Chapter 38
thirty-eight
INDIGO
It was too much to hope that news of my relationship with Bash would stay local. Or even that only hockey fans would take an interest. Within less than forty-eight hours, the news has reached my parents.
“Hey, honey.”
I sigh at the sound of my mom’s voice. Not because I don’t want to hear from her, but because I suspect I know why she’s calling. “Hi, Mom.”
“I wanted to check in. A couple of reporters have reached out to my people today, asking about your relationship with Sebastian Navarro.” She pauses, waiting for me to interject, but I don’t.
“I didn’t make any comments, of course. But the questions took me by surprise, as I didn’t think you’ve spoken to Sebastian since you were eighteen. ”
There’s a hint of hurt in my mom’s voice that has me wincing.
I probably should have told her about reconnecting with Bash, but she has so much going on right now.
And if I’m being honest, I wanted to keep all of this to myself for as long as I could.
The little bubble we’ve created felt so safe and welcoming.
“Yeah, I know. Sorry, Mom. He’s in Minneapolis and plays for their team. Lola and I went to a game, and he saw me, and well, we reconnected after that.”
There’s a pause before my mom says, “I thought you didn’t want to see him after what happened all those years ago?”
“Well, turns out all of that was a big misunderstanding,” I say slowly.
My chest twinges. This is also part of the reason I hadn’t told her.
Because now I’ll have to admit to being an idiot who ran like a coward and wasted ten years.
“He was never with that girl. She kissed him, and I left before I could see him push her away.”
“Oh, honey.”
“Yep. But we talked it all out, and we’re dating now. It’s good. He’s the same in all the important ways, you know? And better in others. He’s… It’s new, but I’m really happy.”
“I’m so happy for you. You loved that boy so much.
I know teenage love rarely lasts, but your father and I always believed that if anyone could make it, it was the two of you.
” She makes a humming sound, and I can picture her wandering around the house with a nostalgic smile on her face.
“He certainly grew into a handsome man, didn’t he? ”
I bark out a laugh. “Yeah. Yeah, he did.”
“How is he in bed?”
“Mother!” Scandalized, my face heats, even though I have nothing to be embarrassed about. My mom is the one who should feel embarrassed about asking that question. “I’m not having that conversation with you.”
“I bet he’s better than Ryland, right? I always liked Ryland, but something tells me he’s a more selfish lover.”
“Oh my god. Shoot me now.”
My mom laughs as I groan. “None of that talk, Indigo.”
“Ugh. You’re the worst.” Some of the pressure in my chest eases the longer we talk.
“Seriously, though, do you want me to make a statement? Or I can get our PR on it.” And just like that, she flips the switch, going from concerned mom to international movie star who navigates intrusive gossip the way most people navigate annoying coworkers.
It’s just another minor inconvenience. Just another day in the office.
“No, Mom, you don’t need to do that. And you don’t have to make a statement.
Sebastian’s agent is aware of what’s going on, and they have a PR firm they work with if we need the help.
But I doubt we will. People will be curious for a few days, then it will die down.
They’ll realize we’re not that interesting, or someone will get arrested for drug possession, and they’ll pull the attention away from us. ”
“I’m sure you’re right, darling.”
I can’t tell if their win last night helped quell the conversation about our relationship, but at least it didn’t seem to make it worse. If they can win tonight, hopefully the focus will stay on the Rogues and their skills.
“Your father probably isn’t getting questions since he’s on location, but he will when he gets back to the States in a week. You may want to give him a call so he knows what to say and what not to.”
My dad has texted a few times while I’ve been in the Twin Cities, but we haven’t spoken.
He’s wrapping up a project in South America, and he’s been busy.
If I’m being honest, I also don’t want to deal with Ryland learning about my relationship with Sebastian.
Not that it matters one way or the other, but I hate that my ex still works for my father.
It feels intrusive, and it’s caused me to pull back from my dad a bit.
“I’ll let him know.”
“Good. Do you need anything, since you and Lola are extending your stay?”
“No. Thanks, though, Mom.”
“All right, honey. Well, I have to run, but I’m really happy you and Sebastian have reconnected. He was always such a good boy, and I have no doubt he’ll treat you well. But on the off chance he doesn’t, you let me know and I’ll hire someone to ruin him.”
I laugh, because I’m certain she’s only partially joking. She probably does know people who could ruin him. Or at least try. “That won’t be necessary.”
“I hope not. I love you, darling.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
“Call if you need anything.”
My chest expands. “I will.”
Hanging up the phone, I wander into the living room where Lola already has the TV on and tuned into the pregame coverage for tonight’s matchup.
“Was that Vivian?” she asks, looking up from her phone.
I nod, a sigh gusting out of me as I flop down onto the couch. “Yep. She offered the use of her PR machine and her shady connections to ruin Bash if he ever hurts me.”
Lola blinks at me a couple of times before throwing her head back and laughing loud and long. “God, I love your mom.”
“Me too.”
My phone buzzes in my hand, and I almost expect it to be something from her, but it’s a text from Bash.
Sebastian
I miss you. Tell me you’re doing okay.
Lola chuckles when she catches my lovesick expression. “Tell crab boy I say hi.”
Me
I miss you too. I’m fine. Lola and I stayed in today. She says hi, by the way.
Sebastian
Hi, Lola. You ladies going to watch our game?
Me
Of course. We already have the pregame coverage on. Are you ready to kick some ass again?
Sebastian
You know it. I’m going to make you proud.
Me
I’m always proud of you. You don’t have to do anything to earn it.
Sebastian
Still going to. Every save is for you, baby.
Me
That’s really hot.
Sebastian
Is it? Good. Then I’ll be extra motivated. I want to watch you make yourself come after the game.
Lola chokes on her saliva, and when I look over, I see her reading my text exchange.
“Lols! Quit snooping. Jesus.”
“Sorry, not sorry. I’m just happy my girl’s getting some. Ryland would never.”
No, he wouldn’t have. I grin.
Me
Only if I get to watch you too.
Sebastian
You know it. Okay, I gotta go. Talk to you soon, baby.
Me
Go kill it. Talk soon.
“You two are so fucking cute,” Lola says, still unashamedly reading over my shoulder. “Seriously. I’m really happy for you.”
“Thanks, Lols. I’m pretty happy too. Though I wish everything with my parents wasn’t turning this into a circus. The focus should be on him and the team, not us.”
“I know. Hopefully, they’ll win tonight, and it will give everyone something else to talk about.”
They won, but it didn’t stop people from talking about us.
“This question is for Sebastian. There has been some speculation that you’re dating Indigo Bloom, who is the daughter of Robert Bloom and Vivian Marsh. Is that true?” A smarmy-looking reporter leans forward expectantly, waiting for Sebastian’s answer at the post-game press conference.
“I know there’s a lot of interest in my relationship status and in Indie, but I’m not going to talk about that tonight. My private life is just that—private—as is Indigo’s. I’d appreciate if everyone would respect that.”
“But you’ve been photographed with her several times, and with her parents in the news so often these days, you can’t blame people for being curious.” The photographer arches an eyebrow, not willing to drop it.
Sebastian smiles, but it’s not the genuine, private smile I’m so fond of.
This is his professional smile. It’s practiced and made for public consumption.
The press and people watching probably don’t notice the way his lips twitch and thin out for a fraction of a second before re-forming into a smile, but I do. He’s annoyed.
“As I said, I understand the curiosity, but Indie is not her parents. She didn’t sign up for the attention it brings, and I’m not interested in encouraging more attention.
I’m asking everyone to respect her privacy, and ours, and that’s the last I’ll say about it.
Now, if you’d like to ask me a question about the game tonight, I’d be happy to answer.
If not, let’s move on to someone else.” Sebastian points to another reporter, and she wisely asks him about his save percentage in the playoffs.
“Damn.” Lola fans herself with her hand. “That was hot, not gonna lie.”
It was. It’s one thing for a man to say he’ll protect and defend you, but another thing entirely for him to follow through. Unfortunately, I’m all too familiar with people talking a big game and then failing to deliver when it matters.
“I just wish it wasn’t detracting from his performance tonight.” He only let one goal through, while the Rogues scored four points against Edmonton. It was an impressive performance, and that’s what deserves all the attention.
“You know he won’t see it that way. He loves you.”
“He cares about me. I don’t know that he loves me.” I love him, but I’m too scared to hope he’s there, yet.
Lola rolls her eyes. “Girl, please. Of course he does.”
My phone buzzes beside me, and I flip it over, expecting it to be my mom.
Ryland
Hey, Indigo. I haven’t heard back from you about my jacket. Were you able to have someone look for it?
Lola’s scoff mirrors my own irritation. “Why the fuck is that idiot texting you?”
“I don’t know. I asked my mom to check for his jacket but forgot to follow up with her. Apparently, he really wants it back.”
“Bullshit. Ten bucks says he saw the photos of you and crab boy.”
“Maybe.” Though, why would he care if he did? It’s not like he ever really had feelings for me. And he’s dated since we broke up.
Ryland
I’m sure you’re busy with your hockey player, but I really would appreciate if you could get back to me.
“Aaaand there it is,” Lola says with a snort. “What a little bitch.”
My fingers twitch as I hold myself back from responding to Ryland.
Of course, he’s contacting me because he saw photos of me and Sebastian.
It’s probably killing him. After all, one of the reasons I think he dated me was to be seen.
And while that never happened for him, here I am being photographed with a hockey player and getting all of that attention Ryland so badly wanted.
I’ll text him back in a day or two. He can sweat it out and wait.
“I hate that guy,” Lola says.
“He’s the worst,” I agree.
“He is. He’s not even worthy of washing Sebastian’s disgustingly smelly hockey uniform.” Lola shakes her head. “And that stuff reeks.”
Throwing back my head, I laugh. It releases some of the tension that crept in after watching Bash field those questions about our relationship. Leave it to Lola to break me out of an impending funk.
“I love you,” I tell her.
“Love you more.” She rests her head on my shoulder. “Always and forever.”
“Always and forever,” I agree.
I hope Bash and I can say the same thing before all of this attention has a chance to tear us apart.