Unsportsmanlike Conduct: The Rules of the Game Book Four Page 8

  “I didn’t know what else to do,” I tell Derek and take out all my frustration on the puck. Lining up the perfect slap shot, I bury it in the upper right-hand corner of the net. Derek met me at the rink so we could get some ice time in—and I needed some male bonding time.

  “It seems like you guys have had some speed bumps, but nothing that you can’t overcome.” Derek skates around the back of the net, and with some fancy maneuvering, he flicks the puck up and sinks the shot.

  “Do you believe what her manager did? He’s such a prick.” I skate hard and shoot from the blue line. The puck makes a loud clink as it hits the post.

  Derek laughs. “Dude, isn’t that unsportsmanlike conduct? She needs to fire his ass.”

  “She does, but she’s got to figure that out on her own. He’s been with her for a long time,” I sigh.

  He skates a lap around the ice. “Despite her asshole manager, you guys can work things out.”

  “Yeah,” I say when he makes his way back over to me. “I hope that’s true. You know what a mess I was when she broke things off. This time, if she doesn’t come back to me, it’ll be because I gave her an ultimatum. It’ll be on me.” My heart sinks at the prospect of the woman I love leaving me for good this time.

  Derek stands, resting his hands on the top of his stick. “You didn’t have a choice, Wes. In order for any relationship to work, you both have to be all in.”

  He’s right and that’s why I did it. “Exactly. I’ve reassured her over and over that I don’t give a fuck about our age difference. Now she just needs to believe me.”

  “I think she’ll come around,” he says. “You remember all the shit that Cora and I went through and look at where we are now. Married, in a new house, we couldn’t be happier, but it wasn’t easy. You both have to compromise and figure out the way the other needs to be loved.”

  I blow out a breath and watch the steam plume out of my mouth. “I know we can. I just hope she’s ready to do it.”

  “Give her time. If it’s meant to work out, it will.” Derek pats me on the back and skates off down the ice.

  My heart tells me that she’ll come back to me, but my head wonders if she’ll throw in the towel.

  Waiting is like physical torture. Every minute that ticks by without knowing how Lydia feels is like someone gripping my heart and squeezing tighter and tighter. It's harder to breathe and harder to function. And it's only been 48 hours.

  I've just had a shower and I’m making myself a smoothie when someone knocks at my door. No one told me they were stopping by. My pulse picks up, hoping it's Lydia.

  I hold my breath as I open the door. "You're here," I say, staring at Lydia. There are dark shadows under her eyes and her hair is swept back into a ponytail. Her sweatpants seem to hang off her today.

  "I'm here. Sorry I didn't call. Can I come in?"

  I want to pull her into my chest and hug her and hold her. Something in her posture and body language has me keeping my distance. Instead, I stand to the side and gesture for her to come in. "It's good to see you."

  She follows me inside and I lead her to the living room. We take a seat on one of the leather couches. She sits next to me and I am pleasantly surprised that she chose to be near me. It feels like a good sign.

  "I've been a wreck. These last couple of days haven't been easy for me." She wrings her hands in her lap.

  "I know the feeling." I don’t tell her to make her feel guilty, just so she’ll know that it hasn’t been a walk in the park for me either.

  She pulls tissues out of the pocket of her sweatpants and fiddles with them in her hands. "I'm so sorry that you've been suffering, too. I needed time to think. Time to work through all of this in my mind."

  My stomach feels as if it turns inside out. My heart is on the line and everything is coming down to this moment. "I told you I'd wait for you as long as you needed. But I'm glad it was only two days. How did your time go?"

  "Overall, it was good. The first thing I did was fire Kenny."

  I let out a laugh. I don't know why, because it doesn't seem appropriate at the moment. "I'm sorry. This isn't funny. I'm sure it was very difficult for you."

  "Yes, it was, but it needed to happen. I've already found a replacement for him. She’s been with me for five years and worked hand in hand with Kenny. She knows the ropes. It's for the best." She says it with confidence and conviction in her tone.

  "I'm proud of you for making such a tough decision." I'm desperate for answers about our relationship, but I'm not going to push her.

  She nods and moves closer. Taking both of my hands in hers, she looks up at me. "I had a chance to talk to my counselor. She’s been a huge help for me. And I've done some deep soul-searching while we were apart. I don't think I slept much, but every time I thought of us, I knew that I only had one answer for you and that is I am ready to give us everything. I’m all in."

  I could cry right now. I take her cheeks in my hands and cup her face. "You're sure?"

  "Yes. You make me so happy, Wes, and when I'm with you nothing else matters. I don't care what people say or what they think. I love you and it doesn't matter how old you are or how old I am."

  Okay, I am crying now. I never cry. "I love you so much, Lydia." I bring her lips to mine and give her a kiss full of my love and admiration.

  Her eyes are full of tears now, too. "And it's all worked out. I’m taking time off from touring to focus on writing music and being your cheerleader." She gives me a sexy shy smirk.

  "My cheerleader, huh? I could get on board with that. Would you wear one of those short cheer skirts for me?” I place my hand on her thigh, inching it up her leg.

  "I think that can be arranged. But before we do anything dirty, I have one more thing I'd like to talk to you about.”

  "Of course," I say, giving her my full attention.

  She takes a deep breath. "I've been thinking of the future. Every time we've been around children or someone that's pregnant lately, there's been a nagging in my heart. At first, I thought it was guilt that I wouldn't be giving you a child because I thought you wanted one. But I realized it's because…” She peers at me through her lashes. “I want one. And there isn't any pressure between you and me to have a child right now, but if in the near future we decide we want to try, I am good with trying."

  Am I dreaming? The woman I am in love with told me that she didn't want children, but now she has had a change of heart. Growing up, I always thought that I would have kids but when she told me she didn't want any, I started to come to terms with the fact that I may never have my own. "That's amazing. We’ll be the best parents."

  "I hoped you'd say that. Now there isn't any pressure either way. If we decide it's something we want, then we try."

  I pull her in and kiss her deeply. "Are you saying you want to practice now?"

  "Oh, yes, I think I need lots of practice." She bites on her full bottom lip.

  And with that, I lift her up into my arms and carry her to the bedroom.

  Practice makes perfect.

  The End

  If you’re curious what happens in the next book in the Rules of the Game Series, click HERE to order.

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  Acknowledgments

  I would never be where I am today without the love and support of my rock, my bff for life, my husband. Thanks for all you do for our family. I can’t tell you enough how grateful I am for you.

  Thank you to my fans! I appreciate you all so much! You took the time out of your busy lives to read my stories. There are no words, just deep gratitude.

  And to my people. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for encouraging me and helping me move forward. My editor, Theresa Schultz, you are fast, fabulous, and fantastic. My cover designer, Megan Parker Squiers. I love how this cover turned out. You’ve got an eye fo
r making this series come together. My proofreader, Julie Deaton at Deaton Author Services, thanks for taking that final look to make sure it’s all so pretty for my readers! Bravo! To my mentor, Nicole. You have taught me so much in a short amount of time. Everything you’ve taught me has been gold. Thanks again for all your encouragement, love, and support. To all my Love Kissed friends. You guys have helped me in one way or another whether you know it or not. Our group supports each other, I’m thankful to be a part of it.

  To my family and friends. What can I say? You are the BEST!

  About the Author

  Emma Tharp is the USA Today Bestselling author of The Bluff Harbor Series, The McLoughlin Brothers Series, The Rules of the Game Series, Drawn to Dark and Keeping It Casual. She was raised in upstate New York. Being an only child, she spent a great deal of time alone, dreaming up characters who would keep her company on long family road trips. Putting her writing on the back burner, she went to college and became a chiropractor. After spending twelve years healing patients, Emma decided—with the help of her amazingly supportive husband—to use the creative side of her brain and let her characters come to the page.

  If she’s not writing, Emma can be found at the gym, one of her kids sporting events, Starbucks, or a live music event.

  A perfect day for Emma would be spent at her lake house with her husband, two ginger-haired children, and Vizsla, reading a book and drinking a large cup of coffee (or wine) with music playing in the background.

  Contact Emma Tharp at:

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  Other books by Emma Tharp:

  What About Her (Book One of the Bluff Harbor Series)

  What About Us (Book Two of the Bluff Harbor Series)

  The McLoughlin Brothers Series Boxed Set