“You are?” I ask, practically whispering. Gwen nods slowly, a tear dripping down her cheek as her hand instinctively move to her belly.
“Yeah, I am,” she sniffs, a smile growing on her face.
“Oh my effing god! You’re having a baby!” Lainey squeals, throwing her hands in the air and having her own little freak out moment.
“Wait, does Ryker know?” I ask, and Gwen shakes her head.
“Not yet. It’s pretty new, but I’m going to tell him this weekend. I just don’t know how he’ll react,” she grimaces.
“Well, have you guys talked about kids?”
“Of course. I just didn’t think it would happen this fast.”
“I call Godmother!” Lainey exclaims. That girl can’t read a room for shit.
“Are you happy, Gwenny?” I urge, hoping to get her honest answer. She looks down at her belly and rubs circles, a small smile on her lips. She’s glowing, and I’m incredibly happy for her and Ryker, if Gwen is happy.
Gwen nods. “Yeah…I think I really am.”
Grinning, I say, “I’m really happy for you, Gwen. You’ll be a great mom.”
“You will, and I’m happy for you too,” Lainey smiles.
Sniffling, Gwen wipes away a few stray tears, then straightens. Her face turns serious.
“Now, back to you, Ellie. You deserve to be happy, and if Jamie makes you happy, then I say go for it. Just make sure it’s really what you want first. Spend some more time together, feel it out. Everyone deserves a second chance. It’s been what, nine years? He’s not the same guy he was when he was eighteen, and you’re not the same girl. You’re adults now,” Gwen urges. I know she has a point. I can tell Jamie’s not the same guy he was all those years ago. I just don’t want him to break my heart again.
“Just be careful, El. Take it slow. Get to really know each other again. And remember we’re always a call away if you need us, okay?” Lainey tells me. I know they are. They always are.
“Just, don’t tell my brother. Not yet,” I beg Lainey. Lainey is terrible at keeping secrets, but I really hope she keeps this one. I don’t need Hollandfinding out I might potentially be falling for Jamie. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, but for now, he doesn’t need to know.
Lainey nods. “Of course, mum’s the word.” She motions zipping her lips and tossing the key.
A while later, I’m off the phone and finally lying down. I have an early rehearsal, and I already have so much on my mind. I don’t need to be exhausted too. Tomorrow is also the day I have to tell the kids about the fundraiser and working with the hockey team. That will go one of two ways. Either they’ll take it really well and all will be fine. Or they’ll be pissed and argue. Guess I’ll find out.
Chapter 25
Ellie
My alarm goes off causing me to roll over and groan loudly before turning it off. I tossed and turned all night, thinking about Jamie and the way his lips felt on mine. How his fingers felt inside me. How his dick filled me so completely.
“How many times have you dreamt of me since we reconnected? How many times have you played with yourself to the thought of me? Tell me, Sweetheart.”
How could he make me so wet by just the tone of his voice? He was so… demanding. When we were younger, we didn’t really know what we were doing. But now that we’re adults… a lot has changed. I cringe at the thought of him with other women. I’m not stupid. He’s a hot hockey player for a professional hockey team. Of course he’s slept with plenty of women, just as I’ve slept with other men. I just… I don’t like thinking about it.
I think back to my talk last night with Lainey and Gwen. One thing I left out was how I found Jamie there in that locker room, having a panic attack and being so vulnerable. That’s the second time I’ve found him in that condition. I don’t remember him having panic attacks before, but I can’t imagine the pressure he’s under.
His knee, the kids, getting back to his career. That’s a lot for anyone, but especially for Jamie who’s only dream since we were kids was the NHL.
Although sometimes I question if it was his dream, or his fathers. Yes, Jamie always liked hockey. He loved watching games with his dad, and he grew up playing on the pond in his backyard in the winter. But he got more serious about it after his dad passed. I wonder if he promised him he’d go pro, and now that he’s not, Jamie feels guilty.
Or I’m way off base and it has nothing to do with his father and everything to do with the fact that he loves the sport. Either way, he’s under a lot of stress. Was fucking me just a way to release that stress? Did he use me?
Oh, shut up, Ellie. No, he didn’t use you. He told you how much he wanted you.
Shaking my head, I try my best to start thinking about how I’m going to bring up the fundraiser to thekids. I’ll do it at the end of class, that way, they’ll wait until after rehearsal to hate me.
I’ve already submitted the plan to Dean Ashby, and he was all for it. He loved the idea of the two departments getting together to create something memorable. He mostly loved all the way the school would make money.
