Easy (Chicago Blaze 6)

“Jenna?” I say, feigning surprise once I reach her. “Is this where the baby shower is? Seems about right for one of your friends.”

Her lips part and then snap closed again before she asks, “What are you doing here?”

“Erik told me you were looking for some company.” I cross my arms and glare at her. “So here I am.”

She gives me a half shrug and looks away.

“You’re disgusting,” I tell her. “Erik isn’t like you and he doesn’t stab people in the back for fun.”

“God, you’re so dramatic.”

“You know what the worst part is?” I lean in closer, anger on the edge of every word. “You gave up time with your daughters for this. You haven’t even seen Hazel the whole time you’ve been here, and you lied so you could try to steal my boyfriend instead of being with them.”

“No matter what I do, I’m a shitty mom in your eyes, so take your bullshit somewhere else.” She makes a shooing motion and I laugh, though it’s more of an I can’t believe this is happening laugh than an amused one.

“We’re done,” I tell her. “You’re not welcome in my house ever again, and if you want to take me to court for custody of the kids, I’ll see you there.”

I turn and walk away then, not bothering to give her a chance to respond. My days playing nice with her are officially over.NineteenEasyAllie sighs softly as we embrace each other. She keeps her arms locked around my waist, not yet ready to let go and face the world around us.

“I take it the conversation with the kids didn’t go well?” I murmur against her hair.

“Not as well as I was hoping, no. Max doesn’t want to move.”

“It’s okay. Can’t blame him, at his age.”

“They all like you a lot, though. It’s not that. Hazel would go, and Vi…I’m not really sure about her.”

“Hey, don’t get down about it, okay? We’ll figure something else out.”

She pulls back and looks up at me with a sad smile. “Like what? Do you think the Blaze owner might like to relocate his team to Greentree Falls?”

“Yeah, that was my Plan B, smartass.”

She gives me a soft, sweet kiss. “We could always do long distance.”

I lean my forehead against hers. “Or…I can retire.”

“Erik, no.” She lays her palms on my chest and shakes her head. “You can’t give up your career for us.”

Smoothing a hand over her hair, I say, “You don’t get to decide that, Allie Cat. I do.”

“I like when you call me that. Reminds me of when we were younger, when things were simple.”

“See? I know how to help you relax. I’m kinda handy to have around, right?”

She blushes and says, “Yeah, you’re more than handy.”

“When are the kids gonna be back?”

She looks at the clock on her kitchen wall, which is red and shaped like an apple. “I told the girls to call me when they’re ready to come home, but I bet it’ll be at least an hour and a half.”

“Hmm…I think we can put that time to good use.”

I squat down and curl my hands behind her thighs, picking her up and setting her down on the kitchen counter. She takes my face in her hands and kisses me, pulling away after a few seconds.

“I went to that new bar place and confronted Jenna,” she says.

“Yeah, how’d that go?”

She just shakes her head. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so angry at someone. The girls wanted to spend time with her tonight and she lied to them at dinner and said she had to help with a baby shower.”

“Wow. That’s low, even for her.”

“She doesn’t get it. They’re not just awesome kids, they’re awesome people. And before long, they’ll be busy with adult lives of their own, going to college and having families. She’s missing out.”

“That’s nothing new.”

“I know. But I can’t…I won’t be like that, Erik. Not even a little. I need to be here with Max for his senior year. He said he could stay with his dad or a friend, but…I don’t want to miss anything. I’ve been at every football game, and I try to make every track meet when I can get out of work, and—”

“Hey, I don’t want you to miss anything, either.” I rest my hands on her waist, my fingertips edging up under the hem of her shirt, and she squirms.

“What?” I ask, lowering my brows.

“I feel weird having you touch my rolls. I’m not flat and firm like I was in high school.”

I smile and bend down to nuzzle her neck. “And yet I find you sexier than ever.” I slide my hands around to her ass and pull her against me so she can feel my erection pressing against her.

She exhales harshly.

“We’re gonna work this out,” I tell her. “This time, we’re not giving up on each other.”