Chapter 17 #2
He purses his lips, nodding. “Silas, stay on task here,” Eloise’s agent says, coming into the room. She’s got her arms crossed, and I wonder if this is a regular thing for him.
He looks frustrated, and I keep a smile on my face, despite the sinking feeling in my stomach.
He doesn’t seem like he’s going to stop there.
“Right. Thanks, Annalise,” he clears his throat, and something about the way he dismissed her concerns leaves an even worse taste in my mouth.
“Taylor, you and your partner broke up earlier this year. Do you want to talk about it?”
My hearing goes quiet for a moment, a high-pitched whine that blocks everything else out. “My personal life isn’t up for conversation here, Silas,” I ground out through gritted teeth.
“Did Frank get tired of being a beard?”
“Pardon?” I ask.
“You know, I think we’re done here,” Eloise says loudly, getting up. “Of all the fucking questions to ask. You’d think we wouldn’t have to deal with this shit in the PWHL.”
“No, no, I mean, you and Rosie, and now you and Eloise here. Come on, Taylor—”
he says, digging himself further into a hole.
“I’m not—” I stop myself.
El is pulling at my hands. “You don’t have to explain yourself,” she whispers. I shake my head.
“I didn’t cheat on him. Not with Rosie and not with Eloise, because I was committed to our relationship.
I have very close personal friendships with my teammates, and he was never a part of a sports team, so maybe the relationship between Rosie and I may have seemed weird or hyperdependent on each other, but we were just friends. ”
Eloise has her back to Silas, but it doesn’t stop me seeing the shuttered look on her face, the way that any feeling is put away. “I mean—” I start.
“Goodbye, Silas,” Eloise says coldly, pulling me out of there. He has a look of determination in his eyes as he watches us leave, and I wonder if this is going to be a massive problem for us in the future. “Annalise, what the fuck was that?” she snaps at her agent when we exit the stage.
“El, I have no idea. Taylor, I’m so sorry. I tried getting a hold of your agent, but she’s dealing with another issue right now. I’m going to make sure that he doesn’t get that on air.”
“He shouldn’t be interviewing anyone anymore,” El growls, “Completely unfounded. Does he not realize how damaging that kind of questioning is to—”
“It’s alright,” I say, cutting her off. “It looks sketchy now that I think about it.“
“Taylor,” Eloise says, a hand on my shoulder and forcing me to look her in the eye.
I’m a little numb to everything, and I’m doing my best not to hyperventilate at that rumour getting out.
“Taylor, come on. It’s not sketchy. You’re right; we’re closer than usual people because we’re on a team.
You and Rosie were the same. However, no one should be asking questions that invade your privacy, especially not that prick.
” She’s pacing, her cheeks flushed with anger.
“Eloise, Mindy won’t let that go to print. She’ll stop it, especially after this. I’m not worried,” I say. If I say it a few more times, I think that I’ll believe it.
Eloise narrows her dark brown eyes at me before she turns to Annalise. “Can we leave? We have dinner plans with Kenz.”
It’s a quick nod. “Yeah, and seriously, don’t worry. Mindy and I will make sure everything stays under wraps.”
Eloise nods, pulling my hand away with her. I wave, still feeling a bit stunned at the whole interaction. I’m silent until we get into the elevator and turn to her. “I don’t…“
“He’s a prick; he’s always been a prick.
I hated talking with him in Calgary, and I hated talking with him now.
” She avoids looking me in the eye. “And he has no right to say anything like that to you, me or about us. Pulling someone’s sexuality into question in the public light is damaging for everyone. ”
I bite my bottom lip, my heart like a drum against my ribcage, begging to break free. I can see the set line of her jaw, the way her pulse jumps as she’s trying to take deep breaths. “So, you’re not mad that we—?”
She turns her head, a dark eyebrow raised as our eyes connect.
I’m lost in the pool of brown, usually light and warm like a summer’s day, but today dark and seductive, as if she could pull me into her soul with the anger that’s evident in the way she’s holding herself and the tone of her voice. “That we, what?”
I swallow tightly. “That we’re being connected in a—well, he’s reaching, he wants a sound bite, anything to confirm that we’re romantic. He wants a story.”
She rolls her eyes, giggling a little before she catches that I’m not laughing with her and sobers up.
“No, of course not. It’s flattering that they think I could woo you into being in a relationship with me.
” Her smile is small, quirked up at the side, and something about the way her words wrap around me makes my skin boil.
I’m shocked she can’t see my heart beating through my chest. She’s so much closer than I thought she was, and my eyes flick down to her lips for a microsecond. If she just leaned in…
I nod, swallowing back the lump in my throat when the elevator opens.
“Eloise!” someone shouts, and we jump back, both blinking away whatever was in the enclosed space as Eloise is tackled by a brown woman with thick curly hair.
“Kenz!” Eloise shouts, grinning as she wraps her arms tightly around her.
Right, Kenzie Harrington, assistant captain for the Toronto Titans. Twin sister of Blake Harrington, assistant captain for the Toronto Stormhawks. Hometown friends with Eloise and a few other girls in the league. “Ugh, it’s so good to see you. We just had the shittiest interview with Silas.”
Kenz throws her head back and groans, and I’m startled to see the way her neck is exposed, the golden skin looking like the sun in the early November evening.
“He’s the fucking worst,” she turns, smiling.
“Good to see you, Taylor.” She reaches for a handshake, which I oblige, but she pulls me in for a hug.
I’m too stiff.
“Nice to see you, too,” I say, looking at Eloise, who gives her a fond smile and taps her shoulder.
“Come on, let’s go to the hotel and get ready for a minute, and then we’re yours until the sun comes up.”
Kenz claps her hands, pulling both of us towards the door, and I can’t help but wonder what we got ourselves into.