Page 64 of Perfect Score

“It’s fine,” I tell Brent quickly, racing up a hand almost to stop him from coming any closer.

Liam was just about to explain what the heck “I regret it every day” meant, and I’d like to hear it. After all, isn’t this why Brent’s helping me? To help me make Liam jealous?

“Yeah, Brent.” Liam narrows his eyes on Brent in return. “We’re just talking. What… you don’t trust me with your girlfriend?”

I don’t like the way Liam said that. Mostly because I can see on Brent’s face he doesn’t like the challenge in Liam’s voice.

Liam might have been in his fair share of fights on the ice back in his days as a hockey player, but Brent gets paid millions to get in fights regularly throughout the season. It wouldn’t be a fair fight, and no matter what Liam did, I don’t want to see him get hurt.

“No, I don’t trust you with my girlfriend. Would you?” Brent asks, taking another step toward us, his eyes darkening toward Liam.

If Brent has old history to dish out with him, he can do it on his own time.

“Brent, can we just have a minute? Please?” I ask, but I’m not asking… not really.

He’s agreed to help me with this, whether he likes it or not.

At the very least, I deserve closure.

Then Phoebe walks up the stairs and sees us. She’s back in civilian shoes, so our skating time slot must be over.

“What’s going on here?” she asks. “Trying to waste more of my sister's time, Liam?”

“I was only checking to make sure she was okay,” he says, with a sharp edge to his tone. “Whatever. This isn’t worth it, and I have Shelby to get back to.”

His words cut me again.This isn’t worth it. As if I’m not worth it.

Liam storms out of the room and heads back downstairs.

Brent and Phoebe stare back at me for a minute until Phoebe speaks.

“Time’s up, and a new group is coming in. We have to go.”

“Okay,” I tell her.

She gives me a guarded smile that, in sister lingo, means…“You bet your ass we’re talking about this when no one else is around.”

“I’ll see you downstairs,” Brent says, a hesitation in his voice like maybe he wants to say more, but he doesn’t.

Chapter Seventeen

Zoey

The short ride back to the hotel was traveled mostly in silence.

When we get back to the hotel, Brent drops me off in front.

“I have to run to the store for some cigars for the guys tonight. I’ll be back. Do you need anything?”he asks, his expression vacant and unreadable.

Is he mad about finding me upstairs with Liam?

Has he forgotten that getting Liam to take notice is his part of the deal?

“No, I’m okay. Thanks.”

He nods but keeps his eyes forward.

I get out of the car and head for our room. I need to get dressed for the walk-through that we’ll be doing in the next couple of hours and get all of my camera equipment ready. Phoebe asked that I take photos of the rehearsal too, and of course, I’m happy to do it.

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