Page 52 of Dump and Chase

“Why? Have the two of you gotten back together?”

“No, but I would appreciate if you kept her out of this.”

She paused for so long that I could feel an angry heat rising in my cheeks. She had something planned, and I wasn’t going to like it.

“Do you think I want the world to know that my fiancé fucked his ex and got her pregnant? Do I strike you as someone who would want to be embarrassed like that? So no, I don’t plan to mention the slut. Why I’m calling you is because I want you to send out the same or similar statement. My PR team will provide it to you.”

“Oh, and will I have to pay for that?” I asked snidely.

“No. It’s gratis.”

The fact she’d called Tangi a slut had be chafing, but her cockiness was more than I could handle. “Tell you what, I’ll talk to my agent and see what he thinks. You can have your lawyer send him the statement. But if that means we’re officially done and I don’t have to hear from you again, I’m more than happy to do it.”

She gasped because I’d never spoken to her that way before. I’d always put up with her drama, but I was done.

“You aren’t the victim here. You ruined my life.”

“I’m sure you’ll be fine. You have a five-million-dollar house to comfort you.”

“I’m so glad we never got married. You’re pathetic.”

“Get your lawyer to send the statement quickly. As soon as he can. And goodbye.”

I hung up on her and it felt so fucking good.

ChapterTwenty-Five

Tangi

“I’ve been cleared to skate,” Brandon said proudly. “The doctor said I could do some light skating, so I plan to do that later today.”

“That’s excellent news,” I said, working through the tense muscles in both his legs. “You’re making steady progress.”

“Do you think my timeline has moved up at all?”

“I don’t make that decision,” I said.

“But they’ll ask you for your opinion.”

I moved to his left leg and started on some stretches. “I don’t want to get your hopes up, but I’d say you could probably shave two weeks off your return to the game.”

That lifted his spirits, but I couldn’t say it did anything for mine. I was still furious with Ethan for being as ass, but I wasn’t going to let that affect my job.

“You seem out of sorts today,” Brandon said. “You’re usually smiling, and today you’re frowning.”

“I had an argument with—” I stopped myself. Brandon had no idea Ethan was staying with me, and I didn’t want him knowing. He was nosy enough. “With a friend, and I’m upset about it.”

“A guy friend?”

“Why would you assume that?”

“When women get pissed at their female friends, it rarely shows on their face. So who’s the guy?”

“None of your business.”

“Fair enough.”

We finished the stretches, and then it was time to see him in action. We hit the gym where a few of the guys were working out after practice. One was Garson, an eighteen-year-old with attitude. When I’d done his assessment the first few days on the job, he’d kept smirking and did everything he could not to take the exam seriously. Jim filled me in later. Garson had assumed he’d make the Kodiaks, but Coach Anthony wanted him to start the season with the Ravens, and so far, that wasn’t going down well.

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