Page 82 of These Pucking Boys: Part Two

JUNE

I’m in the middle of giving my statement when I hear loud voices outside. The police officer asks me to stay inside his office while he goes investigate. But as soon as he opens the door, I identify Lachy’s, Ryan’s, and Bill’s raised voices. Nothing can keep me in my seat now.

I jump from the chair and run to the door. Four cops—including the one who was interviewing me—have restrained Lachy and Ryan and are taking them somewhere. Shit. That can’t be good. On the other side of the room, Bill is covering his bloody nose with one hand. Jake already made him bleed, but Bill’s wound looks fresh.

He sees me staring by the door and glowers. “Are you happy now? Your goon friends broke my nose.”

“My goon friends were the ones you idolized not too long ago.”

“That was before you got involved. Why did you have to steal my team? You don’t even like hockey.”

My brows shoot up. “I didn’t steal your team. And if you hadn’t chased me in the arena, security wouldn’t have thrown you out.”

“I’ll probably be banned for life.”

I narrow my eyes. “It’s not my fault you decided to act like a crazy stalker. I’m not interested in taking you back, if that’s your intention.”

He snorts. “Take me back? That’s rich. I’ve never been happier.”

He’s only saying that to hurt me. But the joke is on him. I don’t care. “Ditto. Then why the hell won’t you leave me alone?”

“Because my great aunt decided to take your side, and she disowned me.”

My jaw drops. “And what the hell do you want me to do about that?”

“You need to convince her I’m not the bad guy here.”

I stare at him without saying a word while my mind spirals. “So... you want me to lie?”

He steps closer, but I hold my ground. He wouldn’t dare to touch me while we’re surrounded by cops. “After what you put me through, you owe me.”

“Pray tell me, what didIdo toyou?”

“You humiliated me by showing up at the Titans afterparty, then a few days later, you were dating Jake motherfucking Phillips. Do you expect me to believe you met him at the party?”

I cross my arms. “What the hell are you implying, Bill? Do you think I was sleeping with Jake while we were together?”

“It’s what everyone I know is saying. It makes total sense.”

“Only to someone as delusional as you. First of all,I’mnot a cheater, and second of all, if I had met Jake before that Jumbotron fiasco, I wouldn’t have proposed to you! I’d have dumped your sorry ass.”

His face twists into an ugly mask. “Well, it seems to me you’re about to get dumped again. I doubt Jake Phillips will keep you around after he gets charged with assault because of you.”

“You’re not pressing charges.”

“Oh, darling. I am. I’ll also get his friends thrown into the mix. The Titans season is about to tank, and all because of you.”

Bill, you fucking snake. I know exactly where he’s going with this. He wants to guilt me into helping him with his aunt, and it’s working. I can’t let Jake, Lachy, and Ryan get in trouble because I have a good-for-nothing ex.

“I’ll call your great aunt if you agree not to press charges.”

His eyes turn into slits. “That’s not good enough. You need to?—”

“I know. Convince her that you’re an upstanding fella and deserve all of her money.”

“Don’t give me that look. I do deserve the money after having to suffer that witch all these years. You know very well what kind of woman she is.”

“Yes... it must run in the family.”

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