“She lied to me, Marty.”
He cocked his head, still focused on the random kids skating around the ice during open play. “Yeah I know. Terrible thing, intentionally deceiving you while she figured out what the hell to do with her life. Women like that can’t be trusted. You’re better off.”
I scoffed at his sarcasm. “I don’t think I am. But you’re right, I can’t trust her.” The conflict was enough to ruin a man. “After everything I saw, it’s hard not to think you’re being played.” I sneered. “Trust issues run in the family.”
Marty shook his head once. “Travis trusted. Everything and everyone. He was one open hearted boy. You and Tisch on the other hand…”
“Tisch invite you to Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow night?”
“Invite…is that what she told you? It was more like insist and threaten.”
“So we’ll see you at six?”
He held up his paper coffee cup. “Looking forward to it.”
33
The day after Thanksgiving,and pretty much any day that Jax didn’t have school, and everything except retail stores was closed—were awfully long days. Especially when I couldn’t go Christmas shopping while he was with me.
“Things have been pretty intense the last few weeks, you doing okay?” Sam asked me after dinner.
I nodded as we cleared the table. “Work has been a lot more enjoyable without you know who around. That is for damn sure.”
“I bet. Anything else?” she pried.
I knew she was wondering if Logan had reached out at all. And I didn’t want to talk about it. Because it was heartbreaking. Even though I had freedom, full custody of my son, a large payout from his father along with a restraining order, and a job that didn’t make my stomach twist in knots, I still felt like I’d lost everything.
Should I have told him I loved him? Maybe I didn’t apologize enough. Maybe Jax and I weren’t enough.
Despite these episodes where I’d let myself give in to missing him, I was finally enjoying a rather peaceful existence and was looking forward to the holiday season. Seeing things spark between Josh and Sam helped. Giving me hope when I needed it.
Besides, what was I expecting? Josh told us Logan turned down a hefty offer from the Gaters so it was doubtful he’d stick around.
“No. Nothing else. Nothing but Jax and me,” I forced another smile that was beginning to hurt my face, “happy thoughts of Christmas decorations and then…who knows, maybe I’ll finally look into moving.”
She nodded dismayingly. “I was afraid of that.”
“It’s not like I want to move next week. I just…I have no idea what else is out there for us. I’m probably going to wait out the youth hockey season so Jax could get the whole year in…but after that, I want to start thinking about moving on.”
Sam’s phone rang, cutting into the heavy topic.
“Oh it’s Josh.” She answered while I went back to the kitchen.
“She’s here,” I heard her say. “We’re just clearing the table and probably going to watch a movie,” she paused. “Oh that sounds fun, let me ask her.”
I was already shaking my head. I didn’t need to be a pity third wheel.
“A bunch of the team are sneaking into the Gaters Arena tonight with their kids to skate around. He wants us all to come.”
“I don’t want to go to work on my day off,” I said loud enough for Josh to hear.
“Okay,” Sam said into the phone and pressed a button.
“Not taking no for an answer Ray,” Josh said through the speaker.
“Sam and Jax can go. I’m staying in. Already in pajamas.”
“Who said you had to change? Come on, it’ll be fun. You won’t regret it.”
