The Hero and the Fat Girl (New Hampshire Bears #3) (10 page)

When we reach the nail salon, I tell Claire and Arabella to go in, and I call Harlow.

“I need a favor.”

“Name it.” I can hear her typing in the background and I know she’s working.

“You might be right. Might be,” I reiterate the words. “But I need to know for sure. Can you call around to find out? I’m busy today, but now I can’t stop thinking about it.”

“I know a few people I can contact. Give me a bit.”

She ends the call, and now I wonder what I’ll do if she’s right.

Chapter Six

Remington

Firmly, I hold my nine-iron and line up my shot. I used to hate golf, but somehow it’s grown on me, and I enjoy it more, especially with Dad. More than once in my life, he’s told me how many deals have gone down on a golf course. As I take the swing, the whoosh of the power and connection sends the small white ball into the air. I watch it as it plops down on the green, just shy of the flag.

“Good shot.” Dad pats my shoulder. “Are you trying to show me up, son?”

I chuckle. “I promise I’m not.”

We hop into the golf cart and make our way toward the green. We haven’t talked much about me…thank the hockey gods for that…it’s mainly been about Dad. He seems to be enjoying his retirement, patiently waiting for next month when Mom is officially done and will start hers. I’m excited they are both finishing work. I know they want to travel and not because work sent them. They also want to come to more of my games. I know their schedules haven’t always allowed them to see a lot of games. They try their best, and it’s all I can ask. I’m not naïve of their careers, but with both being retired soon, they want to see more.

I study Dad as he easily taps his ball in the hole for the birdie.

“That’s how it’s done,” he jokes.

“Let’s see you on skates, old man,” I quip back at him.

“I’m not trying to break a hip, Remy.” He glares at me.

This time I laugh out loud and grab my putter. I take a couple practice swings before tapping the golf ball, which rolls right past the hole.

“It’s not a puck, is it?” Dad smirks.

I roll my eyes. “I know. It’s a good thing this is just for fun, right?”

“Oh, I’m keeping score.”

I groan. He wonders were my competitiveness comes from? “I figured you were.”

We continue to play the last few holes before heading up to the clubhouse for a beer.

“You talk to Maxima, yet?” Dad asks as we sit down.

“No. I heard her come in last night, but I knew she was tired, and I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.” I take two large gulps of the ice cold beer.

“Remy, I can’t believe you gotten yourself into this mess.”

I rub my forehead. I have tried my whole life not to disappoint them and here I am, doing that very thing.

“I’m going to talk to her tonight while you all are at the movies. I figure I’ll make dinner and lay it all out.”

Dad remains quiet, and I stare off at the luscious green view in front of me. I wasn’t a wreck like this even when I originally approached her about this plan the first time.

“Remy, you just need to rip off the Band-Aid. Don’t stall or beat around the bush. Tell her and be prepared for all that might come afterward.”

I nod.

Oh, it’s going to be a shitty night.

I sit at the kitchen table, my leg bouncing to help counter my rattled nerves. I’ve downed two beers, thinking it would help, but I was sorely mistaken.

“I thought since we were staying in, I wouldn’t need to dress up much.”

My eyes first land on her plump pink lips as she speaks to me. Second, on her beautiful silvery-blue eyes. And lastly, her stunning body. She had on tight jeans and some type of flowy gray top.

“You look perfect.” She truly does. I get up from the table and kiss her. I don’t touch her anywhere else, only her lips.

“Thank you.”

I smile at her. I want this moment to last. Her with me, beautiful and worry free, but I need to take my parent’s advice and talk to her. I have to do this.

“Remington, may we talk before dinner?”

“Sure.” I nod.

She brushes past me and sits across from the chair I’d been in. It’s where I placed her wine glass. I really wanted to talk to her first, but I’m sure she doesn’t have anything as big as I do to say.

Man up!
I tell myself.

“I’m going to tell you something, and then I’d appreciate it you answer my questions honestly.”

I nod.

“I overheard you talking to your parents last night.”

My heart stops.

“I didn’t hear everything, but I know you lied about something.”

I can’t blink or breathe at this moment.

“I’m sorry I eavesdropped. It’s not something I normally do, but I did last night.”

Silence falls around us, and you could hear a pin drop. She’s sitting tall and hasn’t broken eye contact with me once.

“When I went to Harlow’s last night, she reminded me of something. The first time you brought this up, Harlow told me no attorney would ever suggest what you proposed to me. I didn’t believe her because I trusted you. You have to understand I don’t trust people easily. I never understood why it was so easy with you. It’s almost like I thought of you as a superhero.”

My heart is breaking. I know this is going to end badly.

“Today, Harlow and I called and inquired with several attorneys in New Hampshire and Maine. Every single one I spoke to told me a father doesn’t need to be engaged or have a women living with him to prove to the court he’s a worthy parent and an ethical attorney would never suggest it.”

And there’s the final nail in my coffin. She knows. The question is how bad is she going to kill me?

“Here is my first question is: did you lie to me?”

She already knows the answer; she just answered it. I don’t even hesitate. “Yes.”

She closes her eyes for a beat, and when she opens them, there are tears building. “Why?”

“You may not believe me, but I was desperate to date you. I wanted you in my life full-time.”

“You’re not serious, are you?” Her jaw falls open.

“I am.” I nod.

“You’re a fool.” She jumps up and begins to pace the kitchen. “I came over here on Valentine’s Day without any other thought
but
to date you. I like you, Remington. I like you a hell of a lot more than any other man. How idiotic are you?” she shouts at me.

“Well, I—”

“No,” she shuts me down. “It’s a rhetorical question.” She continues her pacing. “I can’t believe you.”

“Maxima,—”

“You used your daughter as a pawn. You’re not much better than Rickie.” She cuts me a mean glare.

“Hey, I’m much better than her.” I’m completely offended.

“Are you sure? Arabella is her ticket to money, and she was your ticket to me. Am I wrong?”

I open my mouth to argue with her, but no words come out. “Shit.” I drop my head into my hands. “You’re right. I’m a horrible parent.”

I can’t say anything bad about Rickie because I am doing the same thing. Right here, in my kitchen, an anvil of truth slams right on top of my head. I’m truly ruining and disappointing everyone in my life.

“You’re not a bad parent, Remington. Unlike Rickie, you’re trying to better Arabella’s life, but you have a very strange way of going about it.” She comes back over and sits down at the table. “Explain to me why you truly concocted this absurd plan.”

I rub my temples before finally connecting with her eyes again.

“I know there’s a part of you that’s locked up tight, but I’m drawn to you and it. It’s cliché, but I’m a moth and you’re my flame. I have never felt this way about anyone. Ever. Fuck, I’ve never lied before, but somehow this kept snowballing until we reached this point. I’m sorry for lying to you, Maxima. I truly am, but I’m not sorry for spending time with you; I have fallen in love with you.”

She softly gasps and breaks our eyes contact. She’s shaking her head back and forth, hugging herself as if she’s in a protective mode. I don’t want her to have another panic attack, because I’m sure if I hold her now, it’ll only make it worse.

“You can’t love me, Remington. It’s just you overthinking and protecting your daughter.”

“No,” I state firmly. “It is what I truly feel. You are who I want in my life, in Arabella’s life. You’re smart, beautiful, and…and…just fucking perfect.”

“Obviously, you’re looking through some sort of beer goggles or some type of tinting, because beautiful and perfect are two words I’d never use to describe me. Fat and below average appeal would be more precise.” She gets back up and starts pacing again.

This time I follow her. It’s not anger I’m feeling, even though she just criticized herself in front of me. I want to hold her, protect her, save her from the pain searing in her eyes.

“You don’t even look in the mirror, Maxima. If you did, you would see all this greatness I see in front of me. All of it. I am in love with you.”

She groans loudly. “Stop saying that please.”

“It’s how I feel.” I step right into her path. We’re close enough I can feel her body heat against my skin. “Had I told you yesterday before you figured out the truth, what would you have said then?”

She shakes her head.

“Tell me.”

“I like you too.” Maxima’s voice is low I almost miss it.

“Like or liked?”

She is now shifting from foot-to-foot. “I like you, but it doesn’t mean I’m not infuriated with you right now. I turned my life upside down for you, and I fell in love with your beautiful daughter.”

I reach for her, but she backs up. She may as well have kicked me in the balls. “Please forgive me. You’re the one person I can’t let down. I’ll get on my hands and knees until you do. I swear, I’ll never lie to you again.”

The tears finally fall from her elegant eyes.

“Please,” I beg some more.

“You have to know something about me. I’ve never loved anyone, especially a man. I have severe trust issues. You can see it, feel it, and I’ve said it before. I’ve never allowed any person, any man, to get this close to me.”

The words she says kick me in the guts and even burn my soul. I’m losing her. Hell, I’ve lost her already.

“Please just forgive me.”

“Saying it over and over isn’t helping at all.” The tears fall faster, and it causes me to back away from her.

“I’m sorry for everything.” I have to repeat it again.

“I need to think.” She rushes off.

I want to chase after her and hold onto her curvy, amazing body until she’s no longer upset with me. Instead, I stay rooted in place. I wait for the front door to slam, but it never does. The oven beeps, causing me to jump. Well, dinner is ruined, even though the food is perfectly cooked. I pull it out, but leave it on the counter. I have no appetite at all.

I grab another beer and chug it halfway down. I know she hasn’t left, but right now, she’s somewhere in this house, certainly crying and pissed. And it’s all because of me.

How did I get this so screwed up?

How do I fix it? This is the number one issue right now. I
have
to fix this.

I finish my beer and head off to find Maxima. My house isn’t huge, so I know she’s not too far away. I head for the bedroom first. I can hear the whimpering from the hallway, and I feel like the worst person in the world. I have to do something.

I carefully open the door and see Maxima sitting with her back against the wall on her side of the room. The second she sees me, she quickly wipes her face free of the tears. I say nothing, but I go over and sit next to her. It’s possible she’ll run away from me, but she stays still. I want her to know I’m here for her. If she wants to yell, hit, or whatever, I’ll be right here and I’ll take whatever she tosses at me.