Chapter 58
Ellie
Camden leans back and rests his arm along the back of my chair.
He sets his massive hand on my shoulder, pulling me closer to him. His fiery gaze falls to my jersey again.
“You keep looking at my jersey,” I say, fighting a smile.
“Can’t help it. You look hot wearing my name and my number, baby.”
He kisses the side of my neck, and I shiver.
“Hey, you two. Keep it PG,” Xander says through a smile.
I let out a flustered laugh. Camden just flashes his trademark smug, unbothered smile.
“I think it’s hot when my wife wears my jersey,” he says. “Sue me.”
He kisses me on the mouth. This time, everyone at our table at Spanky’s whistles and hollers.
He leans his mouth to my ear. “I can’t wait to fuck you while you wear my jersey and nothing else,” he whispers. My pussy aches just thinking about it.
When we break apart, everyone is holding their drink glasses up.
“Cheers to Connors for scoring the first goal of the season for us,” Xander says.
We tap our glasses together and sip our drinks.
I turn to Camden. “I’m sorry for what that jerk in the crowd did to you after the game.”
My adrenaline spikes just remembering how that guy dumped his drink on Camden’s head.
He gently kisses my temple. “Don’t be sorry, baby. It’s not your fault. And it’s all okay. I took care of him.”
Apparently, that guy threatened to go after me, and that’s when Camden nearly choked him out.
My entire body goes hot when I think about him doing that. How he didn’t even think—he just reacted to protect me.
Tingles fly all over my body. I’m in awe of just how far my husband will go for me.
“I’m still mad it happened,” I say. “I’d pay good money to run that guy over with my car.”
Camden’s eyebrow quirks. An amused smile tugs at his lips. “Is my Ellie girl feeling protective over me?”
I nod. He grins and swipes my hair out of my face. “That’s pretty hot.”
I giggle. Ingrid refills my water glass, and I tell her thanks.
“How did work go for you tonight?” I ask.
“Busy but fun, like always,” she says with a smile.
I saw Ingrid filming tons of social media content of the guys during warmup and the game.
“Your husband is currently going viral for confronting that jerkoff fan in the stands after the game,” Ingrid says.
Camden just grins. “Don’t mess with my wife, and we won’t have a problem.”
She shows us her phone screen, and I skim a bunch of comments about Camden.
Look at number 89 going feral defending his wife. HOTTT.
That’s the energy I’d like from my future husband.
Men, take note. This is how we want you to act when some jerk disrespects us.
Wife guy turns into a rabid guard dog when it comes to defending his lady. We love to see it.
Camden Connors choking out a fan for disrespecting his wife is my Roman Empire.
I thought his marriage was a sham, but it seems pretty real from his reaction here.
“Wow,” I say, heartened at how many people support him for doing what he did.
“It seems like the good press from this is drowning out a lot of negative gossip online about your marriage,” Ingrid says softly. “That’s gotta be a good sign.”
She gets pulled into a conversation with Del, and I look at Camden. “I really wish people would quit commenting on our marriage,” I say quietly.
Camden huffs out a breath. “Me too, baby.”
He hugs his arm around me tight.
My phone buzzes, and I pull it out. It’s a text from a number I don’t recognize.
Had enough yet?
I frown, confused. I type a response.
Who is this?
The sender replies instantly.
Who do you think?
I roll my eyes. This is probably some scammer.
Whatever, scammer. I’m blocking you now.
But before I can go to block the number, they reply.
Unknown number: Don’t.
Unknown number: Did you really think I was going to let you block my number and just get rid of me, Ellie?
My stomach sinks. This must be Damien. He must have gotten a new phone or new number to contact me with.
Me: Leave me alone.
Damien: Not a chance.
Me: What do you want, Damien?
Damien: Just wondering if you’re enjoying everyone knowing that your marriage is a fucking sham.
Damien: Do you like that the whole world knows what a fraud you are?
Damien: Do you like how all it took was one “anonymous source” going to a random stupid fucking sports site to ruin your life?
Damien: Do you think that “source” is going to stop at just one website?
Damien: This all can stop, Ellie. All you have to do is pay me the money I asked for.
My blood runs cold as I put it all together. Damien was the one who told those awful lies about my and Camden’s marriage to the news.
But how did he find out that we got married for health insurance in the first place? I never told him that.
My head spins as I stare at my phone screen and try and figure out what to do.
“Are you okay?”
Camden’s soft voice pulls me out of my panicked thoughts. I shake my head and stand up, then lead him by the hand to the darkened hallway by the bathrooms. I show him the texts on my phone.
“Damien is the one who told the press about us—about us marrying for health insurance,” I say, hating how much my voice is shaking—hating how freaked out I am right now. “He’s the source in that initial story that broke. I-I don’t know how he found out though. I never told him.”
Camden’s gaze turns hard as he scans the texts. “That piece of shit,” he mutters.
He looks at me, then hugs me tight.
“I-I never thought he could do something like this,” I say, tears filling my eyes. “I didn’t think he could be this conniving, this cruel.”
“Hey. It’s okay,” he says softly, his lips against my forehead.
“What are we going to do? There’s no way I’m giving him money. But I don’t want him to keep threatening to spread lies about us to reporters.”
Frustration swirls through me like a tornado.
“I’m sick of everyone thinking terrible things about you and me because of his lies. I’m sick of sitting back and letting him think he has control over this situation…”
As soon as I say it, an idea hits. I let it formulate in my brain. It’s a little crazy…but I think it could work.
I lean back and look at Camden. “I have an idea.”
When I tell him, his eyes go wide. His jaw works, like he’s stressed and not quite sure what to think.
“It’s the only way to put a stop to this, Camden. We can’t just stand by and do nothing.”
He cups my face in his hands. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
I nod. “I’m done letting my ex push me around. I’m going to end him once and for all.”
The corner of Camden’s mouth hooks up in a small smile. “Okay. But you’re not doing this alone.”