Page 154 of Interference

“That’s not your fault.” I met his gaze and slid a hand over his thigh. “He’s a dickhead. I’m glad he’s fucking gone.”

“You and me both.” Anthony leaned back against the cushions and rubbed a hand over his face. “God, what a shitshow.”

I twisted toward him. “What happens now? With the team?”

His pained expression made my chest hurt. Shaking his head, he whispered, “I don’t know for sure. I mean, I do. I know what’s…” He closed his eyes and sighed. “No one’s come out and said it, but I’m not stupid. I’m getting traded. Or waived. Something.”

I squeezed his leg gently. “But he’s the one who outed the two of you.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Anthony sounded absolutely exhausted, and he stared up at the ceiling with unfocused eyes. “We knew the deal when we came out as a couple. The club wanted to avoid a media shitstorm, and now that they’re getting one, it doesn’t matter who pulled the trigger. They’re going to separate us to keep the peace, and there’s no way they keep me over him.” His eyes welled up a little. “I love this team. I love this city.” He shook his head. “But Simon’s the better player. One of us has to go, and it’s not gonna be him.”

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered.

“No.” He met my gaze again. “You’re about the only thing in my life that isn’t fucked up.” He found my hand and laced our fingers together. “You’ve got nothing to be sorry about.”

That didn’t seem quite true to me. Rational or not, I still felt guilty and ashamed for how all this went down. As if I could have done something differently or made things easier for him. But I couldn’t articulate any of that.

A quiet chirp turned both our heads.

Moose peered in from the hallway.

Anthony exhaled, and a small smile formed on his lips. “Hey, buddy.” He patted the cushion beside him. “Come here.”

Moose trotted across the room and hopped up on the couch beside Anthony, where he purred and kneaded. A moment later, Bear tentatively poked his head into the room before joining his brother.

I reached across to pet Moose. “They cleared out when Simon started in on me.”

Anthony winced. “I’m sorry, guys.” He scratched both of their backs, making them arch like Halloween cats. “We’re gonna change the locks, okay?”

That much was a relief. Not just because it meant Simon couldn’t come barging in anymore, but because it was Anthony taking another step toward moving on. The more space he put between him and his ex, the more he moved on, and that seemed like the healthiest thing for him.

He deserved so much better than Simon. I had no idea if I was, overall, much of an upgrade—I sure as shit wasn’t as rich or hot as Simon—but I damn sure treated Anthony better than he did.

With his name all over the tabloids and his career up in the air…

I wondered if that was anywhere near enough.

Chapter 43

Anthony

What a fucking day, and it was only like three in the afternoon.

Any minute now, my phone would ring and my agent would break the news about my future as a professional hockey player. My ex-boyfriend was no doubt feeding some more bullshit to Cole Tandy just to be a vindictive dickhole. There was nothing I could do to stop any of the wheels currently in motion. All I could do was wait.

Beside me on the couch, Wyatt studied me. “So what happens now?”

I considered it. I was so tired, so utterly wrung out from facing down my team’s management and now having a confrontation with my ex, I couldn’t even think. I rubbed my forehead and sighed. “I don’t even know. I mean, I just have to wait for my agent to let me know where I’m being traded, or if—”

“Anthony.” Gentle fingers grasped my wrist and tugged my hand from my face. When I looked up, it was into those soft hazel eyes. His voice equally soft, he said, “I don’t mean that. I mean, what happens right now? Just… you. Here. With me.” He caressed my cheek. “Everything else is out of our hands, but what can I do right now so you can relax?”

Oh, God, I was falling so hard for this man. All damn day, through all this bullshit and chaos, no one had asked how I was doing or what I needed.

But here was Wyatt, watching me with a gentle expression, ready and willing to help me even after my ex had come in here and stomped all over his trauma.

“I…” For a moment, I chewed my lip.

Wyatt ran his thumb along my arm, still silently waiting for me to speak.

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