AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Have at it,” I said, shrugging. “He’s only good for about three minutes, though, so make sure you’re quick.”
Boone snorted out a laugh as he scooped up Joey and headed for the men’s locker room.
“Why do you have to crush my dreams like that?” Jana moaned, laughing.
“Just telling the truth. Come on. Let’s hit the locker room and put our skates on.”
“I have to get mine sharpened,” Jana said. “But I’ll see you out there.”
“Okay.” I headed for the women’s locker room when I heard my name being called.
Goddamn it.
I couldn’t ignore him because there were people everywhere and there was no doubt that the masses were taking video of everything he did.
“Hey, Jarvis.” I turned, hoping I had a neutral look on my face.
He leaned over and brushed his lips across my cheek.
“Don’t do that,” I hissed under my breath.
“Come on, don’t be this way. Can we talk?”
“No.”
He sighed, shaking his head. “Why do I even bother? You’re so damn stubborn.”
“You really thought doing this here, in front of all these kids and their parents, was a good idea?”
“Your dad and I figured you’d be more comfortable here than if I showed up unannounced at your apartment.”
“Well, at least you were right about something.”
“Can we have dinner or lunch or something? Please?”
“Jarvis, listen. This is a lesson in futility. I’ve moved on and so should you. I’m going to defend my dissertation soon and I’ve been applying for jobs all over the country. I don’t know what’s going to happen with any of it, but I do know that you and I were not meant to be. We’re too different.”
He scowled. “Is it about the prenup?” he asked suddenly.
“What?” He’d asked me to sign one about a month before the wedding, and I hadn’t hesitated.
“We can tear it up,” he said. “I don’t care about the money.”
“I was never interested in your money,” I said, keeping my voice level. “And if you really loved me, you’d know that about me.”
“I do love you!” he snapped. “Why do you think I’m still around?”
“Because you’re so far up my father’s ass you can’t see your own heart,” I said. “Now, your adoring public is waiting, and I have work to do. Take care, Jarvis.”
I turned on my heel and stalked into the locker room.
I was going to give my father a piece of my mind.
Sheridan went into labor on Sunday afternoon, and a huge group of us showed up at the hospital to wait for news about the twins. There had been a plan to induce her if she hadn’t gone into labor by thirty-six weeks, so she was a week ahead of schedule. Boone and I had been in bed when he’d gotten the call from Wes, so we’d hurriedly showered, dressed, and I’d come straight to the hospital while he’d rushed to Wes and Hadley’s to pick up Joey. They’d been kind enough to give us a few hours of alone time, but Hadley wanted to be at the hospital with Sheridan.
“Hey.” Hadley looked up as I got to the waiting room.
“Hi.” I sank down next to her. “Any news?”
“Not yet.”
“Lars must be a mess,” I said.
She nodded. “And I think Wes is almost as nervous as he is.”
“Your turn is coming soon.” I grinned at her.
She rolled her eyes, resting a hand on her stomach. “I can’t wait to get him out of me. I’m over being pregnant.”
“Soon,” I said.
“Is there news?” Sawyer came rushing in, his eyes wide as he looked around.
“Not yet.” Nash grinned at him. “We might be here all night.”
“Shit.” Sawyer took a breath. “You think it’ll take that long?”
“Labor is a crapshoot,” Hadley said. “When Annalise was born, Lauren was in labor for sixteen hours. Benny popped out in about thirty minutes.”
“Christ.” Sawyer sank into a chair and rubbed his hands down his face. “I don’t think I have sixteen hours in me.”
More friends, teammates, and family members showed up until the waiting room was stuffed to the gills. Some of the guys were pacing the hallway while the rest of us talked and hung out.
I was shocked when my father showed up around five in the afternoon.
“Dad.” I got up and greeted him. “What are you doing here?”
He eyed me. “The real question is, what are you doing here?”
“Sheridan is my friend,” I said, frowning at him. “Where else would I be?”
“Jolie, this isn’t your world,” Dad said, his voice even gruffer than usual.
“Yes, it is.” I met his gaze. “Just because you have to be a hard-ass with the guys doesn’t mean I can’t be friends with them and their wives.”
He scanned the room, obviously looking for someone, and I was glad Boone had opted to hang out at Wes’s with Joey and Wes and Hadley’s kids. The kids would be far too restless to be here for any length of time, and it was probably better that Boone and I didn’t show up together anyway. Our close friends, like Wes and Hadley, knew we were involved, but we’d kept our relationship on the down-low for a plethora of reasons.
