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“One will be fine,” I said and offered a grateful smile when he handed it over. “Thank you.”
“Certainly, sir. The elevators are just to the right past the desk. Your room is on the fifth floor. Just let us know if you need anything. Enjoy your stay.”
I nodded. “I appreciate it.”
In the hallway after the short elevator ride, my phone started ringing and I quickly pulled it out to see who was calling. It was too soon for Teagan to be back at the hospital, but still, my heart stopped that it could be something about Remi. I made a mental note to give my name and number to the nurses so they could notify me directly going forward. Bronwyn’s name flashed across the screen.
I answered amidst flinging my duffle over my shoulder. “Hello?” I said, craning my neck to hold the phone to my ear with my shoulder. The key gave me some issues and took three swipes before it opened. “Fuck,” I muttered before she could say anything.
“Well, okay, but I don’t think your dick will reach across the ocean, impressive as it is,” she laughed softly. “I was starting to wonder about you.”
I pushed open the door and let the bag drop to the floor before the door had a chance to close. It banged loudly behind me.
“Sorry. I’ve just checked into a hotel and I couldn’t get the key to work.”
I kicked my shoes off and fell onto the bed. “You’re just getting to bed?”
“Yes. I’m beat. Can I call you in a few hours?”
“Ace, I want to know what’s going on. Why are you there?”
I closed my eyes in resignation, letting my body sink onto the bed. Either it was more comfortable than most hotel beds or I was too numb to notice. Maybe the reason it felt so good was because I was a walking zombie, but either way, I just wanted to sleep. A wave of irritation rolled over me. I shouldn’t have expected my girlfriend to put her impatience on hold, no matter how tired I was.
I hesitated, contemplating how much to tell her. She would find out soon enough when I asked for a leave of absence from Arsenal. “It’s complicated.”
Bronwyn was one of the team fitness coaches and she’d worked with me since the day I joined the team. She knew how depressed and driven I was back then. It was only this year when we started to date when I’d shared a little of my past with Teagan, but Bronwyn didn’t have a full picture of how much I’d loved Teagan. What was the point? You don’t tell your current girlfriend that there is zero chance you’ll ever love her because you’ve been completely destroyed by another woman.
The room had one small light on by the window and I lay flat on my back, my legs bent at the knee and my feet still on the floor. “Remember the girl I dated in college?”
I could almost feel her agitation through the phone. “Teagan, right?”
“Yes. She called me because her daughter has leukemia and they’re looking for a donor.”
“She has balls, I’ll give her that,” she said in disgust. “What does she want from you? Money? Ace, you can’t be considering it. I mean, the woman broke your heart; brutally. You can’t possibly believe her! It could all be some made-up sob story.”
“It’s not about money, Bronwyn. Your sensitivity slays me. She’s only five years old, and she could die. I spent most of the day at the hospital; her illness is real.”
“Well, sure, I’m sorry for the little one, of course, but after all this woman did to you, Ace, trotting off across the pond makes you a saint. You could have just wired her some cash.”
I was sure Bronwyn had a lot of insecurity because the relationship I shared with her was not the same type of thing I had with Teagan, and she knew it. There was no point in beating around the bush. “Remi is my daughter.”
The gasp at the other end of the phone was pronounced. “What? How can you be sure? She’s probably just some elaborate con. You can’t seriously believe such rubbish!”
Teagan may have done a lot of things wrong, but she wasn’t a money-grubber. “She isn’t like that.”
Bronwyn’s voice took on a harder, pissier tone. “No, not perfect little Teagan! She’s just the bitch who suddenly married your best friend behind your back, broke your trust, and now lied about a child. Very innocent. You can’t be sure the child is even yours!” Somehow her accent made her sound all the more indignant and incredulous.
“Look, I’m still reeling from it myself, and yeah, I’m pissed off, but it is what it is. There is a real little girl, and she is at risk of dying.”
“At least get a paternity test, for God’s sake.”
“I don’t need one. I can tell just by looking at her that she’s mine,” I said sternly. I felt as protective of her as if I’d know her since she was born and I was irritated by her words. I understood that she was in shock, but she could be a little more sensitive to the precariousness of Remi’s situation. I waited for a response, but when it didn’t come, I continued. “Anyway, I’m getting tested for a marrow match tomorrow, which should suffice. The DNA markers are tricky and the closer the match, the more likely the marrow donation will save her life.”
She could sense my agitation and backed off. “I’m sorry, lovie. I’m just— freaking out a bit. It’s a lot to take in.”
“Tell me about it. But, she’s amazing; so sweet and beautiful. I can’t explain it; but when you have a child, you love it; the connection is instant. None of this is her fault. She’s innocent, and I have to do whatever I can to help.”
“I understand. How long will you be away?” There was a frustrated undercurrent in her tone.
