The Billionaire Athlete’s Christmas Fling - Leslie North Page 0,46

leaving salty trails. “I had nothing to do with it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? I vouched for you, you must know that I did, but you could have prepared me. You could have said anything.” Confusion raced through his eyes.

“I’m telling you now.” Her voice shook. “I tried not to think about it after his arrest. I packed all my stuff, and—”

“You had so many chances to tell me,” he said, looking violently beautiful in the midmorning sunlight.

Tana broke, sobs bursting from her like a fountain. She felt destroyed. When Lindsey was a baby, she had no choice but to keep it together. And now, here she was ugly crying in the lobby of the lodge.

“The worst part about the whole thing is that I fell in love with you.” Tana couldn’t stop. “I should have known better after the first time I fell in love, but no, I had to go ahead and learn the same stupid lesson all over again.” She had to get to her car and get out of this place. She’d go to her parents’ house and try to figure out her life. “You’ll be pleased to know that we’ll probably never see each other again.”

Tana had to get away from him.

“What? Tana, stop,” he called out as she walked away.

With one last glance back at him, she shook her head. “I have to pick up my daughter from school.”

Tana drove out of the lodge’s parking lot with infinite care. By the time she reached the school, her eyes were still red and blotchy. Lindsey tumbled into the backseat and noticed it instantly.

“Are you okay, Mom? Did you fall?”

“I didn’t fall. I just had…a hard discussion with Chase.” And I’m probably going to get fired. “Sometimes, grown-ups have hard discussions.” She smiled at Lindsey in the mirror. “Everything will work out one way or the other.”

If only Tana could believe that, too.

19

It was an hour-long drive to where Tana’s parents lived, and every fifteen minutes, she thought she’d gotten over the emotional outpouring. Then the hurt and the heartbreak would come rushing back in, and she’d turn up the radio and sing loudly. It didn’t matter if it was off-key. Lindsey watched Frozen on her tablet, weeping. She kept repeating how much she wanted to go back and see Chase.

Okay, maybe it wasn’t her home anymore. But she knew that when she knocked on the door, everything would be okay. Or at least partially okay. It would at least be a place where she could wallow in self-pity, something long overdue. This day had gone so far off the rails she still couldn’t believe it. The old specter of her past had reared its ugly head, and this time, she didn’t know if she could shake it off. She’d rather leave than face this again.

She changed lanes around a van with a ski rack on top and switched the radio station, too. Lindsey needed her to be at her best, and this was most certainly not her best. She just needed a minute or two. Maybe an hour or two.

Several times she considered calling her mother to warn her she was coming, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. It felt too much like the times she’d had to call them after Lindsey was born, asking for help. She’d find out soon enough anyway.

They pulled into the driveway as the afternoon light was beginning to fade. That was good—Lindsey wouldn’t fight bedtime as hard if it was dark, and Tana needed time to collect herself. She had enough from the house to stay for a few days without needing to get any extra supplies.

Through the front window of her parents’ house, Tana saw her mother sitting in the living room, reading a book. As a kid, she’d taken her parents’ relationship for granted because they’d always been so comfortable together. Their routine pleasant, orderly, and happy. Something she would never have with Chase. How could she even have hoped for it? Her heart was a silly creature.

Tana helped Lindsey out of the car. “Are we there?” Lindsey rubbed at her eyes. “We were driving for a long time.”

“Yes, we’re here.” Tana took her hand and led her up to the front door, where she knocked. For one horrible instant, Tana thought her parents might not be happy she was showing up unannounced, but then her father opened the door, a big smile on his face.

“My favorite granddaughter.” He opened his arms wide and Lindsey