Lucy had called her dad once they had gotten in the car and told him to get her a court date. It was only to get the parenting plan revised, but apparently, Rick’s lawyer said they would be asking for full custody. His heart hurt remembering how hard Lucy had cried in his arms. She didn’t want to do this—she didn’t want to put Angie through it, and Benji got that—but Rick was a douche and needed to be put in his place. He knew it would turn out in Lucy’s favor, but he worried about what that would do to Angie if Rick stuck around. He seemed like he already had one foot out the door, only hanging in to hurt Lucy, and that was mind-blowing to Benji.
How do you claim to love someone but be a complete asshole and not want to support what they love? Especially someone as amazing and sweet as Angie. Benji did not believe for a second that she had been bad or mouthy. She was always so good, yeah, a little nutty, but she was a kid and did normal kid stuff. Didn’t Rick want a relationship with his daughter? Or was he too concerned with hurting Lucy because he couldn’t control her? Benji didn’t know, but he sure as hell worried about Lucy’s sanity and Angie’s heart.
It wasn’t fair.
Life wasn’t fair. If it were, Ava and Leary would be alive. But then, would he be where he was now? It was just all such a mindfuck because, while he didn’t wish away his time with Ava and Leary, he couldn’t fathom his life without Lucy and Angie. Maybe this was his normal, though. Maybe this was how his life would always be. Feeling bad for one thing, but happy about another. Could he live with that regret? If it was really regret. He wasn’t sure. But one thing was for sure, he would talk to Lucy about it.
“Paxton, Johansson, you two are up for an interview,” one of the media folks said, and Benji rolled his eyes.
He didn’t like doing interviews.
Vaughn, though, he loved them, but today he looked pissed.
“You good?” Benji asked as they walked together to the hall.
“Don’t want to do this today.”
Benji could only nod as the media guy stopped him and Vaughn went ahead. Brie Soledad, the Assassins’ new locker-room broadcaster stood with her mic up at her mouth, talking about something. She was adorable; Benji had always thought so. At one time, he had wanted to holler at her, but that was while he was actually searching for what turned out to be Lucy. Watching as Vaughn towered over her, Benji wanted to laugh. She was so little, maybe five feet, with big, blue eyes and long, brown hair that had blond at the ends. She was on the thicker side, almost like Elli Adler, but she pulled it off and all the guys liked her. She was nice, but apparently Vaughn forgot that as he stood before her, his hands on his hips, annoyance rolling off him.
“Tough game, Vaughn. Tell me, what could your team have done to win tonight?”
“Well, Brie, don’t know if you were actually watching the game, but we weren’t playing,” he said simply, and her eyes widened as Benji held back his laughter. “We fucking sucked out there. The defense was off, the offense wasn’t even doing anything. We can’t win games playing like that. We have to be better.”
And then he walked away.
Like he had dropped the mic.
Poor Brie looked stunned, and all Benji could do was laugh. Vaughn was in so much trouble. As he expected, Benji’s interview was very short and then he headed down the hall. The media team was tearing a new one into Vaughn, just as Jude Sinclair was heading toward him.
“Hey!” he called out and Benji paused.
He looked around. He wasn’t sure, but he’d thought maybe the guy wouldn’t talk to him. Pressing his finger to his chest, he said, “Me?”
“You’re the one dating my sister, right?”
Benji nodded, a smile pulling at his lips. “I am.”
“Awesome. Well, then, yes, you,” he said holding his hand out and Benji took it. “How’s the chest?”
“Stings.”
“I bet,” Jude laughed, and he looked so much like Lucy. The whole Sinclair resemblance was a bit scary. He’d thought that Jayden and Lucy could be twins, but Jude looked so much like his brother, Benji was now convinced their genes were some scientific marvel. “Hate that we can’t get together. Get to know each other.”
Benji nodded. The Assassins’ bus would be leaving soon for San Jose. “Yeah, but we have the wedding.”
Jude gagged visibly and then nodded. “So you’re going?”
“I am,” he said, nodding his head.
“Awesome, my mom loves you. Like, I think she wants to marry you instead of River,” he joked and Benji laughed.
“She’s awesome.”
“She is,” he added, his face clearly full of love for Autumn. The same look Lucy always got for her mom. “But, yeah, it was great winning against you,” he said with a wink.
Benji rolled his eyes. “We’ll get you next time.”
“Yeah, yeah. But, hey,” he said, looking Benji right in the eyes. “Don’t hurt my sister, okay?”
Benji wanted to laugh as he held Jude’s green gaze. “Not that I would, but I’m pretty sure she’d kill me if I did.”
“Oh, no doubt,” he laughed, nodding. “She sure would. But, really, please don’t. Not only do you seem like a good guy and I don’t want you to be killed since my mother talks about you all the damn time, but Lucy’s had it rough. From what I hear, you make life great for her and for Angie. Those two…it’s been hard, and I want you to keep doing that. Hell, I’ll pay you to keep doing that.”
That made Benji laugh as he shook his head. “I don’t want your money, bro. Don’t worry, I love your sister, and I’m going to do everything I can for her so she can always be happy.”