Page 53 of Verdict

“Well,” I said, my voice tighter than I wanted it to be, “I’ve got to go. Team dinner.” I ended the call before she could respond.

This was for the best. We didn’t need conversations that blurred lines anymore. We didn’t need walks that felt like family outings. We didn’t need moments that built hope where none should exist. We needed uncomplicated friendship and a strong co-parenting relationship for Ellie.

But none of that stopped the ache that followed. The sharp awareness of the disappointment I’d just put there, the image of Ava’s eyes flashing with something I pretended not to recognize.

Setting boundaries was supposed to make things easier.

It just didn’t feel like it was working yet.

After a long two weeks of road games, I was finally home. When I arrived at my apartment building, I’d mistakenly ridden the main elevator—the one that stopped on Ava’s floor—purely out of habit. Muscle memory, almost like instinct. I usually rushed to see her and Ellie whenever I got back from a trip, even if it was just for two minutes to say goodnight.

It took every ounce of restraint I had to press the Lobby button instead, ride the elevator back down, step off, and cross the marble floor to my private elevator.

Every. Last. Fucking. Ounce.

The plan was for Ellie to be with me tomorrow and spend the night since I had a few days off before my next game. I did my best to keep myself busy the rest of the night and into the morning—anything to keep from caving. From walking down the hall. From knocking on Ava’s door.

I had to keep the boundary firmly intact. I needed to.

Ava and I had texted a few times while I was on the road, and I’d FaceTimed Ellie whenever I could, but I’d kept everything short. Polite. Logistical. I needed to figure out a way back to the old me—the one whose life didn’t revolve around one woman.

When the hell did I become that guy?

The only woman my life would forever revolve around was Ellie, and that was enough.

Or so I kept telling myself.

I’d even scrolled through my roster the night before, my thumb hovering over names I used to call without thinking. Old habits. Old patterns. I told myself if I slipped back into who I’d been before Ava, maybe this would all loosen its grip on me. Maybe I’d remember how easy things used to be.

But for the first time in my life, the thought of anyone else felt hollow. Forced. I had zero desire to talk to any of them.

So instead, I deleted every single contact.

There was only one person I wanted to reach out to—and she was the one person I couldn’t afford to lose.

The chime of the elevator pulled me out of my spiral. I stood from the barstool and crossed the foyer, my body moving on instinct. Ava stepped inside with Ellie’s stroller, but I stopped myself just in time.

Every part of me wanted to pull Ava into a hug. To feel her there. To pretend this wasn’t different. I planted my feet instead, grounding myself where I stood.

Her lips tipped up in a small smile as she adjusted the bag hanging off her shoulder, Ellie tucked snugly into her stroller. “Hey. I probably packed too much again,” she said with a small laugh.

The awkwardness was palpable.

I nodded as I knelt to pull Ellie out of the stroller, settling her against my shoulder and rubbing her back automatically. “Hey, my baby girl,” I murmured. “Ready for a daddy-daughter day?” I leaned back to look at her face, my chest loosening just a fraction.

Ava set the bag down and rested her hands on her hips. “She just ate, so she should be good for a few hours. I changed her right before we left.” She hesitated. “What are you two up to today?”

I ignored the hope threaded through her question.

No matter whose day it was with Ellie, if I was in town, we usually spent at least part of it together. It was never planned. Never intentional. We just slipped into it—parenting side by side.

I knew that had to stop.

I bounced Ellie gently. “I was thinking about taking her to the botanical garden. They’ve got a butterfly house I think she’d love.”

Ava chewed on her bottom lip, her gaze dropping to the floor. “That sounds really fun,” she said quietly. “Take pictures for me?”

“I will. I roped Drake into coming, so I’ll have him take a few.”