Chapter Sixteen #3
Trey catches a glimpse of the situation first and slams JP's arm with the back of his hand as JP makes a move towards an open table. Then Trey points and doesn’t move.
Now two of the Hawkeyes players are standing still, waiting to determine if they need to step in or take a seat and mind their own business.
“You needed a ride after?” Aleksi asks me, perfectly ordinary.
“That’s fine. I got her.” Tarron interjects, and then looks at me. “If you need a ride I can take care of you.”
“I think you’ve proven you can’t take care of her,” Akeski jumps in.
Tarron takes a step forward. “You don’t think I can take care of my wife?”
“She’s not your wife anymore. I suggest you remember that.”
In the corner of my eye Trey takes a step forward but I flag him to stop.
Down boy. I got this.
We don't need ex-military level bloodshed in this pizzeria.
“You two knock it off or we’re going to have to start selling tickets to this shit show. You’re going to make a scene and Penelope and Tucker Evans will have both of your asses,” I say in a harsh, yet hushed tone. “At this point, I’d rather walk home than go with either of you clowns.”
That finally gets both of their attention and their heads snap to look down at the woman half both of their size. Two giants and a little mouse with a baby bump. Their dick measuring contest about who gets to drive me home would maybe be considered comical if all of our career weren’t on the line.
“Kendall–” Aleksi says as if he’s about to explain himself.
I know what he was trying to do, and I appreciate it at some level. I’m sure seeing me with my ex was an unwelcome surprise, but he came over here and started it.
“Just go eat with the guys. I’ll talk to you later, okay?
” He doesn’t nod but the way he swallows hard tells me that he realizes he came in a little too hot and that I’m not exactly pleased with him.
Then I turn to Tarron. “And you… our lunch is over and I think we’ve said everything we meant to say.
I have a meeting with a neurologist to go over a few players. I need to get back to the rink.”
“I’ll see you later?” Aleksi says.
I nod and then Trey and JP, still standing at the doorway, make their move to meet Aleksi at an open booth in the back of the restaurant.
I lean over the booth to grab my things and Tarron reaches over to grab his wallet and phone.
“So that’s the one, huh?”
“The one what?” Though I know exactly what he means.
“The father. Aleksi M?kelin. Didn’t peg you for being into foreign guys. I thought you liked the all-American type.”
I roll my eyes as I drop my phone into my purse and zip it up. “You mean you?”
He grins, sliding his wallet into his back pocket and his cell phone into his front. “Just saying.”
“You better not be sitting on your wallet in the car, it’s going to screw up your alignment.” I tell him like a broken record of what I used to harp on him about back when we were married.
“I won’t,” he grins as if me stating the obvious means I still care.
“And as far as my tastes, they’ve changed since I left the NFL.” I meet his eyes. “I don’t date cheating assholes anymore.”
His grin falters. “I’m not that guy anymore, Kendall. If you’d just give me a chance to prove it—”
“I think our story’s a little worn out, don’t you?
” I swing my purse over my shoulder, grasping with one hand at the thick leather strap to anchor me to something.
“It’s time we both move on. If we keep our mouths shut, this baby story gives you your second chance and buys me enough time to stay out of hot water until maternity leave.
Don’t make it worse. Please, for once in your life…
do something decent for me. You owe me that much. ”
He looks at me for a long time, then says quietly, “For what it’s worth, I still love you.”
I pause, my heart heavy and unflinching. “If that’s true, then do what I’m asking. Keep your mouth shut, and let me go. Because the only thing you’re capable of doing is hurting me again. Stop pretending like you don’t already know that.”
Then I turn and walk toward the back door.
“Kendall…” I hear Aleksi’s voice running behind me.
I turn to see him coming straight for me.
“I’m sorry. I acted like an ass in there. I just… seeing him look at you like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like he still thinks he’s got a shot to get you back, calling you his wife in that interview, I lost it. That’s my problem, not yours.”
I understand how he feels. I remember the feeling of seeing the pictures of him with his sister thinking it was his new girlfriend. I know what that kind of panic feels like.
“I’m not mad…” I say though I’m still annoyed because they could have made this whole thing worse. “I’m just–”
“I know.” He says, taking a step forward and offers up his hands. I take them. “Can I make it up to you?” he asks, a careful smile pulling up at the corner of his mouth. “Tomorrow night?”
“You want to make it up to me? How?”
The thought of what he did in my office awhile back would do the trick, but I’m not telling him that. I’d like to know what he has in mind.
“A date? My place? I’ll cook, you just come.”
“A date?” I ask, unable to stop my only smile from forming.
“We kind of jumped ahead a few steps with the baby. But I realized that I’ve been trying to give you space and I’ve never taken you out on a real date.”
“Yeah… okay. A date.”
He takes a step forward and kisses my forehead.
“I’ll see you tomorrow night?”
I nod and then he turns and heads back inside.
As the door closes behind him, I glance through the window, just long enough to see Tarron still at the table, staring across the restaurant at Aleksias; he joins the guys again, and Aleksi stares back at him. Two men sizing each other up, both knowing exactly what’s at stake.
I rub my belly knowing that the only thing I care about is the little person still safe and protected inside of me. Part of me wishes I could keep him all to myself forever. Never let him feel pain, or loss, but that’s not possible.
“Don’t worry little one. I’m going to clean this mess up before you get here. I promise,” I say as I turn away from the restaurant and head for my car.