Chapter 41
TYLER
“My man isin a world of hurt.”
I side-eye Jonas in his rocking chair, where he’s trying to get one of his little ones, Jace, to sleep. The other one, Lukas, is toddling between his box of oversized LEGOs and me, bringing over one at a time and waiting for me to respond with an enthusiastic thank you and pat on his head.
This kid’s father has his hands full, literally and figuratively, as a pro hockey player at the peak of his career who’s also the widowed father of two little ones. He’s keeping it together far better than my own father did all those years ago. When I ask him how he does it, he simply points out, “What other choice is there? These little people need me.”
When I consider all that, I feel like an asshole bellyaching about my own problems. By comparison, I have nothing to complain about.
Or I didn’t until the last few days. And at this moment in time, I think I’m allowed to talk about the fucking shitshow that has become my life.
Jonas glances at his Apple watch. That’s how he keeps track of what’s going on in the world when his arms are full. “Rake’s parking.”
I brace myself for the worst of the blowback, some of which I’m aware of, and some of which Rake is about to share because his wife’s bestie filled him in on all the gory details of her discovery of our bet.
Rake flies in with a six-pack, which is not nearly enough because I plan to drink at least that much beer, myself. Jonas and I wait for him to distribute the bottles, then they both look at me.
I say nothing. I’m not sure where to start.
So Rake does. “Ty, as you know, Lucy found out about our bet, but you also found out she is writing a book about asshole men and is using you as her main research subject.”
I nod slowly. “That about sums it up.”
The room is silent for a moment, except for little Lukas, babbling and fumbling with LEGO pieces.
“So basically… you are both assholes,” Jonas says helpfully.
“You could say that, but on the other hand I wouldn’t be in this mess if you guys hadn’t pressured me into a bet. I never would have asked Lucy out, and none of this ever would have happened.”
Rake rolls his eyes. “Ty, you can’t blame us for this?—”
Jonas cuts him off. “I guess we were kind of assholes about the whole thing, too. Thinking it was all a big joke.”
“How did Lucy find out? Do you know?” I ask.
Rake takes a deep breath. “Apparently, Petal and Gilly dragged Lucy down to the arena with the intention of making her talk to you and apologize or something like that. You know, to try and work things out. But before they got to us, Daphne, who shouldn’t even have been there, stopped them in the hallway and spilled the beans about the bet.”
“How the hell did she know?” Jonas asks.
“Who knows,” I say. “The woman is a troublemaker.”
Rake nods. “She may have eavesdropped at the team party a few weeks back. Chuck ended things with her recently when he finally came to his senses. Guess she’s so mad she has to spread her misery.”
“How did she get into the arena?” I ask.
Rake shakes his head. “Not sure. Maybe she has Chuck’s key card? Remember he said he couldn’t find his?”
I bury my face in my hands after accepting another LEGO from Lukas. I almost forget to pat his head and thank him and only do so when he stubbornly stands there waiting, his hands on his hips.
Damn, kids are sassy these days.
“Whatever way she found out, Lucy’s really hurt,” Rake says. “Petal told me the whole story in great detail. I’m not supposed to tell you that, but what’s the harm? A man needs to know what he’s up against.”
“Dude, what was your exit plan with this? Were you really going to dump her at ninety days?” Jonas asks.
Is he really asking me that? “Of course not. Jesus, you guys must think I’m a real loser. What I was going to do was keep dating her. She’d never find out about the bet because we’d all forget it ever happened. Everyone would live happily ever after and you guys would not breathe a word.”
Rake nods. “Could have been a solid plan. Except, it didn’t work.”
“It was my plan until I found out I was subject number one for her book on asshole men. Guys, you should have seen her notes. Apparently, she thinks I’m a womanizer, cheater, liar, you name it. After all the fun times we had together, that’s what she thinks of me. I’m no angel, I know that, but boy was I played.”
“Wow. That’s a lot,” Jonas says, nodding.
“Look, Ty,” Rake says, “you’re the best. You’re my buddy, and I care about you. But you’re not all that great. I mean, you are kind of a dick.”
I laugh in spite of myself. There’s nothing like being told you’re an asshole by your buddies to know they really love you.
“Do you like her?” Jonas asks, passing Jace to Rake.
He’d never admit it, but Rake loves babies.
“Of course he likes her. Are you kidding?” Rake says.
Jonas comes back with another beer for me. “Okay. How much do you like her?”
I hesitate. “I liked her enough to keep dating her past the ninety-day bet. Yes, it started out as not much more than a fling. But that changed.”
“Look at him,” Rake says to Jonas, “he’s clearly smitten. Maybe even in love. Have you ever seen our boy like this?”
I don’t argue. The man is right.
“Well, do you?” Jonas asks.
“Do I what?”
He rolls his eyes. I know what he’s getting at. I just don’t know if I’m ready to say it out loud, especially in front of these guys. I want to blame them for the mess I’m in. But when it comes down to it, it’s all on me. Not them, or anybody else.
“Playing coy is not a good look on you, Ty. Stop acting like you can do better than Lucy. Because you can’t.”
Fuck me. If everyone knew how great she was, what were they doing letting me carry on with our stupid bet?
What a set-up. It’s like they were trying to teach me a lesson. Which I am sure they were not, because these guys are just not that smart.
But Rake does have a point.
“I hear that. I hurt the woman. And she doesn’t deserve that. Even if she is writing a book about what an asshole I am.”
Fuck, that makes no sense.
“Bottom line, Ty. Are you gonna walk away? Chalk this up to experience? Start dating the next puck bunny who spreads her legs for you?”
While I’m thinking, little Lukas tires of sharing his LEGOs with me and crawls into my lap. He leans his head back against my chest, takes a deep breath, and closes his eyes.
I’ll be damned.
Jonas puts his hands on his hips and shakes his head. “Genny used to say if a little kid likes you, you can’t be all that bad.”
“Hmmm,” Rake says. “But this is your kid, Jo. We don’t know yet if he’s a dumbass like you.”
He ignores the jab. “You know you love her, right?” he asks.
I look between the two of my buddies. Why is it so hard to say it out loud?
I look down at Lukas. Hell, he took a chance by crawling into my lap. I can surely say what’s been on my mind for weeks.
“Yeah. I fucking love her. Plain and simple.”
Jonas claps his hands loudly, causing Lukas to raise his head and look around. “There you go. Our little Tyler’s growing up,” he says with a laugh.
“Not sure I’d go as far as to say that,” Rake says. “But look, forget what you saw in the freaking notebook. Just get over it. Have some boss-level balls and go talk to her. Work your shit out.”
“Fine. I will. But first Jonas has gotta take this kid back.”