Page 152 of Interference

Especially since I wasn’t a hundred percent sure the cameras were on anymore. After Simon had creeped on Anthony and me, it was entirely possible Anthony had shut them off.

So I just put myself in front of Lily, and I quietly said, “Step off. She’s protecting me, and you have no business coming at me like this. Whatever’s going on, it’s between you and Anthony, and—”

“And you got yourself between us, didn’t you? Just waltzed right in and—” His head snapped toward the garage. A second later, I realized why: an approaching engine.

Oh, thank God. Maybe he’d back off now.

I seized on Simon’s distraction and led Lily into the living room. I walked her in a couple of small circles, drawing her focus to me and talking quietly to her so she could see that I was calm. She was laser-focused on me now, probably still sensing that I was wound up.

“Good girl,” I told her softly. “I’m okay. Good girl.”

She wasn’t buying it, but at least she wasn’t zeroed in on Simon anymore.

Then the kitchen door flew open, and Anthony and Simon were instantly in each other’s faces. Shouting. Gesturing wildly. Yelling over the top of each other so loudly I couldn’t make out what either was saying.

I stared at them from the living room. Fuck. I’d never seen Anthony that angry before. Not even when he was fuming in the penalty box or screaming at an opposing player while the refs and their teammates pulled them apart. Those times, it was funny and even a little hot.

This time?

Holy shit.

All I could do was watch, my heart pounding as I saw sides of both men I’d never seen before.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Anthony bellowed over Simon’s bitching. “You fucking torpedo my career, and then you come here? What the fuck were—” Abruptly, he turned to me, and though his eyes were still ablaze with fury, he brought his voice down to something quieter. “Are you good? Did he—”

“I’m fine,” I croaked, stroking Lily’s neck to keep her calm. “Just, uh… He caught me by surprise.”

Anthony whirled on Simon again. “What the fuck is up with that, anyway? You throw me to the goddamned wolves and then come back here? Why?”

“It’s my house,” Simon said with infuriating calm. “I have every right to be here.”

“Uh-huh.” Anthony folded his arms and raised his chin. “And I’m sure if I pull up the camera footage, I’ll just see the two of you talking calmly. Right?”

Something about the way he said it made me think he already knew what happened. Maybe he’d checked the cameras on his way here? While he was driving?

Except…

Oh. Shit. He’d ridden into practice with Simon this morning. He must’ve taken an Uber or gotten a ride with a teammate. Which meant…

My knees wobbled a little. He’d probably seen it all unfold. He’d probably been watching it live.

Well, that meant there was footage in case Simon did call animal control. I petted Lily’s back. She was safe. That was the most important thing right now.

“What is wrong with you?” Anthony demanded of his ex. “You broke up with me. You moved out. You wanted it to be over. And now that I just want to move on with my life, you have to fuck me over? I mean…” He threw up his arms. “Cole Tandy? Really? You talked to that asshole?”

My blood turned cold. Oh, shit. Wasn’t that the gossip columnist who was itching to spread crap about the two of them?

“I don’t care what the fucking team does to me at this point,” Anthony snarled. “I hope they send me to the goddamned East Coast just so I don’t have to play in your division.” He made a disgusted sound and looked his ex up and down like he didn’t even recognize the man. “What happened to you?”

Simon’s shoulders dropped. “I just wanted us to be back together.”

“So you told Tandy I cheated on you?”

Simon shrugged indifferently. “You wanted the truth out. Now everyone knows we’ve split up, and that you’re banging some random guy.” He smirked. “One more text to Tandy, and they’ll all know you’re fucking a homeless bum you scraped up off the street.”

Anthony’s lips parted. My stomach dropped as shame filled me; the thought of someone using me and my situation to smear him made me sick.

Anthony watched him in stunned silence for a moment. Then he shook his head. “Get out, Simon. Get the fuck out.”

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