Page 66 of Sporting Goods

“That…sounds amazing and I’m sure he’d love it, but maybe another night.”

He looked disappointed. “Oh, okay, Brody would have loved to have him.”

I shrugged and gave him a quick smile. “I’ll see you out there.”

He nodded walking backwards, then paused and pointed at me. “Hopefully not.”

I laughed. “Right.”

Now having less than twenty minutes to change and race to the other side of the arena, I threw off my clothes and pulled my uniform off its hanger in the medical room.

I had just put on the pants and was still in only a red lace bra when the door flew open, banging against the back wall.

“Rayne,” a bark from his cringeworthy voice.

I flipped around holding my top against my exposed chest.

“Don’t you fucking knock?”

“The fuck is this shit about?” he asked, holding up the custody and child support papers served to him this morning according to my attorney.

I relaxed my shoulders, loving the reaction I was getting. I half expected him to laugh in my face when he got this.

But the fucker took it seriously. It was about Goddamn time.

“Can’t you read? We’re setting some rules as far as when you get to see Jax. And while we’re at it, some expenses you’ll start covering every month.”

“What do you mean when I get to? I’ll come see him when I want to. He’s my kid.”

“You don’t know anything about him. You never came to any of his games. You’ve never met his teachers, you see him maybe once a month and half because I make the effort—for his sake, mind you.”

He took a step toward me but I didn’t back away. I simply placed a hand on his chest in an attempt to keep him at arm’s length, but he bent it with his advance. Just when I thought he was going to get loud and obnoxious, he leaned down and planted his lips on mine.

I shoved him off me with all my might but I didn’t need to, he backed away willingly.

“Still taste good.”

“Don’t you dare touch me again. Or this,” I pointed to his papers, “will become a restraining order and the terms that I’ve set for you to see Jax will decline to nothing,” I growled.

“You can’t do this. You don't have it in you.”

“You don’t own me. That’s all this is. You want control over us. Well that ends. You won’t be barging into my house whenever you feel like it and from now on, Jax can have some form of expectations when it comes to you. Rather than endless disappointment.”

Although in the past month, since Logan came into our lives, I hadn’t felt the lacking in Jax’s life. And it didn’t seem like he did either. He hadn’t asked to see his father or go to a game or to call him.

He’d been a proud, content, little boy.

“I’ve got lawyers too, Ray. Better ones.” He spoke low, threatening.

“Good.” I raised my eyes to his, unwavering despite my heart beating at what he might do in response to this. “’Cause you’ll need them.”

He stared at me, waiting for me to break.

“Get out. I have a meeting to get to.”

He walked out with a smirk that made me despise all smirks ever.

Still shaking, I threw on the rest of my uniform and raced out, taking a detour to the meeting room, I slowed past the team as they exited the locker room, fully dressed and ready to play.

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