Page 60 of Body Check

“I don’t want kids. My career comes first. This isn’t a job I can balance a family with. It wouldn’t be fair to them.” She shrugs. “We all make sacrifices. I love Ainsley, and I’ll love whatever other kids I give my brothers, but I don’t want them for myself.”

“You’ll do it again? Be a surrogate?”

“I didn’t hate being pregnant. And I’d do anything for Ty. They don’t want a full clubhouse of kids, maybe one or two more.” Her lips press into a thin line, and then she adds, “My career is more important to me.”

“Hey, I get it. My career is important to me, too.”

“So, you don’t think it’s a moral failing that I don’t want to be a mother?” Amelia crosses her arms over her chest, staring me down.

“I think it’s incredible that you made that decision for yourself and didn’t let anyone influence you otherwise. Women are inundated with messages that they need to have kids to be complete. It’s bullshit.”

Her eyebrows go up.

“You are already a complete person, whether or not you have kids or a romantic partner. If you depend on other people for validation, what happens when they inevitably leave or die or move on?” I shake my head. “There’s a difference between a partnership and a parasitic relationship, and not enough people recognize when something that used to be good turns into something bad.”

Amelia swallows. “Your ex-wife?”

I lift a shoulder. “Her entire life was being a WAG. It wasn’t about me. It was what I could do for her. And I didn’t realize until I was in too deep, and by that point, I didn’t see a way out.”

“What was the final straw? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“She cheated. Said I wasn’t around enough.”

Scoffing, she rolls her eyes. “Yeah, because you’re a professional hockey player. Travel goes with the territory.”

“Yeah, well…” I shrug again. “It’s over, and I’m moving on.”

“Do you still talk to her?”

“Nope. Not since the divorce was finalized. And most of that process was through our lawyers.”

Luckily, my agent insisted on a prenup all those years ago, so it was easy to divide assets. Aside from the final determination before the judge, I barely saw Harper after she served me with the papers.

Amelia hums.

“If you have any questions about the divorce or about my marriage, I’ll answer them,” I tell her. “I’m an open book.”

She arches an eyebrow. “Do you go around telling all of your physical therapists your dirty laundry?”

“Nope. Just you.”

Her cheeks flush.

“And by the way, when we get back to Boston, I’ll have them reassign my case.”

I’ve just decided this. It’s the only way it’ll work.

“Reassign?”

“I don’t want to work with you anymore.”

Flinching, she tries to turn away. “Okay.”

“I don’t want to work with you, because I want to do other things with you. And you said you can’t do those things if we work together.” My hands are still on her hips, and I squeeze lightly. “If we’re on the road and nobody’s available, I might need help with my knee, but whenever possible, I’ll check in with Graham and Zac. I won’t put you in an awkward position.”

She unfurls from her tight ball of tension. “Oh?”

“Other positions are fair game.” I give her a wolfish grin, and when she finally thaws, I grin for real. “I want to pursue something with you. You need clear boundaries at work. I’d be a dick, if I tried to steamroll over them.”