Page 94 of Pucking Obsessed

Robyn takes a deliberately large bite of the bun to avoid answering for a long moment.

Then she answers, mumbling around her mouthful, “Holding on. Just. I called Cody earlier. He says that he’s fine, but I know my brother and he isn’t. Honestly, I want to do what’s right for him. He said that Mike’s been amazing. I’m relieved that Code has a husband like that. Wilder would have said it was all my fault and I should obey my dad, you know?”

I nod, grimly.

Rage rushes through me. I shutter my expression.

Robyn wipes her hand over her mouth, smearing the icing off her lips. “Anyway, Code told me not to screw up things between Dad and me. He doesn’t want to wreck my relationship with him. Plus, he knows how precarious things are for D’Angelo and Shay right now in the team. He made me promise to focus on that.”

I place down my teacup because it’s threatening to crack I’m holding it so hard.

Can I focus on killing coach?

I take a steadying breath. “Okay.”

Robyn gives me a wary look. “Okay what?”

“Just okay.”

“Hmm.” She narrows her eyes dubiously. “Save some of the anger that I can see in your molten eyes for Colton. The asshole worked the guys so hard that D’Angelo had to carry Shay home last night.”

My lips twitch.

From what my twin told me with a dreamy expression on his face this morning, it wasD’Angelowho worked him hard in the showers afterward.

Shay’s legs weren’t working because of pleasure and not because of being pushed past his limits by a coach.

On the other hand, Colton is still a bully.

Shay’s been groaning with every step today, and that is Colton’s fault.

I think.

I hum noncommittally.

Robyn licks her sticky fingers. “Are you still working on the obsessive fans?”

My shoulders stiffen. “I don’t want my twin to see this shit.”

“Hey, we can be our players’ shield, remember?” Robyn’s gaze becomes concerned. “It’s bad then?”

I nod.

“The irony is that this has happened because of the success of the team, combined with my PR. The Rebels are the underdogs who have done good, and some people identify with that. Freedom is a poor town, and having their team succeed on a national scale has been awesome for boosting their pride. It’s an emotional thing.”

“I don’t understand. Why would that make you want to create fanart, which shows the players fucking each other? Make you threaten to kill them, if they don’t suck your dick?”

Robyn pushes her hair roughly behind her ear. “It doesn’t for genuine fans. The real fans are the beating heart of the Bay Rebels. But these otherobsessiveones go beyond the boundaries, harass other fans, cross lines, and take extreme measures to get close to the players. That’s the difference.”

“They’re using the obsession to fill in the hollowness inside themselves,” I say slowly, as realization dawns. For the first time, I understand them, but also, see how dangerous they could become. “If they have a make-believe relationship with a celebrity, then it’s better than facing the empty, lonely truth of their lives.”

I know that truth.

I lived it for twenty-one years before Robyn.

Robyn is studying me with a look, which is almost like concern.

Why?

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