“I’m sure that’s true. A lot of women prey on these guys, and not all guys can see through them.”

“I couldn’t. Look how many years I tolerated her screwing around. Only when her infidelity slapped me in the face did I finally take action.”

I cringed slightly. “I didn’t mean you specifically.”

He smiled sadly at me. “If the skates fit, fall on your ass.”

I laughed. At least he was keeping a sense of humor through this debacle. “You do realize Axel isn’t really to blame?” I had to say the words because I believed them, and it was important to me that Jock believe them too.

“About not knowing she was married? I’m not sure. The jury is still out on that one. I suppose you believe him?”

“More than I believe Bria. She’s been fabricating crap ever since I met her. I know that’s not too long, but long enough. Besides, you’ve been on this team with Axel. Do you see him as that type of guy?”

“I don’t know what to think. The problem is that every time I look at him, I’m humiliated that everyone on the team knows he slept with my wife. They’re probably thinking I wasn’t man enough to satisfy her.”

“That sounds like a personal problem you need to cope with.”

“I suppose. Bria and I were together a long time. Most of that time, she did her thing, and I looked the other way. We had an unspoken agreement.”

“She’s a master manipulator. Bria is sucking your daughter into her lies now.”

He sighed. “I don’t know what I can do about that. I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. Teagan would rebel if I told her she couldn’t talk to her mother. I’m not willing to alienate her.”

“Teenagers are tough and frustrating.”

“They are, but I want the kids to have contact with their mother once she gets her act together. Right now, I can’t allow a physical visit, but I won’t forbid them to talk with her on the phone or text. I fear she’s poisoning them against me, which might have disastrous short-term results, but long-term, I hope the kids see things as they are.”

I didn’t disagree with him. Neither of us grew up in a situation where the parents pitted one against the other, mostly because when our mother left, she never contacted us again. I’d often wondered if having a baby had been too much for her, but regardless, her lack of interest in being a mother and wife was on her, not us.

How coincidental Axel’s mother also left the family and never looked back. I guess abandonment happened more than we’d imagined. Growing up, I’d been convinced I was the only girl without a mother. I wasn’t, but things seemed that way. No mother-daughter shopping outings for me. No makeup tips from Mom. No good-night stories about princesses living happily ever after, though from my cynical viewpoint, that wasn’t such a bad thing. Happily ever after didn’t exist except in rare circumstances. Even the couples I knew who appeared happy really weren’t, once you learned their darkest secrets.