Page 36 of Second-Rate Superstar

Natalie moaned, closing her eyes. “That sounds amazing! Thank you so much.”

“You pop it in the oven at 350 degrees for an hour, and you’re all set,” I instructed. “I wasn’t sure how much your kids eat, so I made a double batch. If you only need one, keep the other refrigerated, and you have a meal for another night.”

“Sure beats surviving on takeout,” she mused.

Before I could stop myself, I asked, “Are you doing okay here all alone? I can’t imagine dealing with a newborn with your partner gone for a week, let alone older kids, too. I bet you have your hands full.” When I gesturedto the hands currently occupied by Max, we both chuckled. “I work from home, flexible hours, so if you need any help . . .”

Natalie’s smile reached her warm brown eyes. “You’re so kind to offer. But actually, my mother-in-law is staying with me. She went next door to visit with my nephew for a bit.”

I vaguely recalled mention of her conversation with Braxton in the hospital about a nephew being born the same day as Max.

Confused, I remarked, “I didn’t realize there was a third Slate sibling.”

Panic set in that at any moment, Braxton’s mother would walk into the house. I’d been mistaken for his girlfriend once already. Meeting his mom would surely put ideas in her head about our relationship if she caught me bringing food to his brother’s family.

“Oh, no. It’s only the two boys,” Natalie explained. “My ex-husband’s brother, Liam, lives next door. He’s married to my best friend, Amy. So, I suppose it’s my ex-mother-in-law, but I didn’t divorce her, just her son, and she is still my older kids’ grandma.”

I began to breathe easier. Crisis averted.

But damn if that didn’t open up a whole new set of questions about this family. Who remained friendly with their ex-husband’s family? Perhaps it had been an amicable divorce? But that seemed strange, considering Jaxon adopted her kids.

It wasn’t my business, so I pushed it to the back of my mind, taking it upon myself to put the food I’d brought into the refrigerator.

When I turned around, Natalie was assessing me. “So, you and Braxton?”

I shook my head. “We’re just friends.” Hadn’t we made that clear in the hospital?

There was a pause as if she were choosing her following words carefully. “The other night was the first time I’ve seen him with a girl.”

What? That couldn’t be right. He was so flirty with me. I was sure he had girls falling all over him, if not for his good looks and charm than for his athlete status.

“Um. I don’t think you understand. I’m not really looking for something right now.” What more could I say?

Natalie simply smiled, patting Max on the back. “Do you think I was looking for something when Jaxon blew into my life like a hurricane? I was newly divorced, a single mom of three, and broken beyond repair—or at least, I thought so. Those Slate men have a way of burrowing into your heart whether you’re ready for it or not.”

My heart? She had the wrong girl.

Her tone grew hushed. “Braxton hasn’t had it easy.”

My eyes snapped to hers. “What do you mean?”

Lips curving into a sad smile, she said, “He’s been living under a microscope for most of his life. Being Jaxon’s little brother isn’t easy.”

Mind racing, I recalled something Braxton mentioned when we were skating. “He made a vague comment about not having a choice in playing?”

Natalie nodded. “Everyone expects him to be a carbon copy of Jaxon.” She laughed. “And it doesn’t help that they have the same face. But they’re not the same person. And definitely not the same player out there on the ice. Braxton has been held to an impossible standard since the day he put on skates—to live up to Jaxon’s legacy. Trust me when I say this, and not because of any bias with him being my husband, but Jaxon’s talent is special. For some reason, he sees the game differently than other players, which sets him apart.”

“Don’t think any less of me, but I have looked him up,” I confessed.

She shrugged. “You won’t be the first, nor the last. His career accomplishments are public knowledge.” Natalie paused. “Did you know Braxton was the last pick in his draft year?”

I gasped, the pieces falling into place. “And Jaxon went number one.”

“Yeah . . . And if that pill wasn’t hard enough to swallow, my oh-so-thoughtful husband pulled strings and made sure Braxton went to the Comets when it looked like he would go undrafted. They made a last-minute trade.”

“Ouch.” I winced.

“I know for a fact that Braxton would have rather gone undrafted. He’s looking for a way to set himself apart, and that’s hard to do while living in your brother’s shadow.”

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