Bennett (On the Line Book 2)(67)

Orion had retired after a short NHL career to donate a kidney to his nephew. I’d thought that he, of all people, would understand where I was coming from.

“I can’t,” I said, bowing my head with disappointment. “I’d be sorry if I said yes. With Charlotte and Charlie here and me there, I’d be miserable. No amount of money or fame would make up for it.”

Orion stood and waved an arm through the air, clearly frustrated. “Is that it, then? Are you positive? You can take some time to think about it. Maybe talk it over with Charlotte.”

“I’m positive.” I glanced at the clock on his wall and stood up. “I have to get to work.”

He nodded, disappointment all over his face. As I walked out of his office, I felt a pang of sadness myself, but it was no longer myself or my coach I refused to let down. Charlotte and Charlie mattered most to me.





Charlotte

Charlie slept for an hour in his cradle before he woke up, wanting to eat again. When I picked him up, he frowned and then his little mouth rooted frantically.

“Shh, shhh, it’s okay,” I said softly. “I’m breaking out the boob right now. It’s okay, buddy.”

I got him latched on and sat down on the couch when there was a knock at the door.

“Of course,” I said to Charlie. “Perfect timing. But we can’t ignore it because it could be Publisher’s Clearing House, right?”

I used my free hand to toss on the cotton poncho thing I wore to breastfeed in front of anyone but Bennett. When I peeked through the peephole, I saw Liam standing in front of the door, his arms folded.

“Hey,” I said, opening the door. “This is a nice surprise.”

“Hey.” He scrunched his face up in a mix of confusion and disgust. “Is that . . . I mean, is he . . . ?”

“Suckling on my boob? Yes, he is, and it’s perfectly natural, so get in here and stop looking at me like that.”

“I just feel kinda creepy being here while that’s going on.”

“My child eating?”

“Eww.” He looked away. “Don’t put it that way.”

I rolled my eyes and laughed. “I forgot that to you I don’t have boobs or a vagina.”

“Stop,” he said, giving me a dirty look.

“Do you want a drink?” I closed the door as he stepped in.

“Nah, I’m good.”

“So how’s life? Come in and sit down.”

He sat down on the other end of the couch from me. “Did Mom tell you she’s leaving Michael?”

“Hmm. I’ll believe that when I see it.”

“Yeah, me too,” he said.

He glanced around the room, looking at everything but me, and I sensed it wasn’t just because I was breastfeeding.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Yeah, just . . . thinking.” He sighed deeply. “I’m an imperfect person, you know?”

“Nonsense. You are flawless.” I smiled and he followed.

“I lost my shit over you and Bennett, and I think a lot of it was just feeling left out. You guys are two out of my three top people in life. Well, I guess there’s four now, with Charlie.”

“You guys are at least talking again,” I said. “That’s progress.”

“Yeah, but I was a dick to him. And then he understood, which made it even worse.”

I peeked down my shirt to check on Charlie, who was still nursing.

“If you want to apologize, maybe you should talk to Bennett,” I said to Liam.

He ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah . . . I’m kind of here to offer an unconventional apology.”

“How so?”

“I overheard a conversation between him and Orion earlier. I eavesdropped because I thought he was coming to quit the team, and I planned to talk him out of it if he did.”

“He didn’t quit, did he? I hope he didn’t.”

“I think he did, but he also did something worse.”

I arched my brows expectantly. “What?”

“Orion told him Chicago wants him next season, and he turned it down.”

I just stared at my brother for a couple seconds. “He turned down . . . the NHL? Are you sure?”

“Positive. He said you won’t marry him, you won’t move there with him, and he’s not leaving you and Charlie behind.”

My heart melted out of my chest and onto the floor. Liam was telling me the truth. Bennett would sacrifice his dream for us. He was selfless enough to do it and not feel bitter or remorseful about it.

“Oh my God,” I said softly. “I’ve ruined his career.”

“No, you haven’t. I went into Orion’s office after Bennett left and asked him to give me some time to change his mind. But it’s really your mind that needs changing.”

I felt Charlie squirming as he finished eating, so I pulled him out from beneath the poncho and put him on my chest, patting his back gently.

“You think I should go to Chicago with him,” I said.

“Don’t you think you should? The guy’s willing to give up the motherf*cking NHL for you, and you won’t give up the county prosecutor’s office?”

I had to smile at my brother’s sudden and complete change of heart.