Page 6 of She Wolf

“That would be sweet. Nerd could move in too when he gets here.” Knox adds, rubbing his hands together, but Casey shakes his head.

The ‘Nerd’ they are referring to is our baby brother Jason. He was drafted as a second-round pick for the Winnipeg Jets. He rolled the dice and held off from signing with them and now the Wolves and the Jets are at odds.

Casey and Knox hear the rumors—something about a defensive player with Jason’s skill and the fact that having a trio of brothers is a marketing unicorn, but anything can happen.

“Don’t jinx it, man. Anything can happen in the next few weeks.” Casey chastises with a sigh echoing my thoughts.

“Bollocks. They would be crazy not to take him. He just carried his whole fuckin’ team to the bloody Frozen Four and won it.” Anna chuckles at Knox’s use of English cursing and Casey nods.

“I know, but let’s not move him into Hollywood’s just yet.” Knox rolls his eyes and bites into another slice.

“So,” I ask aloud, “how are you all feeling about play-offs?” The men at the table begin talking animatedly about how they want to destroy New Jersey, hoping they meet them in the second round.

“Hey Mom, your phone keeps buzzing,” Jack says walking into the kitchen with my phone.

“Thank you bud. Can you go get ready for bed?” I smile at my beautiful boy, who luckily reminds me of my brothers and not of his deadbeat father. Looking at my phone I see I have an email notification on my screen.

“Just jammies and teeth to go,” he says with a grin.

“Okay. Go on then.”

I open the email and my eyes swim as I fight to keep focus. Dizziness overcomes me. Blood pounds in my ears. And yet, through the haze and the bile it slowly registers;

Final Divorce Decree Absolute

“What is it, Coralie? Are you okay?” Casey asks concern lacing his voice. I nod my head in disbelief and reach out my right hand to grab for Knox’s, which he tightly squeezes.

“It’s over. The divorce is finalized,” I squeak as Knox stands up and pulls me in for a bear hug.

Three long, drawn-out years it’s taken to divorce my momentary husband. Nick has contested everything, even though we had nothing to our names as a couple. He didn’t show up for meetings, completed forms and documents incorrectly or never bothered with them at all so they had to be sent out again and again.

Knox whispers in my ear, “Good riddance to that asshole.”

And then after Knox, it’s Anna who engulfs me in her arms, followed by Casey.

“It’s over Coralie,” he says, the relief in his voice, unmistakable.

I nod swiping at the happy tears that start to fall.

Even though I can’t quite believe I’m finally free of the cheating, no-good asshole, the first thing that pops into my head is how desperately I want to change my name back.

The noise from the table continues to buzz around me and my gaze can’t help but fall on Gunner who’s watching me intently, the muscle in his jaw ticking with tension.

Did I really just ponder the possibility of us being together and in not five minutes get the news that finally sets me free?

Anna, who only released me a second ago, is back with glasses and bottles of sparkling wine.

“To a new chapter,” Anna almost sings once she’s done pouring, and we all have a drink.

“Cheers!” The table echoes as we clink our glasses.

Gunner’s is the last I reach for, and as he holds my gaze I can’t help wondering as I search his eyes, if maybe, there’s a chance for us after all.

Elation overcomes me and it’s all a bit much. Too intense.

As the chatter around the table continues, I choose the perfect moment to escape.

“I’m just going to get Jack ready for bed, then I can properly enjoy this drink,” I say to everyone and no one at the same time, placing my wine down without even a second glance, I hotfoot it out of there, taking the stairs two at a time—something I’ve always done to make me feel better about my lack of effort in the exercise department. I’ll never understand how the fanatical fitness gene missed me but struck so strongly with my brothers.

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