Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 50840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
She didn't get a choice in me joining the league. I made that decision. The least I can do is ensure she gets to decide whether she's part of the circus surrounding me or not. I owe her that much.
Alice eyes me silently for a long moment and then nods before flipping open her schedule to look at it. "I'll cancel everyone but her. Be in the conference room at ten on Monday. She's scheduled for then." She pauses. "And don't fuck it up, Logan."
Relief blasts through me.
"I won't fuck it up," I promise.
"Are you at home?" Lauren asks as soon as I answer my phone after practice.
"I'm on my way. Why?"
"Lachlan and I need to spend the night with you."
"Why? Is everything okay?" I ask, instantly on alert as I cut through the parking lot, heading toward my truck.
"Everything is fine, Logan," she sighs like I'm getting on her damn nerves. "Roland got called out to a site. I didn't want to be home alone."
I pinch the bridge of my nose. Lachlan's father, Roland, owns a construction company. When he has to go out of town, Lauren and Lachlan stay with me because she doesn't trust herself to stay alone. She's been on her meds and doing well for months, but she's still anxious as hell that something will go wrong. She's doing everything right and she's an incredible mother, but she's fucking terrified she's going to lose Lachlan or end up in treatment again like she was right after he was born. She was postpartum and her meds needed to be adjusted. She still feels guilty as hell about it.
"I'll be home, sweetheart," I murmur. "But you and Lachlan don't need me, Lauren. You've got this. You can handle it."
She's quiet for a minute. "I'd rather come stay with you."
"Come on then," I say, giving in. Maybe I'm enabling her. I don't fucking know. But I'm not telling her no if she needs me. Roland and I are her support system. We're her only support system. If she isn't ready to trust herself alone yet, I can't force her into it. Baby steps. "I'll stop and pick up Thai for dinner."
"You're the best brother ever. Have I told you that lately?"
"It's been a while. Say it again."
Lauren's soft laugh echoes down the line. "Best brother ever."
"Uh, fuck yeah, I am. Does Lachlan need anything?"
"Maybe a bite guard," she grumbles. "Those baby teeth are no joke, Logan. He's biting everything."
"So…just like you then."
She gasps. "I did not bite."
"Please. I still have scars from where you bit the shit out of me when you were a baby."
"Whatever. Lies."
I chuckle, my eyes narrowing on the motherfucker standing near my truck. What the fuck is Charles Montaque doing snooping around my shit? He's a world class prick. He calls himself an investigative sports journalist, but it's bullshit. He's a gossip with a pen. "I've gotta go. I'll see you at the house."
"Okay. See you soon."
I disconnect, shoving my phone into my pocket as I saunter toward Montaque, scowling. "Is there a reason you're all up in my business today, Montaque?"
"Logan." He flashes me a smile, stepping forward to meet me. "It's good to see you."
"Wish I could say the same about you." I'm not playing nice with this motherfucker. I don't like him, and I won't pretend I do. "What do you want?"
"Do you have a minute to talk?"
"To you? Never." I pop the locks on the truck before tossing my bag inside. "I've got places to be and shit to do."
"I heard a rumor I'd like to discuss with you. Let's set up a meeting."
"Too fucking bad," I grunt, sliding into the driver's side of the truck. "I don't discuss rumors with dicks." I glance at him in contempt. "Write that in whatever bullshit hit piece you're writing, Montaque. You aren't getting your meeting."
I slam the door in his face, irritated as hell. Why the fuck is he harassing me about some rumor instead of taking it to Alice? He knows I'm not going to talk to him. I never talk to him.
"It's about your sister!" he shouts.
Fucking hell.
My heart skips a beat before pounding against my ribcage. How the fuck does he know about Lauren? Who talked to him? I'm not about to ask him to find out. Anything I say, he'll take as confirmation.
I'm not stupid enough to play that game. So I do the only thing I can do instead. I completely ignore him and drive away.
As soon as I'm out of the parking lot, I call Alice.
"We have a problem," I growl as soon as she answers, my hands tight around the steering wheel.
"Why do we always have problems when I've just poured myself a glass of wine?" she complains. "Why can't we ever have eight o'clock on Monday problems?"