Page 77 of Puck Princess

“We had an appointment.”

“Is that what you call it when you try to put someone behind bars?”

I glance at him, breaking rule number one.

“Callie, smile!” Jordan reminds me, drawing a smile on her own face with her hands.

I force my lips to tip up. “How do you know that?”

“Easy information to find out. People talk when you go after innocent people.”

“Miles hurt Owen’s sister, and he threatened me. He deserves what he gets.”

I feel him tense under my hands. I should stop talking.Thisis not laying low.Thisis not flying under the radar.

“That’s not what I heard.”

I lean into him harder, and he grunts. I know it pushes the stretch deeper than he can go. “What you heard doesn’t matter. What matters is the truth.”

I give it a second and pull back, switching positions.

He turns to me, his eyes sharp as daggers. “How much of the truth did you share this morning?”

“I said what needed to be said.”

“About Miles? Or me?”

I can’t stop myself from looking over. It’s the closest he’s ever come to admitting he knows what he did to me could get him in a hell of a lot of trouble.

But it isn’t remorse in his eyes. It’s rage.

He goes on. “I’d hate to think what would happen to you or the people you care about if you ever opened your mouth about that.”

The acid in his words sends me stepping back, trying to put space between us. But my heel hits the ice, and I slip.

Spencer’s arm darts around my back, catching me just before I can land on my back. Then he pulls me against his chest, too close, too tight. I can feel his heart beating. “Would you look at that? We still fit like a glove.”

“Cut,” Jordan calls out.

I drop the smile even though Spencer hasn’t. Before I can say anything or push him away, Owen skids to a stop next to us. “She’s a PT, not an actress. Enough with this bullshit and let her work.”

“She was working just fine for me,” Spencer mumbles before strutting off..

I reach for Owen, and he pulls me against him. “Are you okay?”

I nod. “Yeah, yeah I’m fine.” I’m breathless and shaky. I’m not fine. Not at all. “I just don’t like the cameras.”

“Who the fuck thought it was a good idea to do this on the ice. You almost fell.” He glares over his shoulder at Jorden, and I touch his chin, turning his face back to mine.

“But it’s done now. I’m just going to go back to my office.”

I start to pull away, but he doesn’t let go. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I’m fine, O.” I slap on my camera-worthy smile, though it’s even flimsier than it was ten minutes ago.

I hold it together until I’m in my office. Until the door is locked. Until I’m alone.

Then I sink to the floor and sob.

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