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“But that’s the problem, Max. I’m a grown woman, not a kid. You all seem to forget I’ve had the benefit of watching you all go through hell to get your happily-ever-afters. You also forget that I’m very good at math, and I have an excellent memory. Your wife was twenty-three when you met her. And you were older than my husband. So you may want to back off.”
He sits quietly on the other end of the phone while I roll down the window of the town car and watch the people all file out of their cars and into the arena. “Listen, Max. I’ve got to go. The game’s going to start soon.”
“Point taken.”
“What?” I ask him, confused.
“You’re right. Daphne was twenty-three when we met, and not everyone was onboard with our relationship.”
“And did you give her up?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“If I had, we wouldn’t have Serena.”
“Nope. You sure wouldn’t, big brother. Think about that while I’m thinking about what you said. I really do have to go though. I want to catch some of the warm-up.”
“Love you, Madeline. You sure you don’t want me to get you into the box with the staff?”
“No, thank you. I got myself a ticket right by one of the nets. Talk soon.” I end the call, and for a brief moment, I think maybe, just maybe, there’s some hope with my family.
That’s forgotten the minute I get out of the car and a million flashes go off in my face.
“Madeline, look over here.”
“Lindy, is that Easton’s jersey?”
Lindy, are you pregnant?”
“Did you have to get married?”
Lindy. Lindy. Did you marry him to get him traded?”
Questions fly at me from every direction, and the security at the VIP gate ushers me through. Shit. It’s never been like that before. I show the guard my ticket and lanyard. Max thinks he’s the only one capable of making a call. But there was no way I was going to my first game, watching my husband play for my team, without pulling a few strings.
I’m escorted through the cavernous halls and brought to the Revolution’s bench, where Brynlee stands with Mason, the head physical therapist. Her face lights up when she sees me, and I rush over to hug her.
“I’m so excited you made it.” She points next to herself. “You know Mason, right?”
“Yes, we’ve met.” I smile at Mason and offer him my hand.
“Nice to see you, Miss Kingston.”
“Actually, it’s Hayes now,” I correct him with such a giddy smile, I can’t hold it back when I look at Bryn.
Her eyes widen, and she turns to Mason. “Do you mind if I...” She points to me.
“Go ahead. We’re fine. Just don’t go far.”
She takes my hand and moves down to the other end of the bench behind the sin bin. “Umm... okay, Mrs. Hayes. I think you need to spill the deets. Does this mean everything went well last night? I mean, I read the Kronicles this morning, and the pictures they had of you two last night looked hot. Like seriously hot. But when I didn’t hear from you all day, I wasn’t sure.”
I look out onto the ice and immediately find Easton stretching. “Oh yeah. Things went really well. It was amazing, Bryn.”
“Amazing enough to introduce yourself as Mrs. Hayes? Does that mean you’re done asking for an annulment?”
“I remembered everything, Bryn.Everything. So yeah, no more talk of annulments.”
She links her arm through mine and looks out over the ice at the team. “So you guys are good?”
“Yeah.” I smile, thinking about last night. “I think so. We kinda went about it backward. But I think it’s going to work for us.”
