Page 161 of Tangled up in You

“Sure,” she said, stopping at the sink where she’d put her toiletries when she unpacked their toys. “That sounds great.”

“We’ll figure this out. Act like nothing has changed, yet,” he said before exiting the bathroom.

When she heard the door to their room, click shut behind Wyatt, she sagged. Things had gone from bad to worse in a matter of minutes. Seeing Archer, Cam, and Brody again, had been the highest of highs, even if she hadn’t felt it, given the circumstances. She was happy to see them. How they felt about her ten-year cold shoulder could go either way.

Trent... She wasn’t sure if she would survive him. Especially when her heart tripped a beat the minute her gaze locked on his smug features. Sasha hated him with every fiber of her body. Just being close to him made her sick to her stomach.

Sasha grabbed her toothbrush. Ain’t no one had time for vomit breath. She stared at her reflection as she wet her toothbrush, then began brushing. She looked like shit. Her skin was pale, with a sliver of green along her jaw. Her violet eyes were a bit too wide for her liking and her freckles stuck out like an old dot-to-dot puzzle across the bridge of her nose.

Maybe she’d take that nap after all.

Wyatt pulledhis shirt on as he stepped out into the main area of the room. Not only had Sasha been thrown for a loop, so had he. Seeing Julian again after such a long time put him in a weird head space he wasn’t sure he liked. But that could wait. He needed to clear the air with her ex-teammates.

The specifics of her injuries were never talked about. It was always peripheral snapshots of the moment. There was also a detachment there whenever Sasha discussed why she had to quit hockey, then turn to ice dancing. Almost like it happened to someone else, and she’d been there to witness what hadoccurred. Wyatt knew her knee had been fucked up. He’d seen the scar—legit, how could he miss it—however, sometimes shit happened. He never pressed for a “how” answer because, in all honesty, he thought she’d told him everything and her fear kept her from playing.

Now, unfortunately, he knew the truth.

The rage burning across his sternum said to kick Trent out of their room and let him survive—if he could—out in the elements. He needed to experience an ounce of the anguish and terror he’d heaped onto Sasha. The other half of Wyatt said beat the shit out of Trent. He might be an ice dancer, but he also did MMA in the off season, just to keep up his stamina and fitness. Someone like Trent would go down hard.

“Hey,” Archer said, in way of greeting when he stepped toward the kitchen where they were huddled together. “How’s Sasha?”

“Miserable,” he replied. “She threw up because of Trent.”

“Fuck,” the guy with curly blond hair and black, square-frame glasses muttered. “We didn’t do this on purpose.”

“Didn’t think you did.” He shrugged before glancing over his shoulder. “Look, she just told me what really happened to her. I never the full story. If I see Trent again, I’m liable to beat the shit out of him.”

“Agreed,” Archer said. “We feel the same way.”

“Good,” he replied.

“So, what’s your deal with Julian?” the other guy, he thought was named Brody, asked.

“Long story. Not one I care to talk about. Sufficive to say, stay away from him, he’s bad news.” Wyatt’s chest ached just saying those words. “Anyway, has your coach called you or texted any kind of update about what’s going on? Seems weird we all got dropped in the same room.”

“Nothing,” Archer said. “It’s all been radio silence since Coach gave us the keys.”

Same for Jenny and Evgeni. “We have a meeting at five. Sasha is resting for a bit after everything that’s happened. If you could keep Trent away from her, I’d be grateful.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Cam said. “We planned on doing so already.”

“Great, thanks.” He pivoted to head to the room, then turned back toward the guys. “Look, she missed you. She’s really beating herself up for not talking to you. I can’t imagine the kind of injury she had at such a young age or whatever Trent told her. Just give her time, okay?”

“We all agree with you,” Archer stated, lifting his chin. “We want her to tell us everything, but we’ll do it at her speed not ours.”

Wyatt relaxed. “Cool.”

He started for the room, when Brody called out, stopping him midway. “Hey, we’re going outside for a bit. You want to join us for a beer?”

Wyatt glanced at the door to the bedroom and back at the guys. This was his chance to get to know the men who’d been in Sasha’s life since she was a kid. “Sure. Why not. Not like there is much else to do around here.” Plus, if it gave Sasha time to rest without interruption all the better.

Just then his phone chimed as did the other’s. He grabbed his device off the island and slid his finger across the screen.COMPETITION DELAYED. UPDATES WILL BE DELIVERED VIA YOUR COACHES NO LATER THAN 10 AM TOMORROW. ALL MEETINGS ARE CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.He whistled, shaking his head. The only reason they were in Telluride for the weekend was to make the Olympic team.

“Looks like we’re not going anywhere, anytime soon,” Archer said. “What the fuck?”

Indeed. He felt the same way. “Guess we can indulge with more than one beer, huh?”

Cam chuckled, “I think I like you.”

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