When her office door opened, she looked up as Rayne came in, her brows pressed together. "Hey, Lucy."

"Yeah?"

"So, I know it's none of my business," she said, falling into the seat in front of her desk. "And usually, I would ignore it, but-"

"What's going on?" Lucy asked, her heart kicking into high speed at Rayne's worried expression. She was usually so happy-go-lucky, but she looked troubled.

"Well..." She paused, handing Lucy a piece of paper. But when she looked down, she wasn't sure what she was looking at. "I follow Nikky Jiggler's Blog of Puck Bunnies. I know, it's trashy and just something I find hilarious. This chick goes around and sleeps with all these hockey players and then writes up these insane blog posts about them. It's very funny, but also pretty scandalous."

Her stomach dropped. Please don't say what I think you're about to say.

Swallowing hard, Lucy looked down, and there it was, Benji's name.

"She doesn't have a blog post yet, but it's just his name and the words 'To Come,' so I don't know. I don't believe it, but I thought you should know."

Letting out a long breath, Lucy shook her head. "Fucking figures. I have the worst luck in my life. I don't need this." Rayne nodded as Lucy got up, her heart pounding. "Thanks for showing me this. I gotta go get Angie."

"Are you okay? I'm sorry."

"No, don't be. And I've been better, but it's nothing I can't handle," she said as Rayne stopped her.

"I don't believe it, though. Benji isn't that guy."

Lucy only nodded, patting Rayne's hand before heading out of her office and out the door. She couldn't believe this. Getting in her car, she put her phone in its holder and FaceTimed Benji.

"Hey, baby," he answered as she backed out of the driveway. "Off to get Angie?"

"Yeah," she said sharply as she put the car in drive to pull away. "Do me a favor. Go to NikkyJiggler.com."

He made a face. "Why in the hell would I go on that filth's website?"

"So you've heard of her?"

"Everyone has heard of her. She's trash," he said simply. "Why?"

"Go look."

He didn't say anything for a moment, and when she looked over at him, he was staring at his computer. Making a face, he looked back at her. "Okay, do I need to defend myself here, or are we good and you know this is complete bullshit?"

Her brow furrowed. "I mean, what do you think?"

"I think it's a pile of bullshit. But that doesn't matter. What matters is what you think."

"I don't believe it, if that is what you're asking. But it would make sense."

"Excuse me? Make sense how?"

"I'm the queen of bad fucking luck. Finally find this guy I'm really digging and he cheats on me with some whore. Figures."

"Well, you're actually in luck, my love, 'cause my heart only wants you and that's it. This is bullshit, and I'll be calling my lawyer as soon as we get off the phone."

She nodded, shaking her head. She already knew that. Benji wouldn't cheat on her. He wasn't that kind of guy. Still, it was nice for him to reiterate that, though. "Okay."

"I'm sorry this came up now."

She shrugged. "My luck. But like you said, it's bullshit. I'm not worried about it."

"Are you sure? Are you okay?" he asked, and she shook her head again.

"No, I'm not."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No, 'cause it won't do anything," she said sharply, feeling bad for it, but she was just pissed. Stupid Nikky Jiggler. Stupid Rick.

"Okay," he said slowly as she pulled into the school parking lot. "You look beautiful today. At least when that douche is being an asshole, he'll have regret for ever treating you wrong."

Her lip quirked as she put the car in park. "Just what I want."

"I know, baby, I'm sorry," he said as her eyes met his. "I wish I was there."

"Me too. I haven't even really talked to her about it. I told her that we had to meet him, and she had to tell him she didn't want to go. She didn't like that, told me she's scared of him, Benji. How can you be okay with your daughter being scared of you?"

He shook his head. "Baby, I don't know. It's killing me. It really is."

"I just- Shit, she's getting in the car. Hey, honey bun!"

"Hey, Mom!" Angie jumped in, leaning over the seat and giving her a kiss. "Hey, Benji! You come home tomorrow, right?"

"Yup. We're still having that dance party Sunday?"

"Duh! You better be ready."

"Oh, I am," he promised and Lucy grinned as Angie snatched the phone and sat down.

As Lucy pulled out, Angie said, "Hopefully, I'll see you Saturday. Mom says I have to tell my dad I don't want to go to his house."

"Yeah, I know, sunshine. Are you okay with that?"

Lucy's heart broke as Angie said, "Not really, but Mom says I have to."

"You do. It's legal adult crap that you shouldn't have to deal with. But do me a favor, honey," he asked, and Lucy caught Angie grinning in the mirror.

"Anything!"

He chuckled and it made Lucy's heart swell. "No matter what happens, you're coming home Sunday, and you don't have to go back till after the first of the year. So just remember that and try to have fun."

"But, Benji! He won't take me to hockey and he yells all the time."

"I know, sunshine, so just be strong, okay?"

When a tear slid down Lucy's face, she wiped it away as her baby said, "Okay, I can do that."

"All right, I miss you and can't wait to see you Sunday!"

"Me too! I love you, Benji."

That stole her breath and Lucy gripped the steering wheel as Angie grinned at the phone. Did her baby just say that? Holy crap, she did, and when Benji spoke, his voice was hoarse and full of emotion. "I love you too, sunshine. Be good, and I'll see you soon."

"Okay! Win some games, okay?"

"Of course. Hey, let me say bye to your mom."

"Okay. Here, Mom," she said, handing the phone back.

Holding it in her lap, Lucy felt him looking up at her but she couldn't put him in his spot yet.

"I'm driving, sorry you're getting my double chin."

He laughed. "No, all I see is my gorgeous girlfriend."

She grinned as she turned onto his road. "Yeah, yeah, sweet-talker. I'm almost home."

"It could be your home," he suggested and she shook her head.

"Shh, you. Can I call you later? I gotta get inside to do some work before taking Angie to practice."

"Yeah. Listen, I'll be at the game, but I'm gonna call you before we have to hit the ice. To check on you."

"Okay," she said, pulling into the driveway.

"It's gonna be okay. Call me before if you need me."

"I will," she promised as she parked and held the phone up. When she saw he had tears in his eyes, she was breathless. He loved Angie so much, and he was just as pained as Lucy was. She prayed what he said was true. That they would both be strong through the ordeal, that it was going to be okay.

But she was pretty sure it wasn't going to be.

Lucy's heart was in her throat.

Her body was vibrating with nerves.

Her stomach was a mess.

And she was two seconds from falling apart.

She couldn't do this.

No. She could do this.

She would do this.

Mindlessly, she stroked the back of Angie's head as she looked out the window, hoping that Angie couldn't sense her anxiety. She was sweaty, a little stinky, but Lucy didn't care. She needed her to know she loved her because she was terrified that Angie would hate her after this-if this went the way her father said it would. How was she going to stand there and allow Rick to take her away? God, this was going to suck.

But maybe he would just let her be.

"Grandma, why are you coming?" Angie asked then, bringing Lucy's attention back to her.

"We are going wedding shopping after we drop you off. So we figured we'd take you so I can make Mommy go," she said with a laugh and Angie smiled.

"I want to go wedding shopping! Maybe Dad won't make me go with him," she said, her eyes full of hope as she met Lucy's gaze.

"Yeah, let's hope so," River said before Lucy could. "But remember, baby, there is a chance he will and you'll have to go."

"But I don't want to," she said simply and Lucy's lip started to quiver. She hated feeling so fucking weak. Why couldn't she control this? Why couldn't anything go the way she wanted? The only good thing was Angie and Benji. Well, when they were both with her.

"I know, baby, but we might not have a choice," Autumn explained, turning in her seat.

But that didn't work for Angie. Turning to Lucy, her gaze bored into her mother's as she asked, "Mommy, you won't make me, will you?"

She shook her head. "No honey, I won't. I promise I won't. But he can make you."

Angie's face twisted in confusion and maybe a bit of horror as she looked at her. "So I might have to go?"

Lucy's eyes started to flood with tears and she cupped Angie's sweet little cherub face. "Yeah, but remember what Benji said? It's only two days and then you'll be back home."

Angie bit into her lip as she looked out the window. "Okay."

"I'm sorry, Angie. I wish we could just go shopping."

"Me too," she answered, and then Lucy's stomach dropped when she realized they were in the parking lot of Walmart.

No. Not yet. Fuck. Shit.

When her phone vibrated, she looked down to see it was a text from Benji.

Benji: You've got this. Keep your cool. Don't give him any fuel for his fucked-up fire. Okay?

She was shaking too badly to text him back, and when she looked up, she saw Rick's car. Her heart dropped into her stomach as River stopped in the spot beside him. Lucy hit her dad's name in her phone and he answered but she didn't speak, holding it in her hand. She went to turn, tell Angie that she was sorry again, that she loved her, but Angie took a deep breath and opened the door, her chin held high. Lucy almost lost it. She felt like she was falling apart, and she knew she would never remember getting out or walking around the car.

Before Rick could say anything, Angie took Lucy's hand and said, "I don't want to go to your house, Dad."

He snorted, folding his arms over his chest. "That right? Your mom tell you to tell me that?"

"No," Lucy said, her hands shaking at her sides as her mom and River got out of the car.

He laughed. "Brought the cavalry, I see. Where is that boyfriend? He off cheating on you again?"

Lucy's head tilted to the side, her eyes narrowing. She'd had no reason to assume so, but now she was pretty sure Rick had something to do with that website. With Nikky Jiggler. "Why would you say that?"