Page 60 of Ice Daddy
“I'm only asking because—”
She clamped a hand on her temples. “Because now you're having doubts. Because you don't believe me.” She swore under her breath. “I'msostupid. I can't believe I quit my job—”
He pulled her by the waist. “No, you're not stupid at all. Ibelieveyou, Paige. It's just …” He trailed off, hunting for the right words.
The announcement came over the PA.“This is the pre-boarding announcement for Flight 3898 to Boston Logan International Airport. We'd like to invite those passengers with small children to begin boarding at this time.”
Lance rose from his seat, but Paige didn't.
“Tell menow,Lance. I can't get on that plane if you're having second thoughts.”
“Damn it,” he mumbled. “Last night, I told my PR guy about Irie. He thinks I'm making a mistake.”
“A mistake.” Her eyes narrowed. “But what doyouthink?”
“I told you, I believe you. But …”
“But?”
“They're hanging the captaincy over my head, Paige. I don't know what to do. I'm always in trouble with these guys. And now he says I need to get a paternity test done.”
“I toldyou, I'll take one. I don't have anything to fear, Lance. You're her father. Period.”
“I know,” he said quietly, and he gave both girls a kiss on the forehead.
“So what's the problem?” Paige asked.
He lowered his voice. “Once we're in Boston, we might have to lay low for a few days.”
“Lay low?What does that even mean?”
“… My PR guy said that I'm not supposed to make any sort of plans with you. I'm supposed to keep my contact with you limited until we have the results from the paternity test.”
She guffawed. “Unbelievable, Lance. You areunbelievable.” She glanced towards the airport exit. Was she considering running out? “I can't believe you're telling me thisnow.After I quit my job and everything.”
“I talked to him after you quit your job. I swear I didn't know yet.”
“But you knew when you slept with me last night, didn't you?”
He dropped his head. “Paige, I …”
“Sothat'swhat was bothering you. And you wouldn't just come out and say it. Wow, Lance. Wow. At least you got to enjoy yourself one last time, huh?”
“I swear, it's not like that. I wanted to tell you.” Lance tried put his arm around Paige to calm her, but she shrugged him off.
“Don't.”
He sighed. “Look, I don't care what the team says, alright? I want you and Irie with me. But I can't get in any more trouble with these people. They're killing me. I was only telling you what was bothering me, since you wanted to know so bad. But now,ugh,you're pissed at me. I shouldn't even have said anything.”
A voice came over the PA again.“Attention passengers, we are now beginning regular boarding …”
“I quit my job for this, Lance. For Irie, for you, for the three of us together! And all you care about is being the captain of a dumb hockey team?”
“That's notallI care about …”
“Yet you're not even willing to fight for us.” Her nostrils flared. “I can't do this, Lance.”
His eyes grew in a panic. “Can't do what?”
