Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 105679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
“Let me adjust those necklaces for you.” Jackson straightens them out, and then gives me a kiss on the cheek before looking me up and down with some concern. “Are you okay?”
He noticed. My stomach churns. “I have some things on my mind,” I admit, a little relieved to voice it.
“I can tell. Anything I can help you with?”
That’s a good question. But I think the answer’s coming into view. It’s sharpening by the minute. “Thanks, but I think there’s something I need to do tonight.” I’m nervous, but mostly, I’m certain.
“Can’t wait for all the details,” he tells me. Then he heads out on his own date, and I return to my bedroom, where Roxy is sound asleep on my bed, lying on her back with all four little legs sticking up in the air. She looks so content with her life. She is who she is, without question.
I move around, and she opens one eye.
“What do you think? Should I do it?” I ask her.
She unleashes a huge yawn then curls into a ball, returning to the land of dog nod.
But really, I know the answer. Yesterday I felt it deep in my soul. Soon, I’ll say it out loud.
I finish getting ready, and I’m about to head upstairs to gather Hayes and tell him about a change of plans when there’s one loud knock at my door.
Then another.
This knock sounds demanding.
I’m shaking with rage as I read the email in my living room.
I stare at this stupid note, my thumb cramping, my blood boiling. “I can’t believe he sent you this,” I say, gripping the phone to keep from chucking it at the wall.
Or, better, at Xander’s stupid face. I’m more livid than I was when I learned he was marrying my ex-boss. Than when he dumped me for an upgrade. Than when I discovered he’d been cheating.
This is ten million times worse.
Next to me, Hayes clenches his fists, fuming. He and Stefan had arrived at my door almost simultaneously. “I’m going to find him right now,” he grits out.
As much as I relish the thought, I won’t let Hayes do that. I grab his arm, trying to settle him with touch. “You’re not.”
“I want to,” he hisses.
“Same here. But it’s pointless,” Stefan says heavily. There’s darkness in his light blue eyes, like looming thunderclouds. But there’s fire roaring in me, enough for both of us. All of us.
I read the email again as Stefan walks away from the center of the living room, toward the window streaked with rain.
I thought you might be interested in this pic. It probably wouldn’t look good for someone who’s getting the Sportsman of the Year award to be sleeping with his teammate’s wife. Let me know by Tuesday if you want to reconsider that investment opportunity.
He’s attached a photo of Stefan and me walking into his apartment building with my dog this morning.
That’s it. That’s all. But it’s clear—Stefan has forty-eight hours to pony up or else Xander’s going to claim Stefan’s screwing his teammate’s wife. That he’s not a good sportsman. That he’s not worthy of an award he deserves and his family is flying over to see him receive.
I march over to Stefan at the window and shove the phone back at him like it’s infected. From her sentry point on the couch, Roxy barks at me with obvious canine concern. I’m concerned too. This is my ex, and I need to fix this, but my god, how many ways can an ex go bad? Is he the worst ex-apple in the ex-bushel?
I wheel around, pacing, dragging my hands through my hair, hunting through options. “We can’t let him get away with this.”
But maybe he won’t get away with anything. This is a perfectly innocent photo. Only his insinuation is salacious. Xander didn’t send shots of us on the rooftop. Not that those would have proved anything either. I was with both of them. Xander’s completely misunderstanding our arrangement if he's insinuating infidelity.
There’s no infidelity when we’ve all consented.
Yet I’m tired of people underestimating me. I’m tired of people thinking they know who I am. I’m tired of shenanigans.
Fueled by this storm of emotion, I turn to the two men in my life and in my heart and say, “Let’s tell our own story.”
Stefan leans against the window, a little listless. “You’re going to need to elaborate.”
With sparkling eyes, Hayes pumps a fist. “Yes, fucking yes.”
I haven’t discussed a thing with Hayes, but he crosses over to Stefan too, curling a hand around his teammate’s shoulder. “What I think she’s saying is get dressed. You’re fucking coming with us tonight.”
But Stefan’s not buying what Hayes and I are selling. His eyes are hard. “As your third wheel?” Stefan shakes his head, waves a dismissive hand as he stares back at the city below, dreary from the day’s rain. “No thanks.”