Page 71 of Those Heartbreak Scars

“You’re just jealous.” Everett leers at him. “Because you know she’s lucky.”

“Lucky?” I don’t understand.

“I need you.” Sincerity shines from his eyes when I swing back to look at him. “I win games with you in my corner.”

“That’s ridiculous.” Oh my God. Is he for real? This whole time… has he been into me because he thinks I’m good for his game? “You’re talented. That’s why—”

“We’ve won every match since I met you.” He won’t let me move off of his lap. “I’ve scored more goals per game since you said yes to dinner with me that first time than in the rest of my career combined.”

“Please let me up.” I shove at his chest, trying to rise. The burn behind my eyes finally breaks over my lashes. I thoughtEverett was a nice guy, but I was wrong about that too. All this time he was toying with my emotions because of some stupid false notion that I make his game better.

“You’re mine. I can’t let you go.” He tightens his hold. “Just let me prove that to him.”

I struggle harder. “Please, Everett, don’t...”

“You superstitious dickhead,” Gray roars, as he lunges around me to get at Everett.

Knocked off his lap in the ensuing scuffle, I shuffle backwards out of the way as Gray shoves Everett. Gray’s fist flies into Everett’s face and the latter flops against the cushions. Gray connects again. The thud is sickening.

“Gray. Stop,” I cry.

“Stay down.” Gray barks at him as he scoops me up. “Are you hurt, Rica?”

“No, I—” Physically I’m fine. More than a little shaken though.

“Fucking asshole,” Everett grunts.

Engulfed in Gray’s arms, I rear back so I can search his gaze. “You punched him. Are you crazy? What about your—?”

“That’s the least I’ll do.” Gray’s hands cover the small of my back and my nape, sheltering me against his chest. His tone, directed at Everett, is one of fury. “And the least you deserve.”

Everett holds his eye and laughs. “She chose me, idiot.”

“Because I didn’t give her a choice.” Gray cradles my face. Checks me over with concern. “I should have stepped in quicker. I shouldn’t have let it get this far. I wasn’t sure straight away if—”

“I shouldn’t have gone along with it.” When it felt like my options vanished, my feet were suddenly glued to the floor,whereas any other woman would have walked away. But not me… I tried to make Everett happy. Tried to make sure Gray kept his job. “Your job…”

Everett reaches for his champagne glass. “You can forget the contract.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Gray’s breath is hard and heavy on my head. His chest rises and falls like he’s run a marathon.

His job is the whole reason we’re in this mess. “But—"

“I quit.” Gray scoops up his phone and shows me the resignation email he’s typed out.

It’s just two lines. ‘Two weeks’ notice’ and ‘I quit’ are the only words that sink in.

“No job or client is worth having to watch the bullshit you just put yourself through, Rica. Christ, Mann, aren’t you aware that fight and flight aren’t the only fear responses? Look it the fuck up.”

Everett chokes on his drink. He thumps on his chest. “Now, wait… I didn’t force anything. She wanted it.”

But I didn’t. I was going to do it for them. For Gray. I extract myself from Gray’s arms. The last two weeks have been agony waiting for Everett to sign, for Gray to leave.

Inside I turn hot and icky. I was prepared to… I almost… and Everett just tried to…

“Oh my God.” I cover my mouth as stomach acid burns its way up the back of my throat. My vision blurs and my chest pangs. “You could have left weeks ago. You could have not asked me to lie…”

“Rica,” Gray calls out to me as I bolt out of the VIP area and down the stairs.

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