Page 113 of Offside Angel

We already had Aiden to take care of, but now, we’re trying for more kids and talking about baby names while we lie in bed.

At the risk of sounding like some happy schmuck in a movie montage, my world is so much bigger now. There are so many possibilities—and Mira is in every single one of them.

It’s a good fucking life.

“How’s marriage treating you?”

I spin around, ready to tell Davis or one of my other idiot groomsmen that the news is still on the down low.

But instead, standing behind me is the very last person I want to see.

Carson fucking Deluth is wearing a smirk he has no right to. He leans in, speaking in a harsh whisper. “Sorry, was that supposed to be secret? You and Mira were just so cute at the charity event. She was so happy to be your wife. I thought it was public knowledge.”

I run my tongue over my teeth. “It’s rude to eavesdrop.”

“It’s also rude to cheat on your brand new wife.”

I slam my locker closed and turn to face him fully, arms crossed. “What?”

“That’s good.” He circles a finger at my face. “That’s a very believable frown. If you do this with Mira, she just might believe you haven’t been fucking another woman for the last six months.”

I can’t help it, I laugh. “I think you’ve Googled my name one too many times, man. You’re deep in the trashiest tabloids if you believe that.”

“I don’t need to believe it; I just need enough other people to. And since your past is checkered at best and I have a firsthand witness willing to go on the record—” He lifts his shoulders in a shrug. “Well, I like my chances. Let’s put it that way.”

Adrenaline is thrumming through my veins, but my body is oddly still. My heart rate is steady. My head is clear.

“Why?” I grit out.

“Because I deserve to be captain,” he spits. “You’ve fooled a lot of people, but I know better. So does your assistant. Or your ex-assistant, I suppose. It was actually her idea to start the cheating scandal. Apparently, she wants to destroy your wife as much as I want to destroy you. We have that in common.”

There are still people in the showers, but otherwise, Carson and I are alone. It’s dangerous. I could kill him and no one would see a thing.

And fuck, do I want to kill him.

“Mira won’t believe you or Hanna.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” He seems relaxed for someone carrying out blackmail. “If you drop out of the race for captain, you won’t have to put that theory to the test.”

Again, I laugh. But it comes out sharp and bitter. “This is really about being captain?”

He ignores me, lifting his chin in challenge. “Between the cheating scandal and making the announcement that you’re now a married man, reporters are going to be crawling all over you. It’ll be bad press for the team. Coach would never let you become captain after that.”

Carson is threatening my future career, but all I can hear is that he’s sending the media my way. Mira’s way.

I’ve finally carved out some peace and quiet for her, and he wants to shatter it with cameras and publicity. If Dante doesn’t know where our new house is yet, he will once my face and a million ridiculous, scandalous headlines are plastered all over the internet.

He’ll find her. He’ll come for her.

I hear Mira’s voice from the other night in my head. I can take care of myself.

I know she can. I also know she didn’t mean it the way it sounded—she didn’t mean that she doesn’t want me to take care of her—but the words still stuck.

How many years are we going to have to be together before she realizes that I will take care of her? That she doesn’t have to do it alone anymore?

I’m not sure, but that thought is the reason I don’t waste time saying another word to Carson Deluth…

I just launch myself at him.

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