Page 91 of The Friend Zone

I have to give it to Topher. He has an excellent poker face. “Nonsense? You owe me an apology, Bay.”

“For what?” I snicker.

Topher crosses his arms over his chest, his smile fading as his lips tighten with anger. “You embarrassed me in front of the entire team at your sister’s house. You treated me like shit and then you spewed some pretty damaging lies about me having a small cock.”

The best course of action with him would probably be to ignore him; but the temptation to lash out is impossible to resist. “I said nothing but the truth. And by the way, I never called your cock small. I just said that out of the four men I slept with, you have the smallest cock.”

He moves so fast, I didn’t see it coming. His fingers close over my wrist before I can move out of the way. “Stop lying. Do you think this bullshit makes me look bad?”

My smile widens as I shove him off me. “I just think that if you get so aggro about it, people will start thinking that the shoe fits.”

His glare is full of dark contempt. “Fuck you, Bay. I guess my parents were right that you weren’t good enough for me. I thought it was just because of the obvious difference in social class between us, but it’s more than that. I’m glad I didn’t propose to a dirty puck bunny.”

I should feel offended by his words, but I realize that I don’t care about what Topher and his parents think about me. “Oh, and you know I’m a puck bunny by experience, right? Bianca was just the tip of the iceberg. I can’t believe I didn’t see that you’ve been fucking every single one of them behind my back, even when we were together.”

His eyes narrow into two furious slits. “You’re one to talk. Are you fucking both Ryker and Cole? If you’re doing it just to make me jealous, mission accomplished. You have no fucking idea how pissed off I am, Bay. Believe me, you don’t want to see this side of me.”

Does it make me petty that I’m glad he’s furious? “Are you threatening me, Topher?”

He ignores my question to ask one of his own. “Where did Cole sleep these last few nights? If you think I’ll go back on my word and allow him back into the house, you’re fucking delusional.”

I shake my head. “You’re pathetic, Topher. Ryker offered him his guest room, so Cole doesn’t need you anymore. You can kick him out of Gamma Delta Tau for all he cares.”

My words hit the intended target. I know it by the way my ex’s jaw grinds. “Take my advice. If you want a chance to marryrich, go with Ryker. At least he comes from money. But in that case, I’d ditch Cole. Ryker’s family is just as prestigious, old money, as mine. If his parents caught wind of what a slut you are, they’d cut him off if he married you. Believe me, you don’t want to bet solely on hockey to live the life of luxury you’re fighting so hard for. All it takes is one career ending injury, and you’d be working your ass off to support them.”

The way he spits out those last words is so full of malice that it chills me to the bone. It sounds more like a threat than an ominous prediction, and I snap. “I don’t need anyone to pay my bills. I’ve been doing that since before I graduated high school.”

The corner of his lips lifts with a malevolent satisfaction. “Aww poor Bay. You know better than me that I’m right. Cole is too much of a risk because without a NHL contract, he’d be penniless. Ryker is out of your league the same way I was. So was Jagger, but he got bored with you and moved on.”

“Did he? Or did you blackmail him like you did with Cole? What are you holding over Jagger’s head, Topher?” I bluff. I don’t want him to know that Jagger came clean about that video, not before I find it and delete it.

He takes my bait. “Ha, you know me too well, after all. You’re right, I know something Jagger is hiding. I gave him a choice, like I did with Cole. Keep seeing you and be shamed, or give you up. That was all it took to make him dump you. You’re welcome, by the way.”

I blink, confused. “Welcome? I’m not thanking you, asshole.”

His smile is chiding when he leans closer to whisper in my ear. “You should thank me. If he gave you up so easily, he didn’t really care, right?”

His words hurt more than if he had put his hands on me. Topher nailed exactly why I’m not sure if I can forgive Jagger. It isn’t just that I can’t trust he isn’t going to do it again. It’s howeasily Jagger walked away that hurts so much that I don’t know if I can move past it.

The tears I’ve been fighting since this confrontation started are threatening to spill out any second now. I’ll be damned before I cry in front of Topher. “I don’t have to listen to your bullshit. I still don’t understand what you’re doing in my room. Get out.”

Relief floods me when he leaves. I sag against the door, willing my frantic heart to slow down.

Finding Topher in my room is becoming old news. I should start locking it every time I leave, even for just one second. Or maybe I should change the locks, just in case he has a copy of the key.

CHAPTER 19

WINNING YOU BACK

JAGGER

Ihaven’t been in such high spirits for weeks.

As I knock on Bay’s door, I say a silent prayer that this goes the way I hope.

Since my track record with Bay lately has been less than stellar, I ran my idea by Cole and Ryker before I did anything. Their approval goes a long way to settle my nerves.

“Hey,” she says softly, opening the door just enough that I can admire her simple outfit.

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