eight a.m.,” I grumble.

Lennox whips her head around, pink hair flying, and hits me with a glare. Apparently even being left by my wife won’t save me from her attitude. “It’s never too early for pink.”

Aiden chuckles as he pulls me in for a bear hug. “Come on, I want to stop for a cake pop too. The ones with the little dogs on them are my favorite.”

“They only have those at the Starbucks inside Target,” Sara tells him.

“Oh my god, I love Starbucks in Target. Shopping and pink drinks. Can you think of anything better?” Lennox is already holding Josie’s coat, waving it around in a silent request for her to hurry.

“Do they ever breathe?” I mutter to Brooks.

He shakes his head, but he’s wearing a dopey smile. “Nope. But he’s right. Go say goodbye to Scarlett so we can stop for coffee. You look like shit.”

I chuff out a laugh. “Thanks.”

When we pull up to the courthouse, I almost expect to see the press sitting outside, cameras and microphones at the ready, fighting for quotes and soundbites for articles called “Liar Exposed”and other equally shameful titles.

Fortunately, despite the roller coaster I’ve been on for the last twenty-four hours, life isn’t that dramatic.

Or maybe I’m not as big a deal as the Langfields.

Either way, it still feels as if all eyes are on me, weighing me, judging me.

He doesn’t deserve to be a father. He’s not worth the court’s time. Told youhe’d screw this up.

In reality, these people don’t know me or my situation. More than likely, they’re wondering why most of the Boston Bolts’ first line is in family court today.

“Oh, thank god,” Madi mutters when we step into the lobby. “I was nervous you wouldn’t show up.”

Frowning, I give her the side-eye. “This is the most important hearing I’ll ever attend. How could I not show up?”

She sighs. “I don’t know. People do strange things when they think they’ll lose a child.”

Given her history, I can understand her thought process. “I’m here. No running.”

“And your wife?” She tilts her head and peers past me, as if my petite wife with the long, beautiful red hair is hiding amongst a group of hockey players.

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