Page 85 of Rebel Bride
Then Summer and Carter got engaged.
Right after she said yes, I drove straight to Saugatuck, got drunk off my ass, and fucked a woman without a condom. A woman—Ava—who later told me she was pregnant. That’s how stupid love had made me. Jason was right: I had made career decisions based on my pain. Used another woman to numb that hurt, and when she lied about being pregnant, it confirmed everything I thought I knew about Summer. Just another bunny with her eye on a payday.
This last year, I didn’t play my best and I still had to witness love’s young dream in the form of Summer and Carter.
“Yeah, it’s complicated, but that doesn’t mean Summer wasn’t in need. Now she’s onto the next stage of her life.” And she didn’t want my help. She wanted to manage Carter by herself and not reckon with what happened between us.
What could happen between us.
Well, I wasn’t ready to give up just yet.
Thankfully, Jason moved on—to another third-rail topic. “Speaking of life stages and big decisions, how come just as I move back to Chicago you might be moving out of it?”
“And there I was thinking the agent-client relationship is sacrosanct.” Special Agent Lauren had been besties with my uncle since they played youth camp hockey together as kids.
“Nah, that’s not where I heard it. Connie seems to think you’re looking to trade.”
I really needed to have a chat with that kid.
“I didn’t have a good year, J. And if Dad’s sticking around, I’m not sure the next will be any better.”
“Listen, no one knows better than me the pressure of being in the same biz as Theo Kershaw. And I play the same position as him. I’m never going to measure up.”
Jason and I had never discussed this before. I could feel myself leaning in, desperate for whatever pearls of wisdom he had to dispense.
“Pro sports is as much mental as it is physical,” he said. “I know the press has been on your ass with the comparisons to your dad. Believe me, I’m fully prepared to suffer them when I join up, whether my brother is on the roster or not. In fact, I could probably take some of that heat for you if you choose to stick around.”
I chuckled. “What, you’d flub a few passes? Make me look like ‘the good Kershaw’?”
He grinned. “Family first, Hatchling.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Summer
* * *
Five days had gone by since the grocery delivery to Hatch, and during that time, I took all the jobs Kennedy offered. None of them led me back to Hatch’s door, a sign that I was meant to stay away. It was good to be busy. To feel useful again.
Dog tired after an afternoon walking a chocolate Lab, a Chihuahua, and a Pekinese—which sounded like the start of a joke—I trudged into the apartment and was greeted by a lush wall of sound. Motown, but slower than usual and not so upbeat. In the living room, I found Adeline and Rosie belting out “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?” and swaying with martini glasses in their hands.
“Summer! Finally!” Rosie rushed over to hug me, her drink sloshing over the glass’s rim. “You’re missing Martini Monday.”
“It’s Tuesday.”
“Well, I had to work last night so we moved it to tonight, which means Taco Tuesday is now on Wednesday.”
“Give her a Scandi Noir,” Adeline said. “Oh, and her present!”
This adult beverage was well-known even to me, a martini created by Adeline’s great-grandmother in honor of Lars Nyquist’s grumpy vibe. With great ceremony, Rosie poured a grapefruit-vodka-vermouth mix into a martini glass, added a twist of lemon peel, and passed it over. I sipped gratefully and took a seat.
“How was work?” Rosie asked.
“Peyton Bell sent me to Nordstrom’s to buy him underwear. I was instructed to get extra-large for his hockey butt.”
Adeline made a face. “Was it as weird as it sounds?”
“Actually, not so bad. I thought I’d be embarrassed to be reduced to errand girl for guys on the team after my previous lofty position as WAG, but I don’t mind it, really. I love walking the dogs. They’re my favorite.”
