Chapter 2
Alex
I watch her walk away,shaking my head a little as I run my tongue along the edge of my teeth. That fucker failed to mention he was divorced for months. I wonder how many. I wonder how long he thought he could keep up the ruse. I’m curious what finally pushed them over the edge too, because while neither of them had seemed particularly happy for some time, they’d still clung to the illusion of it, especially in public.
I’m also curious if she’s being honest about it being her choice to end it because while I have no doubt she’s the one that called the lawyers first, I doubt she just woke up one morning with that inclination. I can almost guarantee he was the one that caused it, because despite her ice-cold and calculated demeanor whenever she talks with me, she’s one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. She’d been a good wife to him. Done everything to make him, his family, and his friends happy. I’d watched her on more than one occasion stress and worry over every detail on a holiday or his birthday. Heard about the way she took care of him when he was sick. Saw the pictures of vacations she planned to help him get time away from the stress of work.
While she’s shocked he wouldn’t have mentioned it, I’m not surprised. If there’s one thing we don’t agree on, it’s his wife. We haven’t since the moment he told me they were dating. So I can absolutely guess why he doesn’t want me to have that information, but I can’t wait to see his face when he finds out I do.
I wander back out and see Tobias across the room leaning up against the bar. His head tilts as he sees the look on my face, and I grin even harder.
“You just got here. What could possibly have you in a good mood this quickly? You already down a glass between now and the walk in?”
“No, not yet. But thanks for the reminder that I’ve got limited time left to enjoy it before the season.”
He nods to the bartender to give me the same as he has and then looks back at me. “So?”
“She divorced him, and that fucker tried to keep it from me.”
“Who is she?”
“Drew’s wife. Harper.”
“Noooo…” His eyebrows raise in response. He hadn’t been around them nearly as often as I had over the years, but they’d come to enough events at Ben and Violet’s that he knew what a stupid move that was. “No fuckin’ way. Did she tell you that?”
“I noticed she wasn’t wearing a ring, asked if everything was good and she said no. She was shocked he hadn’t told me and didn’t seem too happy to have to deliver the news.”
“He wasn’t stupid enough to divorce her though, was he? She was out of his fucking league.”
“No. She left him.”
“Explains why he wasn’t in a hurry to tell anyone.”
“That and a few other things…” I smirk as the bartender hands me a glass.
“Can’t be that long if he was able to keep it quiet.”
“A few months it sounds like. Which also explains why they didn’t do anything for his birthday. Frankly, they were weird as fuck even at the last party they had, so I wonder how long it’s been brewing.”
“Well, good for her. Bad for your friend.”
“How long’s the mourning period for a divorce you think?”
“I don’t fucking know. My friend just got divorced and was fucking a new chick at the bar the night the papers were signed. Don’t know about his wife, but if she divorced him… Wait… you’re not…?” Tobias looks at me with skeptical concern.
“Why not? After him, she might reconsider it.” I roll the ball of ice around in the glass.
“Remind me to keep any and all potential wives far away from you.”
“I saw her fucking first,” I grouch because I’d not only seen her first, but I’d fucking kissed her first. Not that Drew knows. Even though I’d wanted to tell him half a dozen times. Even though I can almost guarantee he suspects it.
“Yeah? She a ball on the playground?”
“No, but you fucking know what I mean. I’m not in the habit of fighting over a woman or pursuing taken ones, but you know this wasn’t that. You were there when we met.”
“I’m just giving you shit. If you think she’d go for it. I guess it’d be the ultimate rebound. How’s he gonna feel about it?”
“Probably the same way I felt.”
“You wanna piss your agent off that way?”
“He can’t afford to lose me as a client. Especially if he’s having to pay alimony.” I grin at my luck.
“Well…” Tobias shakes his head and gives a shrug before he slides his glass back onto the bar top. “I know better than to try to talk you out of shit.”
I turn around to look for her but instead, I’m greeted by a woman with graying hair wearing a sharp-looking suit and heels.
“Hello! You must be Mr. Xavier. I’m the director of the museum. Harper told me you might be interested in helping us save the museum, and I’d love to tell you more about how you could support the institution and the community. Do you have some time?”
I hear a little choked laugh from Tobias that’s quickly covered by a cough as he stands a little straighter.
“And you’re Mr. Westfield, right? She pointed you out as well. I’d love to talk to both of you if you have a minute.” She flashes a pearly white smile, and I turn to Tobias, giving him a little shit-eating grin. That’s what he fucking gets for being amused by my fate.
“Sure, we’d love to hear more.” I nod and follow her lead over to a table where she begins to give us her prepared speech. One I don’t really need to hear because I’d already planned to do what I could, but if Saint thinks I need to be tortured for a while first, I’m willing to submit to it.
When I finally escape thirtyminutes later, I go looking for her, wanting to thank her for the very detailed sales pitch from her boss on saving the museum. One that ended in an invitation to take me and my father, the much-lauded senator, out to lunch to show us examples of how some of the money would be best used. I figured that’s why she’d pointed me out to her director. I might be able to sway public opinion, but my father could sway votes if he wants to. I grin at the idea of my father wanting to go out to lunch to discuss museums, let alone agreeing to do it with me. If it didn’t garner him swing votes, he didn’t give a fuck. And the only time he wants me is when my fame wins him political points with Joe Football on Election Day.
I scan the room looking for her, slowly making my way down the hall until I spot her in her black dress and cardigan. I can only see half of her face because one of my teammates is blocking the rest of her. It’s Daniels. The new guy no one but management wants here because he’s a raging asshole more concerned with attention than the game. He’s leaning over her, one hand against the wall, his other hand disappearing between the two of them. I don’t like the fucking look of it at all. So I pick up my pace, closing the distance between us and when I get close and my eyes finally catch on hers, I feel my blood run cold.
She’s shifting on her feet, looking distressed despite the smile that’s still plastered on her face and Daniels is being way too familiar with her for his own good, running a hand down her side as if he knows her. He’s either too drunk or too fucking stupid to leave her alone. Either way, I’m going to handle it. His choice is whether it’s the easy way or the hard one.
When I get close, she looks relieved to see me, her eyes coming to mine and giving me a pleading look. If she’s looking to me to save her, whatever he’s done or said is beyond the pale, and I’m already planning how to break his arms for touching her.
“Step away from her,” I say, loud and firm.
His head swivels and his eyes run over me. They’re glassy and the ill-advised smirk he gives me tells me it’s both—stupid and drunk.
“Can I help you?” Irritation is rife in his voice.
“Yeah. Start by not touching her and then leave some room for her to breathe between the two of you.”
“We’re having a discussion.”
“Fairly fucking certain you can have it without putting your hands on her.”
His smug little grin grows tighter.
“You of all people should know when someone wants our help, they’re happy to be hands-on about it.”
The idea that he thinks he can fucking do this because she’s advocating for her job makes me lose every ounce of patience I’d been maintaining tonight. After the week I’ve had, that’s frankly not fucking much. Even less when it comes to anyone touching her. And lumping me in with this bullshit like I’d do the same? Hell fucking no.
I snap.
She makes a little gasping noise, and a second later I feel pain in my fist. He stumbles and then regains his footing. His eyes raise to mine, fury coloring his muddy blue irises. He pulls his arm back to throw a counterpunch and catches her on the corner of her mouth with his elbow. The sound she makes and the way she crumples against the wall are the last fucking straw. I go for his fucking throat to slam him against the wall, taking another swing at his face. I miss his neck when he dodges but get in another solid punch to his jaw on the upswing. He tumbles back against the wall, sliding down it, and I’m ready to pummel him into the fucking ground.
But she’s up and on me, her hands on my arm, pleading with me at my side.
“Alex! It’s fine. I’m fine. It’s enough. Stop!” I hear her yell over the sound of the blood in my ears, but it’s too late.
He’s up again wildly throwing his fists and I’m blocking them just waiting for the moment I can haymaker his ass to the fucking floor. One of his punches comes hard, and I grab his wrist when he misses, twisting it as he cries out in pain.
“Holy fuck!” I hear Tobias call out, and I hear the steady beat of shoes on the floor coming our way before I’m pulled back from the fucker in front of me. It pisses me off that they got here a second too soon for me to drop him.
“What the fuck is going on?” Ben’s voice is just behind Tobias even though I can’t see him, and I hear him groan when he sees the state of things.
“This guy was… cornering me. Alex was trying to help.” I hear Harper at my back, but Tobias still hasn’t released his grip on me. I’ve got pounds and inches on him, but he has a vice-like grip on me as he holds me back.
“She’s being fucking polite. This fucker thought he could put his hands on her. Should call the cops for assault.”
“Assault? She’s out here sweet talking me asking me to help her cause and batting her fucking eyelashes. She was asking for me to fucking touch her!” Daniels yells out, cradling his arm as one of his friends has appeared and is holding him back from charging me again. It’s wise because, in his state, I’d only need one more shot to level him.
“Asking for it?” I snarl. “I’m gonna fucking kill him. Just let me do it. I don’t give a fuck.” I try to rip free from Tobias’s grip, but he digs in, and Ben steps between us.
“First, you don’t fucking treat women like that anywhere, but especially in my fucking home. And second, you’re at a fucking fundraiser. She’s one of the curators.” Ben’s tone is icy, and if he’s this pissed, I feel justified.
Daniels swipes at his lip and it’s bleeding heavily. I’m at least satisfied that I’ve fucked him up a little, but I’d be happier if he was unconscious.
“Fuck you, Lawton. You assholes think you fucking run things. I’ll show you who runs things. I should call the fucking cops on your ass. Have them arrest you for fucking assault, Xavier. See how much you run your pussy-whipped mouth then.”
“You do that and you’re gonna have to explain how he’s in the wrong after you gave his girlfriend here a fat fucking lip,” Tobias shouts over my shoulder, and I can hear the anger rising in his tone.
“His girlfriend?” Daniels’s brow furrows.
I glance at Tobias out of the corner of my eye, and he gives me a meaningful look.
“Which is exactly how I fucking know there was nothing but fucking politeness on her end. Not a fucking chance on earth she wants anything to do with you when I’m the one she comes home to.”
I see Saint’s eyes flick to mine, but she doesn’t say anything.
“I think it’s time for you to go.” Ben looks at Daniels and nods to the door.
“We’ll see what the fucking coaches think it’s time for when I tell them about this. Some fucking welcome to my new team.”
“Yeah well, we didn’t fucking want you in the first place. You should have fucking stayed in California!” Tobias calls after him.
“Tobias…” Ben says under his breath giving him a look.
“It’s the fucking truth,” I echo the sentiment.
“Yeah, well we’ll see who’s on the field after this.” Daniels spits blood on Ben’s floor as he wipes at his face again, and I hear a little gasp from Harper.
He and his friends make their way out of the house, throwing one last look and a finger over their shoulders as they leave. Once the asshole’s finally out of sight, Tobias releases his grip on me, and I roll my shoulders and my neck.
“I don’t know that you needed to be that fucking overzealous,” I grumble at Tobias.
“You were threatening to kill him.”
“It was an overstatement. I was just planning to maim.”
“Do it wrong and it’ll be him in a hospital and you in a jail cell. No thanks.” Tobias gives me a pointed look.
I needed to learn Westfield patience. Both brothers and their father had it in spades even when they were pissed. The ability to stay calm no matter what was put in their way. I just see fucking red and go for the throat. He’d pulled me out of more than one fight on and off the field. I was probably lucky he was here tonight given she was at the center of this.
My eyes land on her again and there’s a little trickle of blood on her lip that has me feeling like I want to follow his ass out the door to finish what I started.
“You okay?” I frown as I get closer and see the swelling setting in.