“She’s only been playing with us for a few weeks. And Clark is also a professional athlete,” Easton said as he crossed his arms over his chest. “There’s no rule that says they can’t play.”
“Yeah, but Clark isn’t as good as she is,” Steven said, laughing.
“Hey, asshole, I can hear you.” Clark walked over to refill his water bottle.
“Listen, I wouldn’t want to have to face you on the ice. But on the pickleball court, we’re fairly matched. This one is next level.” Barry flicked his thumb at Wren.
“‘This one’ has a name.”
“Her name is Wren Waterstone,” Lulu shouted from the table a few feet away. “Think about that name every time you see that big bruise on your leg, Barry!”
“You Chadwicks are a handful,” he said before walking away.
“Okay, we got three wins in the bag. Let’s get ready for round two,” Easton said as we all guzzled water.
“Just another friendly pickleball game with the Chadwicks,” I whispered in Wren’s ear.
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” She smiled up at me.
I couldn’t agree more.
twenty-five
. . .
Wren
It feltstrange to be at my childhood home. Not only because my mother was no longer here, but because Chrissy was now living in it. Caroline and I had exchanged several glances, and that didn’t require any words.
This is fucking weird.
I was so grateful to have Axel here with me; otherwise, this would have been insufferable.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Chrissy said. “It means a lot to your father, and it actually means a lot to me.”
She’d worked for my father for several years, but I didn’t know her well. I’d never cared for her, because the few times I’d stopped by his office, I’d thought their interactions were a bit too friendly.
Clearly my instincts had been correct.
Sabrina had been fired shortly after my mother found out about his affair many years ago, even though at this point it seemed obvious that my father had been unfaithful to my mother numerous times.
“Okay,” I said, because what the hell else could I say? I didn’t want to be here. But this was my father, and I wanted to salvage whatever I could of our relationship.
Axel squeezed my hand as we moved to the living room. Caroline soon brought us each a glass of champagne.
Again, she and I exchanged a look that spoke a thousand words.
I couldn’t imagine how difficult it must have been for her to be working here full-time with Chrissy, when she and my mom were so close. I knew she was counting down the days until my mom built her new home and she could go work for her.
“Mine is sparkling water, just in case you’re wondering,” Chrissy said as she rubbed her hand over her stomach. My eyes nearly bulged out of my head when I saw the large engagement ring on her finger.
The ink wasn’t even dry on his divorce papers, and he’d already put a ring on her finger.
I supposed the fact that they were having a child was speeding up the timeline.
I cleared my throat and looked at my father. “Are you engaged?”
“That’s what we wanted to tell you, but we wanted to wait until Collin and Farah arrived.”
