Chapter 46

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Lola

I’m pregnant.

The pregnancy test I took yesterday is safely tucked inside my purse that’s resting on my knee.

I still can’t believe it.

It wasn’t the flu. It was a touch of morning sickness which subsided two weeks ago.

I’m having Jordan Miller’s baby.

The man I haven’t seen in four weeks.

The man I’ve been trying to forget, but simply can’t.

If I’m being honest, I don’t want to.

How can I when I’m carrying his baby?

And I knew he wouldn’t let me forget him. Texting me every day, checking in, sending me photos of his day has become the norm.

He skipped two days of updates, and I missed them. So much.

I miss him. My brain aches from the memories of us and the things he did for me. My heart feels like it’s crumbled like an overbaked cookie inside my chest from not seeing him every day.

It never felt this way with Graham. Not once, but here I am, heartbroken over a man I barely know, and yet I know him so well.

The last four weeks have been strange.

With nothing to assist Wade with, I’ve thrown myself into my other work and already know the decision not to sell my father’s businesses was a wise one. It’s actually more exciting than I thought it would be, and my team are amazing.

Wade is still at Caulder Creek and refuses to come home. If only he knew that Kali is carrying his child then he would come back. I just know he would. But he refuses to speak to her.

That’s why we’ve come up with a plan. Well, Nicki, Marcus’s wife, did.

She’s been incredible and pulled us together as a family. I don’t know how she did it, but she has.

Two days ago, she drove me and Zane to where Wade’s being staying in Caulder Creek and Marcus met us there. We all talked. It’s only the start of the conversations we need to have as a ‘family’, but at least it’s a start.

Yesterday, Marcus released a statement to the press confirming Wade was his son. One less secret for us all to carry. Although, I haven’t told anyone I’m pregnant yet.

I plan on telling Jordy, I do, but first I have to have a one to one with Wade, which Zane is driving me to right now.

More stubborn than a bull, Wade wouldn’t come to Edmonton, so I came to Caulder Creek.

“It’s just around this corner.” I point to the ice cream parlor I arranged to meet Wade at. “You will park somewhere out of sight and wait twenty minutes before coming in. I don’t want to freak him out. And after what you did to Kali, he’s not your number one fan.”

“I know this, Lola. And I've told you. I’m doing better. I’ve spent hours in therapy. Just please, give me a break.”

I unbuckle my seat belt and push the handle of my purse over my shoulder as he turns off the engine. I know he’s changed, or I wouldn’t have spent two hours in a car with him alone.

“I’m just saying, don’t be the old Zane. Be the new shiny version of yourself. And if you behave badly, I will bop you on the nose myself.” Wade broke it once in a fight they had in the locker room last season, then Kali broke it a second time when he attacked her. Zane knows I won’t do the same, but I knew it would make him smile.

He runs his hands through his blond hair, messing it up and yet it still looks like it was styled by a professional. “If this is what it’s like to have a sister, then I want a refund.”

“I’m not your sister.”

“It sure seems like you are.” I’m still getting used to having one brother. Two is one too many for me right now. But maybe, eventually. Who knows?

“Hush now.” I jump out of Zane’s Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon before I poke my head back through the open door. “Twenty minutes, yeah?”

He salutes me. “Understood.”

“Best behavior.”

“For fuck’s––” I giggle when I shut the door, cutting off his sentence.

I take a deep breath and walk into the parlor. Here we go. This is either going to make or break us.

My heart feels full. Wade arrived before me, and I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that he wants to make this work.

I don’t feel one bit nervous. If anything, I’m excited. Although I think Wade is uneasy because he can’t seem to take his eyes off me.

We’ve spoken by text mainly, spoken a lot actually, getting to know each other better, but sitting side by side with him like this, and him knowing who I am, feels special. We need this conversation to get it all out in the open.

“Are you sleeping?” he asks. I know he’s worried about me. We’re both worried about each other.

“Not sleeping very well, no,” I confess.

“You look tired.”

“Thanks. Just what every girl wants to hear. I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. I’m more worried about you. What’s this?” I give his fuzzy beard he’s grown in the last four weeks a tug. “I don’t like it. You’ve become lazy.”

He flicks his hand dismissively, laughing, which fills my heart with joy.

Laying his hand on the table, I take it in mine, relieved that he doesn’t pull away. “Thank you for coming today. I wasn’t sure if you would.”

“You’re the one I wanted to speak to the most,” he confesses, looking shy, and very unlike him.

“I’m so happy you said that.” I feel myself welling up, my eyes becoming hazy. “I wasn’t sure if you would still want to be friends.”

“You’re my sister, Lola.” I relax in a warm state of bliss. I love that he called me that. “I admire you for keeping my life on track.”

“And I admire the way you have handled yourself. You have a good heart.” He does. There’s nothing I don’t like about him.

“You have a great laugh,” he says, surprising me as he points out the things he likes about me.

“Nice eyes,” I tell him, examining the color.

“Same as my dad’s.”

“That’s crazy, right?” I screw my face up.

“Feels surreal.”

“It won’t always feel like that. I promise. I’ve had time to process who my mother is, and it gets easier. And better. Look at us two now. I’m so happy.”

He wriggles in his seat, looking nervous before he asks, “Can I give you a hug?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” I throw myself around him. He’s so strong it feels like he’s going to squeeze the air out of my lungs, or perhaps he doesn’t want to let me go. Either way, it’s nice.

“I’m so glad you found me.” He tucks his face into my neck.

“I am too.” I can’t stop myself from crying with relief. My body shakes as he swaddles me in his strong arms. “You’re such a nice guy. You’re better than I imagined.” My tears fall, soaking the skin of his neck and neckline of his tee shirt. “I’m sorry for what Graham did to you, Wade.”

The last I heard from a friend of a friend of a friend, Graham closed his store and left town. Good riddance. If I never see him again that will be too soon.

I also heard that someone pointed the tax man in his direction, and they’d already found huge irregularities that would probably land Graham in prison or at the very least, with a huge fine he’ll never be able to pay.

Sidenote: that someone was me.

Karma can be a real bitch sometimes.

“He screwed us both over.” Wade rubs his hand up and down my back, which feels oddly comforting. “We didn’t deserve for this to happen.”

“We didn’t,” I agree. “If I’d have told you at the beginning, it wouldn’t have been made quite so public.” I still blame myself.

“There are a lot of things we, including me, you, Graham, Marcus, and everyone, could have done differently.” He’s firm with his words.

Leaving Miranda’s name out of his line up doesn’t go unnoticed by me. We don’t need her if we have each other.

I wish I still had Jordan in my life, too.

Leaning out of our embrace, Wade smiles wider than the Grand Canyon, and I know everything is going to be okay. We’re going to be okay.

“We have so much catching up to do.” I’m excited about us doing that.

“We have the rest of our lives to catch up,” he says, looking far more relaxed than he did earlier.

“I plan on you being in my life for longer than you were out of it.”

“I like the sound of that, Lola.” He passes me a napkin from the dispenser.

Dabbing the corners of my eyes, I pull a gentle smile. “Thank you. I’ve been very emotional lately.”

“Tell me about it,” he says, making us both laugh. “What a month.”

“Worst ever.” Also, the best. I have a brother and gained a whole new family in Marcus, Zane, and Nicki. I’m going to be an aunty, not that Wade knows that yet.

“So, is this what we do now, eat ice cream together to mend our broken hearts?” Wade asks.

In his absence, Kali has cried an ocean, and my mission over the next few days is to get his ass back to Edmonton.

“If you would just pick up the phone, Wade. She misses you.”

Tilting my head to the side, I watch him as he rubs his beard in contemplation. “Can you do something for me?”

“Always.” I would do anything for him. I would also like to knock some sense into him.

Wade pulls a letter out of the pocket of his jeans and lays the envelope on the table with Kali’s name written on the front. “Can you give her this from me?”

“If you were to jump in your truck and drive for two hours, you could do it yourself.” He’s so stubborn. I place the letter inside the safety of my purse. “But I will do it. For you. For now. Not forever. You have to come back.”

“I will.” I feel his nervousness bouncing off of him again. “I want to ask you something.”

“Oh-kay.” I’ve no idea what to expect here.

“Will you please continue to be my assistant?”

Holy shit. Yes. “Oooo. I don’t know if I like you that much.” My voice is laced with seriousness, but then I smile and let him know I am messing with him. “I’d love to.”

“Oh, thank fuck, I thought I was going to have to get someone new, but I trust you, and I will pay you well. I don’t want you on the Eagles’ payroll. I want to pay you myself.”

“I will do it for free. You do know I’m a very wealthy woman?” I don’t need his money. I’ll happily arrange his schedule when I return to my businesses and slot it into my workdays. It’s easy work and fun. And I decided I am taking on two new assistants. I’m going to need them because I’m promoting Elizabeth, my personal assistant, to do my role when I take maternity leave.

“Are you?” Smiling in surprise, I don’t think he’s realized how much I am worth.

“Yes. I don’t need to work. I inherited everything from my father. Which he gained from your father in that stupid deal they made. So technically, it’s a family business.”

“I don’t want any of it.” He waves his hands in the air. “That’s all yours.”

“I thought you might say that. We’ll agree to disagree. For now.”

“You don’t even know me, Lola.”

“I know you, Wade. And you got screwed over. You could be a silent partner.”

“I don’t want that. Those businesses are all yours. I don’t want them.”

“Oh, are my little business chains not good enough for the hockey team owner anymore?” I say, holding my hand over my chest, pretending to be offended. “Well, screw you, Wade Collins.”

After everything that’s happened, I’m sure Marcus will pass ownership of the Eagles over to him and Zane. They’ll inherit the team eventually and we all know it. From the way he’s scowling at me, I can tell he doesn’t like me teasing him then tells me all the reasons he doesn’t want to be a hockey team owner and only wants to play. I guess he’s still getting used to being the son of a billionaire.

“Well, if Nicki has anything to do with it, you will. Eventually,” I inform Wade.

“I just want to play hockey.”

“Which you’re so good at. Do you think you could teach me how to skate?” What if I break a bone again? God, maybe I shouldn’t try.

His eyes blow wide as if it’s the most ridiculous this he’s ever heard. “You don’t know how?”

I shake my head.

“Then I have all summer to teach you.” I knew he’d jump at the chance.

“There may be a tiny complication with that.” I pinch my thumb and forefinger together, the nerves bouncing about in my stomach like jumping beans. “Which we’ll come back to in a minute. First, I want you to promise me some things.”

“I can’t promise if I don’t know what the some things are.” Confusion lines his brow.

“I will continue to work for you with a few conditions.”

To be honest, he doesn’t know it yet, but he doesn’t really have a choice because I’ll be back tomorrow. “You have to promise me to get your ass back on the ice within four days.”

“Four days?” Shocked by my request, he rubs his beard again thoughtfully.

“Yes. Eagles versus Panthers. And I want a season ticket. For next season, not this one, but I would like playoff tickets.”

“Done,” he agrees easier than I thought. “We may not make the finals.”

I wave a hand through the air, dismissing his lack of confidence. “You will.”

Those jumping beans dance more rapidly this time as I gear myself up to ask him a huge favor. “I wondered if I could continue living at your house until I find my own place. I can’t find anything I like.”

Finding the perfect house is like finding a ghost in the fog.

“It’s a big fat yes from me.”

I let out a sigh of relief as my living situation has been playing on my mind. Although, his response might change when I tell him my next bit of news. “But depending on how long it takes me to find a place, there might be two of us.”

He shakes his head in confusion. “I’m not following.”

“I’m pregnant.” I’m so happy about being pregnant but worried too. It’s an odd mix of emotions.

Wade stares at me for a minute in what looks like shock, before he closes his mouth and proceeds to fire a dozen questions at me including, “How? When? Is Graham the father?”

“How? Well, you see when a man and woman…” I start, then burst out laughing, when he tells me to stop. “Graham is not the father.”

“How do you know?”

“Because Graham hadn’t…” I shake my head, unable to confess how awful it sounds. “Come near me for months.”

“Have you told the father?” he asks.

“Not yet. It’s our little secret. For now.” I also think I’ve fallen in love with him, but that’s another secret I’m keeping to myself.

I thought it was easier to let him go, but I can’t. My heart wants him. All of him.

And he probably hates me.

Has he moved on? I hope not. The thought of someone else touching him when he feels like mine hurts. More than I knew was possible.

I’m mad at myself for telling him I didn’t have time for him in my life when, what I should have done was keep him close. Since the first night we slept together, he felt like my safe place.

Until I blew it all to hell.

“Lola, secrets are not good,” Wade says, as if I don’t already know that.

I want to shout at the top of my lungs that it’s his best friend’s baby I’m carrying, but I can’t because he might kill my baby daddy.

It’s a lot to digest.

He’s too sensitive to tell when he’s still trying to become accustomed to me and Marcus being related to him.

“I’m going to tell him. I would like to get you back home first, which leads me to my next request. Could you come with me to the ultrasound next week?”

“Absolutely.” His chest widens as if he’s pleased that I asked him. “Then you’ll tell him?”

“Yes,” I agree.

The waitress arrives at the exact time he asks, “Do I know him?”

I ignore his question.

“Three spoons as requested.” The cheery waitress lays our silverware on the table.

“Just two.” Wade holds up two fingers.

I clear my throat. “Three is fine.” I pull the extra spoon toward me.

“Because you’re eating for two? That’s a shameful excuse.” Wade laughs.

“No, because Zane’s arrived.” I look up and point to him strolling toward our booth.

“What?” Wade looks as if he’s seen the devil in the flesh, his face screwing up a little.

I shuffle along, moving closer to Wade, making space for Zane. “It’s time, Wade. Hear him out.”

Surprising me, Wade agrees and for the next hour, I watch my burly brother slowly accept Zane as his half-brother, just as I am his half-sister.

And it’s a beautiful thing to witness and be part of.

Sandwiched between my new family, I know I’m going to be okay.

Although, I know I have to face Jordy tomorrow in what is going to be the biggest surprise of Wade’s life.

Let’s hope we can pull it off.

And let’s hope I don’t break down when I see Jordy for the first time in a month.