I know that Kendra shouldn’t be single-handedly responsible for stopping him, but knowing that he had this history, I didn’t feel right leaving him loose in the world.
I was deep in thought when I heard my text message chime. The only reason I checked was that I was afraid Kendra needed me. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I opened the video.
Unknown number: Thought you might like to see this. Choose your next steps wisely.
About thirty seconds in, I slammed my phone against the wall and threw up in my wastebasket.
FIFTY-THREE
kendra
“Nice G-Wagon,”Kelsey said as she slid into the passenger seat. I had offered to drive, and Kylie and Kelsey took advantage of it.
“Nice hickey,” I answered, pointing to the red mark on her neck. “Next thing you’re going to tell me is that your husband has a breeding kink.”
“All men do,” Kylie added to the conversation after getting settled in the backseat. Adding further evidence to the theory that I never wanted to prove. Well, maybe it would be hot to have Jonathan go feral for me if I were pregnant. All thoughts I would never have entertained before he and I met.
“Well, I’m going to enjoy my wine with dinner while you two sip ginger ale. And guess what? I’m still getting bent over a piece of furniture later.”
“Ooh, nice. Hawk is decent. You did well.” Kylie joked, and Kelsey gave her a knowing smile.
I nearly slammed on the brakes. “Damn, stop acting like I’m doing charity work. Have youseenhim?”
“She’s just teasing. But what we really wanted to ask—should we be getting attached?” We had always found a way to signal to each other how deep our feelings ran.
“Well, I have—do with that what you must.”
“I heard you’re moving in with him?” Kelsey questioned, and Kylie’s eyes bugged out of her head.
“Yeah. From whom?” It had only barely been decided. How had the news already spread through my entire family?
“Mom.”
“How the hell did Mom find out? I didn’t tell her.”
“She had lunch with Jonathan’s mother. She was happy to have the scoop, but she was insulted that she didn’t hear it from you,” Kylie said. They must have swapped numbers at the game right after the marathon.
“I guess we need to plan the family dinner sooner rather than later.”
“Yes, everyone wants to see that penthouse bought with baseball money.”
“Oh, sorry. I forget you two are destitute and forced to cry about it on your damn private rooftop patios.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew I had taken it too far. Kelsey had been living in a sad one-bedroom apartment with Crew before she met Sam. She hadn’t walked into the wealthy WAG life without reservations and spent countless hours doing everything possible to help other struggling single mothers. She drove the BMW Sam bought her, but would be just as happy in her old Honda.
Changing the subject, Kelsey brought up the one thing I couldn’t talk about. “There’s some shit going on with the team. Sam is tight-lipped. Either of you hear anything?”
Kylie nodded. “I couldn’t get anything out of Luc. But something is stressing him out.”
“I couldn’t tell you anything even if I had information.”
“I figured as much.” Kelsey’s disappointment lasted only a few moments. “I guess I’ll have to trust that Sam will let me know if it’s something that would impact me.”
“How is it with Tom living with you guys?” Crew’s father had been staying with Kelsey and Sam until he could find a summer rental in Boston. While I commended Kelsey and Sam for doing everything they could to help Crew establish a relationship with his biological father, I think the living arrangement pushed a bunch of boundaries. Apparently, Sam and Tom had become friends.
“We found a place for him. It’s going to be ready in another week. But he and Sam work out together almost daily.”
“Strange,” Kylie said. Kelsey glared at her in response. But damn, I was glad someone said it.
“Now we’re on a mission to find him a nanny. I won’t be able to travel too far into the fall; we need someone to travel back and forth with Crew.”
