Page 140 of Interference

“Might not be a bad idea.”

He seemed to consider it for a moment, then slowly shook his head. “No. It is his house. I don’t like him being able to barge in whenever he feels like it, but I have to keep the peace with him, too.”

“You should be able to have some peace, though,” I said gently. “He shouldn’t be able to cause you this much headache, you know? Especially in your own home?”

“I know,” he whispered. “I…” Shoulders sagging, he leaned against the island. “Not gonna lie—I’m afraid to provoke him.”

I straightened. “Do you think he’d do something out of pocket?”

“No, no. I mean, I don’t think he’d get violent or anything.” A faint laugh escaped his lips. “This is someone who’s gone his whole hockey career without ever getting into a fight. He can be an asshole, but he’s not that kind of asshole.”

“That’s good, I guess. But what do you think he would do?”

Sighing, Anthony rubbed the back of his neck, looking for all the world like exhaustion was about to knock him on his ass. “Out us to the team? Be a dick to you? Just… be insufferable when we’re stuck together on the road?” He dropped his hand to the counter’s edge with a heavy smack. “Hell, you know what I figured out this morning?”

I raised my eyebrows.

Anthony laughed bitterly. “He’s always done this thing where if we’re arguing about something or I’m upset about something, he says, ‘Let’s talk about it in the car.’ On the way to practice or a game—whatever. And I’m so fucking stupid, it took me until today to realize he does that because he knows I’ll back down.”

“What do you mean?”

“We have to look like a happy couple whenever we’re out in public,” he explained. “Especially when we’re practicing or playing. If we’ve been fighting, it’s pretty obvious, so I always try to defuse things if we’re on our way to someplace where we have to be a happy couple.” He rolled his eyes and raked a hand through his hair. “Son of a bitch has been deliberately putting off any arguments or confrontations until he knows I won’t argue or confront him.”

“Because he knows you’ll let it go,” I murmured, my heart sinking at the same time fury rose in my chest.

“Exactly. God, I’m so stupid.”

“No, you’re not.” I put my hands on his waist and kissed him softly. “You were trying to make things work with him. You’re trying to make things work with your team. It’s not your fault he was manipulating you.”

“I should’ve seen it, though.”

I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him in close. “You’re not stupid. And you try to see the best in people. Especially people you love.”

Anthony returned my embrace as he pushed out another breath. “I need to grow a spine with him, though. Tell him how it is, and how it’s going to be going forward.” He paused. “And not in the car on the way to the arena.”

“Maybe it’s time to do it on your terms, then.” I drew back to meet his tired eyes. “Confront him and tell him you’re having it out, then and there.”

Anthony’s lips quirked. “I do know where he lives. He’ll be pissed as hell if I show up on his doorstep, but…” He shrugged tightly. “Honestly, I don’t even care right now. I’m just done.”

“As well you should be. Is that what you want to do, then? Show up and have it out with him?”

He seemed to consider it, then nodded. “Yeah. Not right this minute, but… yeah. I think that’s what I need to do.”

I didn’t blame him for putting it off. He’d just come home from practice and probably still wanted to wind down a bit. Tired as he was right now, I didn’t imagine he was in the headspace for a confrontation.

“Well, for right now, there’s still some daylight left and the weather is decent.” I tipped my head toward the front window, where the afternoon sun was peering through the clouds. “Let’s take the animals out.”

Anthony looked in that direction, and as he released his breath, some tension left his neck and shoulders. Slowly, a smile formed. Meeting my gaze, he said, “That sounds like a great idea. Let’s go.”

Chapter 39

Anthony

I’d never been to this place before. I had the address, but I’d never had any reason to come here.

First time for everything, I guess.

I felt a million times better after taking Lily and the cats for a walk with Wyatt. I was more centered. More relaxed. I’d had some time to decompress, and I was as ready to do this as I ever would be.

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