Chapter Eight
JAKE
I slowly wake up from a deep sleep and stretch my arms across the hotel bed, actually feeling rested and content.
Man, I feel good. It’s been a long time since that’s happened, and it takes me those few blurry moments between sleep and being awake to figure out what’s different about this morning.
Why do I feel so good? It’s obvious, actually.
Abbie.
I smile to myself and roll over to the other side of the bed to hold her.
She’s not there. The mattress is cool and empty, as if she was never there.
I’m not surprised, really, but it is disappointing.
I don’t bother searching the room — it’s quiet, the bathroom door is open with the light off, and she obviously got out of here as fast as she could, probably quite some time ago.
Sighing, I stare up at the ceiling as I think about our night together.
Fuck, it was incredible. I hadn’t realized just how much I’ve missed her.
Her passion. Her eagerness and hungry kisses.
The way her body takes me in as if it’s just been waiting for me to enter her.
I hadn’t realized just how much I had been missing everything about her…
…which freaks me out, actually. I don’t do commitment. Hell, I don’t even sleep with the same woman more than once. Usually.
But there’s something about Abbie. I just can’t seem to resist her.
A pull that had me returning to her again and again throughout the course of a year …
and again the moment I saw her again yesterday.
She looked gorgeous, but a little different.
Softer. Lusher. Her curves are fuller and more mouthwatering than before.
The moment I saw her I wanted to get her in my arms and reacquaint myself with every inch of her.
Why am I feeling this way? Scrubbing my hands over my face, I let out a groan of frustration before throwing the blankets off and climbing out of bed.
Glancing around the room, I see that all her stuff is gone.
How early did she get up so she wouldn’t have to interact with me after fucking me last night?
I want to be happy about this, but instead, it’s pissing me off.
I stand up and stare at the snowy sky outside the window for a moment, collecting myself. I’ve seriously got to cool off.
Irritated and hurt in a way I don’t want to dwell on, I get dressed and ready for the day and pack up my stuff.
I check my phone for the time—it’s still early enough to get the continental breakfast downstairs—so I double check that I’ve got everything and make my way out into the hallway.
As I reach the elevators and ride down to the lobby, I wonder how Abbie will act when we see each other again. Shy and bashful? Flirtatious? Scornful?
Or will she just ignore me completely?
Not that I deserve any less, if I’m honest. I was the one to cut contact with her three years ago.
Still, the idea of being ignored is what bothers me the most, even if it would be the most convenient way for this to go.
I still don’t want to commit to anyone, not even Abbie, so pretending last night never happened would be the path of least resistance.
Yet even though I haven’t seen her and don’t know that she’ll take that approach… the mere thought of it makes me feel a twisting in my stomach. Anger pulses through my blood. This is not going to be a happy morning, I suppose.
When the elevator doors open, I grip my suitcase hard and march toward the continental breakfast area, right outside the lobby.
There’s a TV playing local news, and the room is busy with people moving through the buffet line, piling their plates with waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage…
the usual. I look around and spot Carter and Tom at the end of the line, and sitting in a corner booth together are Sophie and Abbie.
Neither of them have spotted me yet, so I make my way to the start of the buffet to get my food.
Once I’ve got a plate full, I hesitate. Do I go to them? Break the ice?
Nah. I head toward the table where the guys are sitting next to the girls’ booth, bypassing them.
The two women are deep in conversation, thankfully, and oblivious to anything else around them—including me.
That said, right as I’m coming near, I do catch a bit of their conversation… and their words freeze me in my tracks.
“I checked in with Dad,” Abbie says. “He says the kids are doing great and getting along.”
“I’m not surprised,” Sophie replies with a smile. “Your Lilah is such a sweetheart; she could get along with anyone. Even my little devil.”
I stop in my tracks. A cold sweat breaks over my skin as I listen to both women laughing, and I struggle not to change my expression.
Abbie has a kid.
A girl.
Who the fuck is the father?
A tidal wave of jealousy crashes over me, catching me by surprise.
Sure, I know what we had going on years ago was just casual.
No commitment, no promises—she would’ve been free to see other men, no questions asked.
She never hinted that there was anyone else, though.
I’m certain I would’ve at least been able to suspect if she’d been with someone else.
Still, it would’ve been none of my business, and even if she wasn’t with someone when we were hooking up, it’s not like I expected her to join a fucking convent after I cut contact.
Yet, the idea of another man with his hands on her—kissing her, holding her, fucking her—infuriates me. I want to hunt down the bastard who knocked her up and beat the shit out of him for touching what’s mine.
Except, she’s not mine. I made sure of that.
There’s no reason for me to feel jealous, but I can’t control the feeling as it rages through me.
Is she still with the father? No… no, Abbie isn’t the kind of girl who’d cheat on a husband, so that can’t be the case.
When she was fucking me last night, I was the only man on her mind, I’m sure of that.
So, whoever the father is, she’s not actually with him. Not officially or anything. I hate how much that helps ease some of my anger. Even as I try to reason my way through this, another thought crashes through my head.
How old is the kid? Could she be… mine?
That’s crazy. Isn’t it? Abbie would’ve told me, except … I guess, maybe not. I did cut her off, after all.
I don’t want kids, though. I’ve never really wanted them.
The memory of Cassandra, that bitch, tricking me into thinking she was pregnant just to trap me pops into my head and disgust crawls up my spine. When it turned out she’d faked the whole thing, I’d been so relieved I’d almost been in tears.
When I thought she was pregnant, I was terrified.
Dreaded the thought of being stuck with that woman for the rest of my life.
I decided a long time ago that I didn’t want to have kids, because I never wanted to risk making my son or daughter feel the way I felt growing up.
As though they were an inconvenience or a mistake, and especially with Cassandra, I don’t know how I’d be able to keep myself from feeling that way about the baby.
Strangely enough, thinking of Abbie having my kid doesn’t make me feel that way. It makes me feel kind of content. It’s weird and unnerving.
Shaking my head, I snap myself out of the daze and lower my gaze as I continue to the table with the guys, praying Abbie didn’t catch me staring at her.
Once we’ve all had breakfast and everyone has packed their things and bundled up, the team and the adults all gather in the lobby.
Carter and Tom are with Jordan, Bodhi, and Theo getting ready to leave for their final game of the weekend.
I look around for Abbie, but when I see her with Sophie off to the side, looking at their phones and having a hushed conversation with each other, I hesitate.
Last night was so fucking great, I want to talk to her and see how she’s feeling, but she hasn’t looked at me or acknowledged me at all this morning.
It’s confusing and a definite blow to my pride.
Deciding to give her the space she so clearly wants, I make my way to Carter and Tom and the boys.
“Hey.” I stop next to Carter and clap him on the shoulder. “Are you guys taking off soon?”
“Yep. Gotta go get ready and warmed up.”
“Jake!” Jordan exclaims. “Are you coming to the game today?”
“You gotta!” Theo insists.
“It’d be really cool if you did,” Bodhi adds in a softer voice.
“Oh, wait, do you have a game you need to get back to?” Jordan appears thoughtful for a moment. “I don’t remember there being anything on Boston’s schedule.”
I chuckle. The kid would have the team’s schedule practically memorized. He loves hockey more than anyone I know - even me.
Scratching my chin, I think about it for a moment. I’m not ready to head back to Boston yet, and I don’t have practice or anything for a few more days.
Clearing my throat, I shrug, “You know what? I’ll stick around. I can help with pregame drills or something.”
“No way!” Jordan cries in excitement.
“Can you show me how to spin away?” Theo asks at the same time.
“The other guys are going to freak out!” Bodhi declares with a wide smile.
Carter’s eyes light up and he smiles. “That’d be great! Actually, you want to stay another night? We haven’t gotten much time to chill together, and Sophie and Abbie are leaving today, so we can hang out if you don’t have to be anywhere tomorrow.”
I grin and nod. “That sounds awesome, dude. My schedule is pretty open for the next few days. I’d love to have some bro-time.”
Tom looks up at that with a frown. “Carter, remember that I’m taking Jordan home after the game? He’s got school tomorrow.”
Carter frowns and groans. “Oh, shit, that’s right. Sorry, Jake. Tom’s my ride…”
“Hey, no problem,” I quickly cut in. “I can give you a ride home tomorrow.”
“Seriously?” Carter’s excitement returns in an instant, but he tries to temper it. “You sure? You don’t have to go out of your way.”
I shrug. “It’s no big deal. It’d be nice to see Ivy Glen. It’s been a minute, after all.”
“Hell yes.” Carter claps me on the shoulder. “Well, you can definitely stay with me and Soph for as long as you want to hang around.”
“Thanks man. I’d love that.”
Yeah, that’s right. If I go to Ivy Glen for a little while, then I can figure out what the hell is going on with Abbie. Find out who the father of her child is, and how involved in her life he still is.
This is a good idea. It’ll drive me crazy otherwise. I just need to get some answers and put this whole thing behind me, then I can go back to Boston and put Abbie behind me once and for all.
Unless I’m the father of her child.
Fuck… I’ll just cross that bridge if I come to it. One thing at a time.
At that moment, Sophie and Abbie come to join the group.
“We’re going to head out,” Sophie tells Carter.
“All right, angel,” he replies, slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her into him. “Drive safe. Let me know when you get home.”
“I will. You guys have fun, all right?”
Carter plants a lingering kiss on his wife’s lips. The way these two love each other is rather stunning to witness. It could make even a cynic like me almost want that too.
I glance at Abbie, who’s watching the two with a sort of dreamy look in her eyes, and I can’t help but imagine what it would be like to be loved by her. Really, deeply, unconditionally loved.
My chest aches again and I wonder if the father of her child knows what that’s like.
Sophie and Carter finally break apart.
“Okay,” Sophie declares. “We’re going to take off. Good luck, you guys!”
“Bye!” the group replies in near unison.
“See you all later,” Abbie adds with a wave, not looking my way at all. Ignoring me just as I worried she would.
As the two women turn to leave the hotel, I stare after her, feeling a strange longing to follow and not let her out of my sight.
It’s okay, though. I’ll see her again soon… in Ivy Glen.