Page 71 of Tangled with the Tight End

Eden

I’m here in the front.

I jump up, not looking in either direction, and nearly run outside.

The second the SUV door opens, I drop inside and gasp at the heat flooding over me from the vents.

“What happened?” Her gaze skates over me looking for injuries or whatever else she can see.

I spill everything in gasping, ragged breaths. How Sloane showed up. What she said. What a horrible person I was for being with a married man. Everything. As Eden slowly goes back down the mountain.

When we reach the streets of Evergreen Lake, she pulls over and clasps my hand. “Norah, listen to me. Gabriel doesn’t love her. He never has. She’s a manipulative, conniving bitch, and there’s only one reasons she’s here. Not to see Gabriel. Or to tell him she loves him. Or to see Gino. She’s here for money. There’s no other explanation. Gabriel knows she’s greedy. Give him a second to deal with this and everything will be fine.”

“I’m a homewrecker.”

“Honey….” Eden smiles weakly and pats my arm. “You’re not a homewrecker. That home was wrecked before it was ever bought. They’ve not ever loved each other. They haven’t lived together for over two years, and he filed for divorce months ago. Before he ever met you. They’re married by law, but that’s it.”

I wrap my arms around myself and shiver before shaking my head. “I hope you’re right because I couldn’t live with myself if I was….” I swallow. “What she said I was.”

“You’re not that person,” she bites out. “You’re not wrecking anything, and that’s the last time I want to ever hear you say that. Gabriel loves you, and don’t forget it.”

It’s not that easy. Yes, her pep talk made me feel better, but she wasn’t there.

thirty-eight

GABRIEL

I wait outside the bedroom,not speaking to Sloane to give Norah enough time to leave without having to see her again. She has done nothing to deserve spending another second with my ex. Anger rolls through me as my fingernails dig into my palms.

The desire to lash out at her is so strong that it takes all the will I possess not to unleash on her. But playing cool with Sloane will get me farther than shouting things I can’t take back. I don’t care if I say them, but a judge would, and I have no doubt that she’s recording whatever I say. She may be here under the guise of getting back together. But she’ll have more than one plan in motion. My responsibility is to be a step ahead of her. And this time, I’m determined to win.

The second the door snapped, I strode toward her. “Let’s go downstairs and have this talk.”

Her eyes narrow into slits. “You want to talk to me?”

“That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” I brush past her without inhaling. I don’t want her scent mingling with Norah’s.

She follows me down the stairs and studies the suite. When she’s not looking, I slide my hand into my pocket and hit the record button.

“How’re you staying here? It’s too rustic and primitive.”

“It’s rustic. I’ll give you that, but it grows on you.” I settle on the sofa and motion for her to join me.

As she lowers down beside me, I tilt my head. “What happened to Finn?”

Her mouth forms a solid line, and she bounces back up to a standing position. “He was nobody.” Her eyes meet mine. “I didn’t love him. I was using him to make you jealous. You were so busy….” Her bottom lip pops out. “You were so busy, and then you took the job in KC.”

My fingernails dig into my palms. “It’s part of the career as a football player. You play where the league puts you.”

“Yes.” She paces a few feet and then spins on her heel. “I know that’s part of it.”

“You didn’t answer the question. What happened with Finn?”

“Nothing.” She grits her teeth together.

“I see.” I pull my cell phone out of my pocket and type his name into the search engine.

“What’re you doing?” She bites out and then relaxes her shoulders. “I’m sorry.”

---