Triple Power Play (Obsessed Players Club #1)

24. Ethan

TWENTY-FOUR

ETHAN

I pace the hotel room and rake my fingers through my hair, waiting for Aurora to answer my call. All day, I’ve been thinking about this, going over my words again and again.

But when she picks up, my mind goes blank, and I freeze.

“Hi.”

That simple word in her soft voice lights up my entire body, bringing my heart and brain back to life.

“Hi.” She remains silent, and I add some humor to ease the palpable tension. “I’m sorry I got you pregnant.”

She laughs, and the knot in my stomach loosens.

“It’s not so bad. Quite a shock at first, but I’m excited about it now.”

There’s distance in her voice, and I hate it.

“Tell me everything. How did you find out? Let’s start there.”

“We were in New York, doing a photoshoot for a clothing line. I was exhausted and almost fell asleep on set.” She chuckles. “Then, several mornings in a row, I was sick, and here we are, fourteen weeks pregnant.”

I can’t imagine her in New York, going through this whirlwind of emotions, while I was thousands of miles away. A pang of guilt hits me. I should have been there—I should be there now, or at least doing something .

“Jackson tells me you’re having trouble with your roommate. Is everything okay?”

“No.” She releases a heavy sigh. “Emily refuses to speak to me.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m friends with Jax,” she says, too curt for my taste.

“Just friends?” I tease.

“As of this moment, yes.”

As of this moment. So there’s a possibility, and I’m pushing her right into his arms. Great.

“Are you considering being with him?”

“Like I told Jackson, my only concern is this baby, not dating.”

I can see her rolling her eyes, annoyed with my prying.

“Okay, I respect that.” I draw a breath and blow it out slowly. “I wasn’t lying when I said I think about you. I want to be a part of this baby’s life—and yours. My behavior in the limo was appalling, and I apologize. I was only thinking of myself.”

“I don’t blame you for anything. I have no hard feelings toward you. I just don’t know you. I worry about the future,” her voice shakes, “such as shared custody. You know?”

I hadn’t even considered custody issues. Now I understand why she wanted nothing to do with me and seemed afraid. She’s worried I’ll take her to court, take the baby .

She didn’t hunt me down or use this pregnancy to extort money from me. She could have, and I would’ve given it to her, and that tells me everything I need to know.

“Don’t worry about that. It’s the furthest thing from my mind, I promise. We’ll work this out together.” I take another deep inhale, gathering my courage. “I do have something important to discuss, though.”

“Okay…” She drags out the word.

“And that’s how we portray this pregnancy in the public eye.”

The line goes quiet, and I sense her aggravation.

“I’m not gonna trash your reputation. I already told you that.”

Her tone has a bite, and it’s the last thing I want, but unfortunately, this situation is escalating quickly. Between Jackson’s freak-out over the elevator mishap and his recent fight, the media will circle like a pack of vultures soon enough.

“Can we FaceTime and have an honest conversation?”

“Umm, I’m in bed with no makeup on.”

I scoff. “I’m sure you’re gorgeous, no matter what.”

I sit on the couch and switch the call. Her face comes on the screen, and I bite my lip to stop from outright groaning. Somehow, I forgot how young and beautiful she is.

She’s sitting against a white, fluffy pillow that engulfs her. Her alluring eyes instantly captivate me, drawing me in with their shy gaze. Sexy, dark waves frame her face and shoulders. Her lips, pouty and inviting, complete the seductive package, and fuck me, this wasn’t a good idea.

“Wow, okay.” My cheeks and ears grow warm. “You’re even better in bed.” Wait? What? “That’s not what I meant.” Jesus, I’m a teenager fumbling over my words.

We share a laugh, and I’m glad she still has her bubbly sense of humor.

“Let me rephrase that. You’re perfect, regardless of makeup.”

She offers me a gentle smile. “You also look great.” She appraises me, and it reminds me of the first time we met—the way she noticed me, the way she flirted with me. “You seem happier,” she says.

“Thank you. I am happier, a lot happier.” Mainly because of you.

She bites her lip and drops her gaze, and the camera angle shifts as she relaxes. She’s wearing an oversized white T-shirt, nothing underneath, and I’m left speechless.

Stunned stupid, I stare.

The sight of her peaked nipples has desire stirring low in my gut, but it’s her swollen belly that really does it for me.

I did that.

Thank fuck she can’t see me reach down and adjust my pants. Face-to-face, I’d never keep my emotions in check. If she ends up with my captain, I’ll need to stay away. She’s too tempting.

“What did you want to discuss?”

What were we discussing? Oh, yeah, my idiotic idea to allow Jackson to claim her publicly.

This decision is best for everyone involved, including the team, I tell myself. Repeatedly.

“Please hear me out before hanging up on me, okay?”

She maintains an annoyed expression while I outline my plan.

By the end, her glare is icy, her jaw tight. “You want me to fake date Jackson for the publicity? Let him pretend to be the father of your baby?”

I wince. “Not dating exactly. Although I believe it’s the best solution for everyone.”

“Do you not want to be involved? I’ve given you that option.” Her lips tremble, and her eyes turn glassy. “I have enough stress in my life. I’m not interested in playing your games.” A tear escapes, and she quickly brushes it away.

I wish I could be with her, comfort her, and make everything disappear.

But that’s not possible.

“Aurora, I want to be involved. I plan to be involved. But I don’t fit the narrative of your public lives. People assume Jackson is the father. Other players are already harassing him over the elevator incident. If they find out this baby is mine, it’ll get worse—much worse, especially in the locker room. And the negative publicity will jeopardize all our careers.”

She lays a hand on her stomach, her voice cracking when she says, “You’re ashamed of this…of me.”

My blood boils, and my heart breaks simultaneously. “Fuck, no. Don’t twist this around. If anything, I don’t deserve you . You’re young and beautiful, and this whole situation is surreal to me. Supporting you financially is the easiest way for me to help, but you won’t allow me to do that. I’m trying to make the best of this situation, and maybe that means me stepping aside—not that I want to.”

Silence falls between us. I hang my head and push my fingers through my hair in frustration. “I didn’t even think of this plan until Jackson’s fight.”

“You care about Jax.” It’s not a question or an accusation, simply her observation.

“He’s changed. I’ve had a few unfortunate run-ins with his father, so I can empathize with what he’s been through. That doesn’t mean I don’t think he has work to do, but he clearly loves you. Lucky fucker.”

The last part slips out of my mouth, and she smiles.

“Say I agree to this plan of yours. What happens if he relapses? And you know Jax isn’t capable of fake dating, right?”

There’s no straightforward solution to this. Jackson is already attached, and if he wants her half as bad as I do, he won’t fuck it up.

If he does, it’s ultimately better for me. I have a three-year contract with the team, and this infatuation of his needs to run its course. I can wait him out.

“He’s going to pursue you either way. That train left the station long ago. And, as far as I know, he quit drinking. I fired the staff who ignored his addiction and hired a sports doctor with experience in substance use. If he relapses, I swear, I’ll drag him from whatever hole he crawled into and knock some sense into him.”

Her eyes soften, and her face lights up. “You did all that?”

“Along with revoking his father’s privileges to our locker room and training facility, yeah.”

“Wow,” she nearly whispers. “Thank you.”

The adoration in her gaze takes my breath away. She’s thanking me for doing what’s right. I did it for Jackson and the team, unintentionally giving Aurora her boyfriend back. Yay me.

I roll my shoulders, releasing the tension in my neck. “I promise I won’t stand by and let him mistreat you. If he does, you break up with him. People break up.” A smug smile plays on my lips.

She shakes her head. “I don’t get you. You make comments such as that, tell me you think about me and don’t consider this a mistake, but you’re pushing me toward someone else.”

There’s that brutal honesty I both love and hate.

“You’re a decade younger than me.” I shrug, the playfulness lost. “I’m too jaded. A committed relationship isn’t in the cards for me. But you and Jackson”—I picture them together, the supermodel and the superstar—“make a hell of a lot more sense. And if, by some miracle, you choose me…can you at least wait until the end of the season?” I jest, but I’m more than somewhat serious.

I caught my ex cheating and still finished the hockey season before planning my divorce, enduring months of daily business meetings with the prick she was fucking behind my back.

A player missing a game differs from a coach blundering everyone’s year. I need to stay focused.

Even with all that said, I know I’m fooling myself. If she wants me, I won’t resist. She’ll be my entire world.

Which is why I need to distance myself.

“I guess you’re unhappy with my March due date?” She beams, and relief washes over me.

“Not ideal, but preferable to playoffs. I’d have to disown you then.” I return her smile, then joke, “Maybe we need to add a fourth person to this love triangle. That way, someone can be with you during the season?”

Her answer is immediate. “Oh, don’t worry. I have Ricky.” And the way she sings his name triggers something within me.

“Who’s that?” Unable to hide my jealousy, my tone comes out harder than intended.

She cocks her head and bites her bottom lip. “None of your business, Blackwood.”

That playful teasing and mischievous gaze gets me every fucking time.

“Aurora,” I warn, unsure if I’m more irritated by this Ricky bastard or her flirtatious manner. Shit, I’m irritated by another man. “Who is he?”

“Just my bodyguard,” she says too sweetly.

“Consider him fired.”

“You don’t get to make decisions. You’re not my boyfriend, remember?”

Oh, we’ll see about that.