Page 65 of Power Play

twenty-four

. . .

Riley

Loud shrieking giggles of little babies fill the house. Emmy sits on her play mat, grabbing at her blocks and pushing them over, while Leo Larsson chews on a soft book beside her. And Cora Henry, now three months old, naps in her stroller, somehow sleeping through the noise.

The surprise guest today is Ainsley Walker, thirteen months old. I wasn’t expecting Tyler to show up on my doorstep with his daughter strapped to his chest, but once he dropped off the week’s delivery, I invited him to stay. And I’m glad I did. His sister Amelia is the team’s physical therapist, so he’s basically already family.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would find this kind of community. Acceptance.

“Okay, tell me,” Audrey says as she sips her coffee. “How have things been? Any better?”

Heat licks at my cheeks, and I look away. “They’re fine.”

She and Vanessa exchange a look that speaks volumes, and I squirm in my seat as awkward silence falls over us. They’re judging me. Hell, I’d judge me too. They know as well as I do that I don’t belong here, not really. We’re just playing pretend.

“It’s fine. I’m fine,” I’m quick to add.

Tyler snorts. “Say fine one more time. I dare you.”

“It’s just… I… I don’t know,” I finally admit. “This wasn’t part of the plan.”

“What wasn’t?” The humor fades from Vanessa’s expression as she pats my arm consolingly. “You can talk to us. What’s said here, stays here.”

“Al doesn’t want to get divorced,” I blurt, then immediately cover my face with my hands.

“Okay, so what’s the problem?” Audrey asks. “It’s not like you were planning on doing it anytime soon.”

“It changes things.”

“Does it, though? Does anything need to change?”

We’re married. My job is to make you happy. That’s what he said. Am I crazy for reading into it? For thinking he wants more?

It’s the only thing I’ve been able to think about all week. It’s almost a relief that he’s gone and I don’t have a reprieve from twenty-four seven baby duties. The only problem is that when Emmy’s asleep, my mind is free to wander, and then…

Letting out a groan, I scrub my hands over my face.

“I don’t want things to change, but I think they have to.”

“Take it one step at a time,” Vanessa says. “It doesn’t have to be this big, elaborate thing. Maybe do something just the two of you, without the baby. Not just dinner at home. An actual date.”

“He doesn’t actually like me, though. He wants to make the most of it. I’m just the one he’s stuck with.”

“Or maybe he’s catching feelings,” Tyler suggests.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I say with a laugh.

He shrugs, sipping his tea. “Okay. I don’t know him very well. Maybe I’m reading the situation wrong.”

“He would never fall for me. That’s just… No.”

“Why is it so hard to believe?” Vanessa asks, keeping her tone gentle. “You’re the mother of his child, you live together, you’re married. Sure, it all happened a little backward, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to get to know you better.”

“We slept together,” I blurt, my face flaming. “Well, not like that. It was only sleeping. He got home at four o’clock in the morning and Emmy was sick and… We slept in the same bed. We’ve never done that before, and haven’t since.”

“But you can’t stop thinking about it,” Audrey says knowingly.