Tucker's face flushes. "I didn’t think to tell her it was a secret. I bet that fucker didn’t tell you he attacked Alder."
“He did what?”
Tucker's hands clench into fists. "Thought he was me. Punched him. Knocked out his tooth."
"Jesus." I lean back, processing. "How is Alder?"
"Okay. Pissed. Lena's taking care of him—the team dentist. Wasn’t sure who all you know.” He looks at me, and I see fear in his eyes. Raw, genuine fear. "Sloane, I'm so sorry. I never wanted it to come out like this. I was trying to respect your timeline, to wait until you were ready. Think of the right way to tell the team…”
"I know."
"And now Coach has me on probation. I have to do anger management therapy with Grentley. Team building exercises. The whole thing." He laughs bitterly. "My agent just told me thecondom company dropped me. Apparently, getting your hookup pregnant is bad for the 'Thin Ice' brand."
Despite everything, I feel a small laugh bubble up. "I guess that makes sense."
"It's a disaster." Tucker drops his head into his hands. "Everything I touch turns into a disaster."
I watch him for a moment, this man who's usually so confident, so sure of himself. Seeing him like this—vulnerable, scared, beating himself up—does something to my heart.
Josh never looked like this. Never showed this kind of raw emotion, this kind of self-awareness about his mistakes. When things went wrong in our marriage, he'd retreat into cold silence or redirect blame. He'd act first and tell me later, presenting his decisions as the right and only way forward.
Tucker acts impulsively, too. But he tells everyone. Announces his intentions, asks for help, doesn't hide when things fall apart.
It's a subtle difference. But maybe it's an important one.
I stand and move to the couch, sitting beside him. Close enough that our shoulders touch.
"It's not all a disaster," I say quietly.
He looks at me, hope and disbelief warring in his expression. "How is any of this not a disaster?"
"You have a job. You have a family who supports you. You have—" I gesture around the apartment. "All of this. And you have two babies on the way who are healthy and growing."
"I have the twins because you let me." His voice cracks. "And I'm terrified you're going to take them away."
"I'm not taking anything away."
"Then why are you here?" The question is desperate. “Grentley called you. I'm sure he said terrible things. I'm sure he told you to stay away from me. So why are you here?"
I think about Dr. Khan's words, and I think about Josh's accusation.
And here on this couch sits Tucker, destroyed but owning it.
"I'm here because I'm drowning," I admit. "And I need help."
Tucker's eyes widen. "What do you need?”
"I'm failing statistics. My professor basically told me I need toeither drop the class or take an incomplete. Mel's moving out in two weeks, and the lease is ending, and I can’t have babies in that building.” I take a shaky breath. "And I'm pregnant with twins and I'm terrified and I can't do this alone."
"You're not alone." Tucker's hand finds mine. "Sloane, you're not alone."
"I know. Theoretically, I know that. But—" My voice breaks. "I'm so scared of losing myself again. Of disappearing into someone else's life. Of staying cut off from community. I did that with Josh for five years, and I can't?—"
"You won't." Tucker shifts to face me fully, both hands holding mine now. "I promise you won't. Whatever you need, whatever boundaries you want—I'll respect them. You want your own space? Done. You want to keep working on your degree? We'll figure it out. You want to make your own decisions about the babies? They're your decisions."
"But you'll have opinions."
"Of course I'll have opinions. But I'll tell you my opinions and then we'll decide together." His shoulders tense, like he’s anticipating a blow.
