Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
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How did Wade find out?
That’s the first question that flies through my head.
The second?
Did I just lose my best friend?
At this stage in my life—let’s just call it suckville, okay?
—I can’t afford to lose my one and only best friend.
I had a few friends in Texas, but they were either staff like me or WAGs of the players.
After I quit my job to start my own PR business—and to get away from Chase—I didn’t hear a peep from any of them.
I later found out that one of those friends—Amber—turned out to be the one Chase was cheating on me with. And since she was the lynchpin of that friend group and I was the newbie, my phone didn’t ring once after I left. Not surprising. I can only imagine what she told the others.
If there’s such a thing as a mental groan, I think I just did one. How could I forget how small the hockey world is? I should have known he’d find out, eventually.
Did Chase say something? Did Amber? Are they spreading rumors about me now? I didn’t consider Chase stooping that low, but then again, I didn’t realize what a manipulation mastermind he was until it was too late.
Wade’s gaze bores into me harder, if that’s even possible, making me realize I haven’t said a word yet.
“How did you find out?” My voice squeaks as a burn hits me behind my eyes.
He must notice my distress because a wave of regret softens his features. “A little birdie told me.”
The mention of his nana’s expression is like a wrecking ball hitting the walls that have held my emotions in place for the last several months. And you know what they say? When the floodgates open…
Sobbing, I drop onto the edge of the bed. “See? I knew you wouldn’t approve.”
“That should have been your first clue. The guy’s a scumbag.”
My stomach twists into a knot as I take in his disgusted expression. Great. Now I repulse him.
I bury my face in my hands again. There’s no stopping the tidal wave now.
I don’t know how to handle this version of Wade.
And what a way to wreck an evening, right?
I was really clicking with Sophie, Mia, and Lily.
What will they think of me now? Will this be another repeat of what went down at my previous job?
Warm hands touch the sides of my knees, making me gasp in surprise. Wade’s kneeling in front of me, his face a tortured mask of emotions. His mouth moves as if to speak, but nothing comes out.
But I know what he’s asking, though.
Is Chase the real reason I left Texas…
I nod before falling forward into him, clutching his shirt and crying it out against the base of his neck.
One of his hands presses me closer while the other runs up and down my back in a comforting caress.
Between crying and the security of his warm embrace, some of the stress and hurt I’ve carried over the last few months melts away.
Finally, my tears dry up. But I’m still so embarrassed that I can’t bring myself to look at him because of what I might see when he looks at me.
But as Wade does, he forces the issue by leaning back far enough to lift my chin. Even on his knees on the floor, I still have to look up at him from my perch on the end of the bed.
His eyes appear more cloudy brown than hazel green as he searches my face. “What did he do to you? Did he…?”
I shake my head. “Nothing like that.” But almost as bad, right? How do I explain what happened without sounding like a na?ve idiot for believing Chase? If I hadn’t been so trusting…
“Then what? You know you can tell me anything, right?” The concern in his voice borders on pain.
A knock sounds on the bedroom door, saving me from jumping into the drama of my slow demise.
Wade strides over to open it, revealing Sophie standing there.
She blinks at him before refocusing on me. “Is everything okay? We heard crying.”
This time, I groan audibly and flop back on the bed. It’s bad enough having to tell Wade the entire story, but to share my dirty laundry with his friends, too? No, thank you.
He swivels his head between Sophie and me as if he’s at a loss on what to do. “I think she’s okay.”
Okay? Hardly. I’m a walking and barely talking dumpster fire blazing out of control. Hot and stinky. That’s me. Just call me blazy-girl.
Wiping my face, I sit up. “I’m fine now. Just worn out from moving and starting a new job. Really. It’s nothing.”
Wade shoots me an ironic look that makes it clear he sees right through me, as usual.
Sophie pushes past him, sits on the bed next to me, and pulls my left hand into her lap. “It’s okay if you’re not fine, Bree. I know we only recently met, but I’m happy to listen anytime.”
I give her a watery smile. “I’m fine now. Just needed a good cry.” I wipe away a lingering tear. “I’m sorry I ruined the evening.”
Sophie shakes her head and smiles. “You didn’t.”
She’s a better faker than I am. “But we didn’t even order the pizza yet.”
Sophie laughs. “We ate so many of your cookies and the snacks Mathéo brought that no one was hungry anymore.” She raises her hands. “See? Not a disaster at all.”
Wade leans out the doorway, then bobs back in. “Did everyone leave?”
“We figured you needed some privacy. But I wanted to check on you both before Luke and I left.” She sends a pointed stare at Wade, her tone stern. “And you’re okay, right?”
A blush runs up Wade’s neck to his cheeks. “All good here.”
Sophie faces me, smiling as she pats my hand. “Good. We’re having a girls’ night out tomorrow evening at the Turtle Tide after work. You’ll come, won’t you, Bree?”
How can I resist this woman, who seems to know exactly what I need without saying a word? “I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Great.” She stands and walks toward Wade. “Luke said you two had plans to hang out, too, so this works out perfectly.”
“We do?” He looks like he did on the first day of high school after finding out that someone had accidentally changed his PE elective from weight training to interpretive dance. I tried to talk him into keeping it, telling him that it would help his moves on the ice, but he refused to believe me.
Sophie pats his arm like a mother hen. “You must have forgotten.”
I think I’m in awe of Sophie now. She’s this sweet, pink, petite bombshell on the exterior and a fierce mama bear on the inside. Her future children will be the luckiest kids in town.
In the bedroom doorway, she glances over her shoulder and waves. “See you tomorrow, Bree.”
As I return her wave, I realize I’m smiling. Sure, there are things I need to say to Wade, but I’ll tell him the rest when I’m ready.
Wade follows her into the main living area while I stay put on the bed. Muffled voices filter in, then the sound of the front door closing.
I jump up from the bed and start to shut the bedroom door.
Wade splays his big hand on the upper part to stop me. “We still need to talk.”
As his broad shoulders fill the doorway, I take in the sharp angle of his jaw, his wavy auburn hair, and the intense look in his eyes. I know he’s just trying to look out for me. “I’m not ready to talk about it, Wade. Not yet.”
He scratches the side of his short beard. “Fine. I’m sorry. I should have waited until later.” He lets out a long breath. “I guess I let my emotions get the best of me.”
I glance toward the bathroom. “Need anything in there before I go to bed?”
He frowns. “It’s early.”
“I know, but I’m exhausted, and I want to be alone right now, okay?” Please let him understand. The hardest part in all of this was figuring out how to tell him I dated his rival. Now that he knows, I have to figure out exactly what to tell him about the rest.
He purses his lips together and nods. “Good night, Bree-bear.”
“Good night, Wade.” I close the door, feeling this odd mix of relief and guilt. He used his nickname for me, so he must not hate me. Like me still? That’s a question for tomorrrow-me.
And since he found out about Chase, I should probably tell him the entire story sooner rather than later.
I’d hate for him to hear false rumors before he hears the truth from me.
My ex has a knack for putting his spin on things and coming out smelling like a flower in the middle of a manure pile.
Granted, the stench remains, but he still looks pretty.
There’s a reason they call it gaslighting.
When I realized Chase wasn’t exactly who I thought, I did some research, and that’s the word that kept showing up to explain how I would always feel like something was off, but when I confronted him about it, he would imply it was all in my head. The man is a master manipulator.
But no matter how many ways I try to spin it, I wind up looking like a stupid idiot, even to myself. How on earth can I explain it to Wade without appearing like that to him, too?