Page 33 of Goalie Interference

I didn’t want to move. The property was beautiful. I liked having my own space. During the season, I would spend my days with my teammates: practices, workouts, meetings, games, travel… It was nice to have some privacy to regroup. The last week had been a lot of upheaval for Beast, and it would be better for him to have some stability.

And I liked Sophie. Sure, she was Otts’s ex, and didn’t seem to care for hockey players, but she was nice to talk to. On a very selfish note, if I ran into a problem, I was pretty sure I could count on her to make sure Beast was covered for an hour or two, which would not be the case most places.

The only problem that had come up with Beast there was him barking when the cat was nearby. Other than Sophie, no one seemed to be around to hear or be bothered. If he ever slipped out of the apartment—and he was an escape artist at times—he was still within a fence.

It might be impossible to stay, if Otts decided to be a jackass. But if it was up to me, I wouldn’t move.

Having decided that, I stood and stretched, waking Beast up. I double-checked the direction on my phone and headed toward String Theory. Time to go home.

Chapter 15

Pregnant and suddenly destitute

Sophie

Ollie’s car was gone when Remy parked in front of the carriage house after we left Diane’s. I went in to close up everything while Remy took Beast and went upstairs. Ollie sent a text, trying to apologize without actually admitting he’d crossed a line, but I didn’t budge. Cash would be getting an earful as soon as Ollie could get him on the phone. I walked up to the house, where Goober escaped as soon as I opened the door. She looked to be heading straight for the carriage house.

Just another problem, and tonight I had no shits left to give. I made a quick meal and watched some mindless TV before going to bed.

Cash called in the morning. “Ollie’s got his panties in a twist,” my brother said as soon as I answered the phone.

“He called you already?”

“He got a hold of Dad, who passed it on to me. I had no idea he’d be that pissed that his nemesis is living with his ex.”

I rubbed my fingers over my forehead. This was going to give me a headache. “He was at the shop yesterday when Remygot back. Acted like I was some Victorian virgin and Remy was going to ruin my reputation, destroying all my chances at a good marriage or some other stupid shit.”

“Yeah, that’s what he tried to tell me. I told him I didn’t manage my sister’s sex life, so it wasn’t my business.”

At least Cash wasn’t encouraging the crazy. “I’m sure he liked that.”

“No, but he didn’t have a good reason to argue with me about it.”

“Can you believe he tried to make Remy admit he was either gay or a fuckboy because he was single?”

Cash choked on a laugh. “Really?”

“Oh yeah, it was something else. Maybe I should have mentioned you’re the same age, so you must be one of the two.”

“I’ll admit I’m a fuckboy.”

“I’ll sic Ollie on your next victim.”

“I wouldn’t say victim. But I don’t need him getting involved. I was glad you two got along after the divorce since it made things easier for me, but seriously, maybe you need more space.”

“I’m trying to work out if it’s the idea of me with anyone, or with another hockey player, or just this hockey player that has him so wound up?”

I heard Cash settling in. “Good question. You haven’t gone out much since you two split up, have you?”

“No.” I didn’t plan to tell my brother about my feelings of insecurity when it came to dating as a thirty-plus woman, or my fears that I just didn’t have the capability for the kind of passion that was supposed to be part of falling in love and living happily ever after.

“And him?”

“No idea. I didn’t think it was my business.”

“Losing his career—that was hard on Ollie.”

“I know.” I’d been married to the guy, so if anyone was familiar with how he’d coped with that, it was me.

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