Tangled with the Tight End (Evergreen Lake: Under the Mistletoe)

Chapter 38

thirty-eight

GAbrIEL

I wait outside the bedroom, not speaking to Sloane to give Norah enough time to leave without having to see her again. She has done nothing to deserve spending another second with my ex. Anger rolls through me as my fingernails dig into my palms.

The desire to lash out at her is so strong that it takes all the will I possess not to unleash on her. But playing cool with Sloane will get me farther than shouting things I can’t take back. I don’t care if I say them, but a judge would, and I have no doubt that she’s recording whatever I say. She may be here under the guise of getting back together. But she’ll have more than one plan in motion. My responsibility is to be a step ahead of her. And this time, I’m determined to win.

The second the door snapped, I strode toward her. “Let’s go downstairs and have this talk.”

Her eyes narrow into slits. “You want to talk to me?”

“That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” I brush past her without inhaling. I don’t want her scent mingling with Norah’s.

She follows me down the stairs and studies the suite. When she’s not looking, I slide my hand into my pocket and hit the record button.

“How’re you staying here? It’s too rustic and primitive.”

“It’s rustic. I’ll give you that, but it grows on you.” I settle on the sofa and motion for her to join me.

As she lowers down beside me, I tilt my head. “What happened to Finn?”

Her mouth forms a solid line, and she bounces back up to a standing position. “He was nobody.” Her eyes meet mine. “I didn’t love him. I was using him to make you jealous. You were so busy….” Her bottom lip pops out. “You were so busy, and then you took the job in KC.”

My fingernails dig into my palms. “It’s part of the career as a football player. You play where the league puts you.”

“Yes.” She paces a few feet and then spins on her heel. “I know that’s part of it.”

“You didn’t answer the question. What happened with Finn?”

“Nothing.” She grits her teeth together.

“I see.” I pull my cell phone out of my pocket and type his name into the search engine.

“What’re you doing?” She bites out and then relaxes her shoulders. “I’m sorry.”

I ignore her as the result pops up.

Finn Reid was seen out on the town with a new love. A much younger love than the soon to be ex-wife of Gabriel Romano that has been seen with him in recent months.

Ah, so he’s found someone else. I stare at the screen. Aurora Baker. My heart skips a beat. The woman who claimed Sloane tricked me into getting her pregnant. Interesting. Oh, what a tangled web we weave.

“I broke up with him last week.” Her face is hard and unyielding. “When I realized you weren’t going to come down to Florida and drag me back home.” Her eyes fill with unshed tears. “So, I had to figure out where you were, book a flight, and fly here, only to find you in bed with another woman.”

“That must’ve come as such a disappointment,” I murmured while typing my name into the search engine. I know why she’s not with him. He’s done with her, but why did she choose me when she was adamant months ago that she didn’t want anything to do with me.

Gabriel Romano is set to return to the league next week.

Okay, that’s the reason.

And everyone knows he’s due for a new contract at the end of the year. With his level of production over the last several years, it’s expected that his contract numbers will double per year. It’s not impossible to see him get a 30-million-dollar contract over a three-year period. That will make him the highest-paid tight end in the league.

Yeah, that’s the rest of it.

“So….” She settles next to me, angling her leg and arm until she’s facing me. “I want us to get back together.”

“I know you do.” I nod as she smiles. “But I’m not interested in rehashing something that should’ve never happened in the first place. We’ve moved on. And you’ll find someone soon that you’ll fall in love with. I know you never felt that way about me, and it was only because of Gino that we got married. It’s time for you to find happiness.” I rake a hand through my hair. “You deserve to be happy.”

I need her out of here without telling her anything my attorney is working on for the divorce because I’m not risking my son’s future by tipping her off and giving her a chance to maneuver out of the corner she’s found herself in.

“But I want you,” she whines and scoots closer.

“No, you don’t.” I launch off the sofa, putting space between us. “We were never a good match. You were happier with Finn.”

“Damn it.” She jumps up and glares with rage-filled eyes. “You just want this other woman, don’t you?” Her nostrils flare. “Well, I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen. I’m going to get Gino and leave you miserable.”

“You won’t take Gino from here. Or anywhere.” I met her stare, and she looks away. “I filed for divorce when he was with me. After you dropped him off, saying you didn’t want to be a parent anymore.”

“So….” Her hands fly in the air. “Like that matters. Mothers always get the children. Just watch and see. I’ll win him in court and take him away from you.”

“Why?”

“Why, what?”

“Why do you want him?” My voice is low and filled with anger.

“Why do you think?” She flips her hair over her shoulder. “To get more money. Because if I don’t get you back, I’m taking you to the cleaners.” She eyes me up and down. “Just how much will you pay to keep that kid with you? I’m going to enjoy finding out.”

“Leave.” I point at the door.

“Gladly.” She smirks and spins on her heel, swinging the base of her skirt around her legs. “Your little whore is going to leave you high and dry when I take all your money.”

Fucking cunt. I bite my lips together to keep from blurting out the words.

She grasps the doorknob, glances over her shoulder, and smiles. “Nothing to say?”

I don’t speak. Seconds pass as blood rushes in my ears. “Do you want to see your son?”

“No.” Her voice is curt and unemotional. She pauses and clears her throat. “I’ll have him soon enough.”

When the door slams shut, I stop the recording, send it to Baron, and hit the call button.

He answers in one ring. “Get Truman on the line. I’ve sent you an audio of Sloane, but I need it authenticated.”

“On it, but you know the court won’t allow the audio.”

“I know, but I don’t intend to need it.”

Once I hang up, I make another call.