Page 180 of Beautiful Collide

“And you didn’t think I deserved to know?”

“We were going to tell you,” I say. “We just . . . didn’t want to do it like this.”

Dane exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Unbelievable.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, and I mean it. “But I swear to you, Dane, I care about Molly. More than anything. I’m not going to screw this up.”

He’s quiet as he continues to look at me, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nods, though it looks forced.

“You’d better not,” he says quietly.

“I won’t.”

He doesn’t respond. He just turns and walks away, leaving me standing in the hallway with the weight of everything still hanging over me.

This wasn’t how I wanted him to find out.

But now that he knows, there’s no turning back.

64

BREAKING NEWS: Hudson Wilde Marries Teammate’s Sister in Secret Vegas Ceremony

By: Erin Hart, Sports Insider

Hockey fans, brace yourselves—Redville Saints’star right wing, Hudson Wilde, has dropped a bombshell bigger than any game-winning goal. Reports surfaced this morning that Wilde, infamous for his “bad boy” reputation, secretly tied the knot in Las Vegas . . . and the bride? None other than Molly Sinclair, the younger sister of Wilde’s teammate and Saints enforcer, Dane Sinclair.

When asked about the shocking news at today’s press conference, Wilde declined to comment. The usually smug and quick-witted player looked uncharacteristically uncomfortable as cameras flashed and reporters pressed for answers. His only response: “Next question.”

Speculation about the couple’s relationship history—and Dane Sinclair’s reaction—has already taken over social media. With the Cup Finals still fresh in fans’ minds, many wonderwhy the pair kept their relationship (and now marriage) under wraps.

Fan Comments:

@SaintsFanatic99:HUDSON WILDE??? MARRIED??? To DANE’S SISTER??? I NEED ANSWERS.

@HockeyGirlForever:I’m devastated. I’m in mourning. Hudson Wilde was supposed to marry me.

@WildeChild89:Honestly? Respect. Man scored on and off the ice. ??

@TeamSinclair:WAIT. Dane’s sister?! Hudson’s a dead man walking. I bet Dane’s sharpening his skates right now.

@PuckLife23:Hudson Wilde, secret family man? Did not see that plot twist coming. My condolences to single girls everywhere.

@SportsSpill:The real question: How did Hudson Wilde—a man who can barely show up on time—pull this off?

@MollyFanClub:Okay. I just looked up her pics. Molly Sinclair is goals. Marry a pro athlete AND tame him? Iconic behavior.

65

Hudson

I’m sittingin the team lounge, staring at my phone as it buzzes on the table in front of me.

I can’t think straight.

My brain is actual mush.

Normally, I pride myself on being quick-witted and funny, but right now, I can barely form a sentence, let alone a joke.

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