Page 26 of Ice-Cold Truth

“Earth to Jack?” Sam’s voice snaps me back to the present. “You zoned out on me for a second there, bro.”

I blink rapidly, shoving aside the unpleasant memory. “Sorry, man. Just…thinking about some stuff Matthews said.”

Concern flickers across Sam’s expression. “He didn’t threaten you again, did he?”

“Nah, not exactly.” I hesitate, wondering if I should fill him in on the details. “Don’t worry about it,” I say instead, forcing a casual shrug. “You know how that asshole likes to run his mouth.”

Sam’s brow furrows, but he seems to accept my deflection for now. “If you’re sure…”

Popping the pills into my mouth, I chase them down with a swig of water. Sam watches me impassively, but I can sense the disapproval rolling off him in waves.

“Don’t give me that look,” I say harshly. “I’ll be fine once these kick in. Just need to take the edge off for now.”

“If you say so, Cap.” Sam’s tone is dubious, but he seems to know better than to argue further. “I’m gonna grab a shower.”

I grunt an affirmative as he disappears down the hall. Sinking onto the battered sofa, I lean back and try to relax, letting the meds do their work.

My eyelids start to droop as the pain gradually recedes to a dull murmur. Unbidden, my thoughts drift to Elyse and the look on her face when I snapped at her earlier. I really was an ass, letting my temper get the better of me like that.

She didn’t deserve the brunt of my foul mood. I should apologize and make it up to her somehow. Of course, that’s when the other worry slithers in—the one I can’t seem to shake no matter how hard I try. Karina flashes through my mind, her cruel laughter echoing endlessly.

What if she tries to go after Elyse? Uses her to get to me in some twisted game of revenge? The thought of that poisonous woman anywhere near Elyse makes my blood boil.

My eyelids droop lower as the painkillers fully kick in, the tension slowly bleeding from my body. I’ll figure it out in the morning.

Chapter 12: Elyse

The automatic doors slide open with a whoosh as I step out of the supermarket, my arms laden with grocery bags. The cool evening air is a welcome respite from the stuffy store interior. As I make my way toward the parking lot, a figure detaches from the shadows near the entrance and approaches me with purposeful strides.

“Elyse Masterson?” The woman’s voice carries an undercurrent of disdain as she stops in front of me, blocking my path.

I narrow my eyes, trying to place her face. Recognition dawns as I take in her sleek blonde bob and icy blue eyes. It’s the same woman from the TV studio, who confronted Jack and me after his interview. Karina, Jack’s ex-girlfriend.

“Can I help you?” My tone is polite but guarded.

Her lips curve into a humorless smile. “I just wanted to have a little chat, woman to woman.” She takes a step closer, invading my personal space. “You see, I noticed how cozy you and Jacklooked during and after that interview. And then at the games, you’ve been waiting for him like a dutiful puppy…”

I shift the weight of the grocery bags, the plastic handles digging into my palms. Her words chill me, revealing she’s been watching us, but I try to play it cool. “Jack and I are friends. I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

“Friends?” She scoffs, her eyes flashing with a mixture of amusement and contempt. “Oh, honey, you’re so naïve. Jack doesn’t have female friends. He has conquests, playthings he discards when he gets bored.” Her expression reveals pain. “Then he lies about you and ruins your reputation…” She blinks, looking like she might cry. I can’t tell if her emotions are genuine.

Her words hit me like a slap, and there’s a flicker of doubt in the pit of my stomach. I think back to the tender moments Jack and I have shared, and the way he’s opened up to me about his past. Surely, that means something, doesn’t it? “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, my voice wavering slightly. “Jack and I have a connection. He’s not the man you think he is.”

Despite having maybe been on the verge of tears seconds ago, she throws back her head and laughs, the sound harsh and grating. “A connection? Please. I’ve seen it all before. Jack’s a master at making women feel special, like they’re the only one who truly understands him, but trust me, it’s all an act.” She moves closer, her breath hot against my cheek. “You’re not good enough for him, Elyse. You’re just a small-town girl playing dress-up in the big city. Jack will tire of you soon enough, and then he’ll toss you aside like yesterday’s trash.”

I swallow hard, fighting back tears that threaten to spill down my cheeks. I refuse to let Karina see how much her words have affected me. “You’re wrong,” I say, trying to project confidence. “Jack cares about me. He wouldn’t do that.”

Her smile turns predatory, like a cat toying with a mouse. “Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

With a flick of her wrist, she upends the cup she’s holding, sending a cascade of iced coffee splattering across the front of my blouse. I gasp as the cold liquid seeps through the fabric, chilling my skin.

“Whoops, sorry,” she says, her tone dripping with false sincerity. “Clumsy me.”

She tosses the empty cup into a nearby trash can and saunters away, leaving me standing there, drenched and humiliated. I blink back the tears, refusing to let them fall. I won’t give Karina the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

With a calming breath, I gather my composure and hurry toward my car. I need to get home to change out of these ruined clothes and clear my head. Karina’s words echo in my mind, taunting me with doubts and insecurities.

As I drive, unease settles over me like a suffocating blanket. What if Karina is right? What if I’m just another notch on Jack’s bedpost, a temporary distraction until he grows bored and moves on to the next shiny object?

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