Chapter 10
Channing
Iwalk into Café DuPont ready to tell Natasha where to shove her pregnancy claim. As I move further in the café, I hear my name from behind.
I turn to see Natasha sitting by one of the large café windows. Great, the more public she makes this, the better for her. But I won’t let that happen. I won’t lose my temper with her.
“I got you an espresso.” She slides the cup my way. “Thank you for meeting—”
“Cut the shit, Natasha. The team’s PR girl called. She told me what bullshit story you’re trying to sell here,” I say, cutting her off.
Her expression turns arrogant. “It’s not a bullshit story, Channing. And you of all people should know it considering we’ve been exclusive with one another until six months ago,” she says, standing and flashing me a glimpse of a very prominent bump. “Babies happen when you have a lot of sex. Something you and I did a lot of.”
“We weren’t ever exclusive. You were just an easy lay,” I rasp out, anger building in me. “There’s no way to say this baby is mine. I always dressed for the occasion.”
She looks at me with fire in her eyes. I know I pissed her off, but I refuse to let another woman manipulate me and get my hopes up.
“I want a paternity test. Tomorrow. Talya set one up at a local testing center.”
“Fine. Let me know what center, and I’ll be there,” she says, with a smug expression. “And what are you going to do when the test comes back that you’re the father?”
“We’ll just let our lawyers handle that,” I say, standing from the table. “I’ll text you the time and place.”
I leave her at the table, pissed that I’m going through this. Like Rachel all over again. I was so ready to be a dad and husband when she told me she was pregnant, yet when she didn’t show up to the altar, and I found out it wasn’t my kid, I was devastated. I could have handled the betrayal of her finding someone else. But finding out that she not only found someone else, and was technically carrying his child, gutted me.
I drive home in a fit of rage. How could I have let this happen? I’m always safe, always dressed for the occasion. Yet here I am, back in the same predicament. But what if Natasha’s not telling a lie?
I’d do the right thing, that’s for sure. But what is the right thing here? Do I marry her like I was going to do with Rachel? Do I pay child support? Do we try to have an actual relationship? And what happens to Cassidy?
Fuck.
Cassidy.
I was supposed to go to her house for dinner tonight. Our first official dinner as a couple. However, all I can think of now is going home and figuring out how to fix this mess.
I pull my phone from my pocket and see a few texts from Cassidy, followed by several from Brooks. Yeah, I’ll have to deal with him later. Ignoring both threads, I call Talya and ask her to set up an appointment with the lab tomorrow after morning skate.
Walking into my house, I drop my keys on the table by the front door before heading to my room to change. I throw on a pair of black athletic shorts, forgoing a shirt, and head to my home gym. Working out my frustration is what I need to do. Brutalize my body. Usually, I would find a woman to help work out my frustrations, but that’s exactly how I ended up in this situation. Listening to my dick instead of doing the more sensible thing like now.
I spend hours lifting weight after weight in the gym. Running miles on the treadmill. Doing anything I can to rid myself of the shit show unfolding in front of me. Yet, all I end up with is sore calf muscles and a migraine from hell.
“Halloway,” Brooks barks as soon as he spots me walking into the locker room. “Outside. Now.”
Great. I should have seen this coming. He’s been blowing up my phone since last night.
Brooks: Seriously?
Brooks: I warned you. I told you what would happen if you hurt her.
Brooks: You have some explaining to do, Lucy.
Brooks: But seriously, man. What the fuck was that?
I have no one to blame but myself. I’ve let my dick control my emotions for so long, and it has walked me right into a puck bunny trap. One that I won’t avoid if the baby does turn out to be mine. I’ve always said I would try to make it work with whomever carried my child, no matter the consequences. But with Natasha. That’s a fucking suicide mission, and I knew it all along.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Brooks lays into me as soon as we step into the hall. “Cassidy, how could you do that after I specifically warned you? She’s been through enough the last two weeks.”
He’s right. He did warn me. Yet I let my emotions get the better of me. I wanted her for so long, and I was finally going to have her. No matter what I swore in the past.
She was it. My end game.
“I know,” I say, in a frustrated groan. “I fucked up, okay? But I meant what I said to her. I still want what I had with her. Things just got a little more complicated.”
“Well, un-complicate them.”
Easier said than done.
“I can’t, man.”
“And why the hell not?”
Just say it. “Because Natasha’s pregnant.”
He looks at me to say, how is this your problem, so I answer that for him. “Six months pregnant. Possibly with my baby.”
His eyes widen in surprise as I go over the entire cluster fuck. The stories threatening to be released. The conversation with Natasha yesterday. The impending doom I’m facing when I get out of practice today.
I’m terrified.
“And you didn’t think to tell Cassidy any of this?” he asks when I finish.
“She would have told me to go fuck myself right then and there,” I say, defeated. “No one would want to deal with puck bunny drama. Especially Cassidy.”
Vince put her through the wringer. Why would she want to be involved with drama like that again?
“I have to let her go.”
“Bullshit. Maybe you should just talk to her.”
“And say what? Natasha is pregnant, probably with my baby. Would you accept me with a child?” I’m yelling now, knowing that my frustration is getting the best of me.
Brooks shakes his head, turning to walk away from me as if he’s disappointed. “You never gave her a chance to make that decision. You just made it for her. Come talk to me when you’re ready to pull your head out of your ass.”
I clench my fist in frustration and unleash my fury in the wall behind me. Fuck. I internally scrutinize myself as I shake out the pain. Brooks is right. I decided that she couldn’t handle this possible baby drama, so I just cut her out. But I can’t help but think that she would walk away.
Practice is brutal. First day of training camp, and I already regret missing the optional early training. Brooks is relentless and usually I wouldn’t complain but I know why he’s doing this. He can’t physically kick my ass off the ice, so he’ll do it while we’re on it.
We’re nearing the end of practice as Mr. Richards makes his way down to the ice, with administration staff following. “Gentlemen, this is a big season for us,” he starts as we all kneel on the ice, intently listening. “We’re the reigning Stanley Cup champions, and we’re here to show other teams we mean business. There’s been a few changes to the staff this year, and I’d like to take a moment to reacquaint everyone to the old and the new.”
He introduces each individual and their role, yet my mind isn’t paying attention. My eyes immediately find her, watching as she avoids me. Fidgeting with her earring as if she can’t sense my presence.
God, she’s gorgeous. Her blond hair is pulled back into a low, slick, but messy bun while her blue eyes are intensified by the color of her baby-blue top. Her full, plump lips are painted light pink, just begging me to suck on them.
Yeah, I’m completely fucked.
I try to focus on Mr. Richards’ words, yet my attempts fall short. Once he finishes, I skate toward the bench, watching as the staff file back down the tunnel. I’m ready to say something to her when Polston cuts me off.
“Hey, Reynolds,” he says, stopping right in front of her.
“Hey, Polston,” she replies with an eye roll. “What can I do for you?”
He grins at her and rubs the back of his neck as if he’s nervous. Yeah, right. “I was wondering if you would want to get a drink or let me take you to dinner sometime.”
“She’s not interested,” I growl low enough for only myself to hear. Well, I think low enough for only my ears, as I skate a little closer to the pair, but I’m proven wrong when Cassidy’s gaze snaps to mine.
“And you would know this how?” she barks in my direction before turning back to Polston. “But he’s right. It’s not that I’m not interested. I’m just preoccupied currently. With you know, the breakup and all.”
“Understandable,” I mock him before he takes off toward the locker room.
Once Polston’s out of earshot, Cassidy sets her attack on me. “You’re a real piece of work. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, I know,” I say, following her as she starts down the tunnel. “Were you going to take him up on his offer if I didn’t overhear?”
Her steps falter. “Seriously? You’re jealous? You’re the one who ghosted me, might I remind you.”
“I ghosted you?”
“Yeah. Then you show up here today, acting as if nothing happened and ready to pick up where we left off in Cabo.”
Fuck. Brooks was right. I fucked it up big time. Guess this is what I get for sticking my dick where it doesn’t belong.
“Look, I can explain everything. Just have dinner with me tonight,” I beg, knowing that if she does, it’s time to come clean about everything.
She looks at me, doubt swirling in her deep-blue eyes. “Fine. Six thirty, the little Chinese place by my apartment. You remember it, right? You can make it up to me then.”
Without another word, she turns and heads back toward her office, her hips swaying with each step tempting me. Fuck, I need to get this shit handled. Entering the locker room, I quickly shower, ignoring everyone around me. Throwing on some sweats, I head to find Talya.
She has promised we’d have this handled quickly and quietly. With lawyers on standby for damage control, of course. But I really hope it doesn’t come down to that. I know Natasha is lying. She’s a puck bunny who’s pissed that she couldn’t sink her teeth into Brooks, so now, she’s hoping she can trap me. And she picked the right sucker because I’m a man of my word and will always step up and take care of my responsibilities.
Talya and I arrive at the testing center right on time. Natasha’s already inside, talking to the lab tech. “Perf,” she says, her gaze cutting to mine. “Channing, so glad you made it. Ronny here is ready for us.”
Ronny gives me a nod as a slight smirk tilts at the corner of his mouth. I inwardly cringe, knowing that Natasha was working the guy over before we got here. Sad part, he looks like he would easily give into her regardless of the tiny human growing inside her stomach. But we’re not here to play games.
“Ronny is it? I can assure you understand the severity of this test,” Talya says, narrowing her eyes at the guy.
“Yes, ma’am,” he says, smiling at Natasha. “I can swab you both at the same time in the same room, or separately if you’d like.”
I want to tell them to take us to separate rooms, but I want to make sure she’s not going to manipulate the tests. That the results will be one hundred percent definitive. But before I can speak, Talya lays down the law, demanding that we watch the test for Natasha be administered.
Damn, someone need to give this woman a pay raise. She’s a sniper and will shoot you down in a matter of seconds if you try to pull a fast one on her. The test takes a matter of minutes, and we’re on our way. Talya ensures that the results will be rushed, so we’ll know in a few days.
We walk out of the testing center, Natasha hot on my heels. “Channing, a word?” she demands, cocking her hip with all the attitude in the world. “Alone.”
I nod at Talya, who slowly takes a few steps ahead of me, pulling out her phone to make a call. Natasha stares at me, her brown eyes dancing with seductive victory. “So, what’s going to happen when the results prove that I’m not lying?”
“We’ll let the lawyers handle it,” I say, with conviction.
“Seriously, Channing?” she says, stepping closer to me. “Why are you so against this? We could be a family. Don’t you want this little guy to have a family? His dad around all the time?”
Of course, I want my kid to grow up with both parents in a happy home. And if this kid is mine, then I would wholeheartedly try to make that a reality. I’m a man, and real men don’t run from their responsibilities. But I’m not ready to get ahead of myself. I had done that once before, and it just came back to bite me in the ass.
“Look, Natasha, once we know more, I promise I’ll try to be the father this baby deserves—”
“It’s a boy,” she says, cutting me off.
I stare at her for a few moments, contemplating my next few words but come up empty. A boy. I could have a son and as much as the revelation excites me, part of me screams that it’s too good to be true. Deciding against finishing my speech, I turn on my heels and leave.
Three to five business days, that’s all I have to wait. Then hopefully, this nightmare will be over.