Page 142 of The Stud

“What’s next, fannudes?” Her arms fold firmly across her Dalvegan polo covered chest. “OnlyFanslives?”

“Tell me you do those!” gleefully squeals the blonde. “What’s your handle or whatever?”

“Listen, Pattssee withtwo ts, two ss, and two ees-”

“That’s an awful lot of information to know about a ‘fan’ you supposedly just met.”

“I served her coffee.”

“That better be all you fucking served her, Tanner.”

“Of course that’s all I bloody served her, Arden.”

“Should I go?” She idiotically asks only to immediately be met by two sets of scowls. “Yeah, I shouldsogo.”

“Yeah, yousoshould,” murmurs my girlfriend through gritted teeth.

Pattssee scurries out of sight, her departure presenting me with an opening to clarify the scene, “I can explain-”

“Yeah no, I don’t want you to explain.”

“You don’t want me to explain?” Furrowing of my brow can’t be stopped. “You don’t want to understand what was ensuing?”

“No, I don’t not,notwant you to explain. I want you not in positions where youhaveto explain.”

“She just wanted a few photos with me and Pecksnotin a crowded space.”

“Pecks who isn’t here?”

“He may not be herenow;however, he was!”

“Sure, he was.”

“He was!”

“I believe you.”

“You don’t!”

“Why wouldn’t I?! Could it be because this feels an awful lot like when Wahl was around then magically wasn’t when it was your turn to allegedly cop a feel of that broadskie in Jersey?”

“Sheasked usto sign her tits!”

“Or like having that rubber – you swear was for Potato – just fall out of your pocket at breakfast post a ridiculously late night at the ballet with the boys?”

“He needed the assist! I grabbed them from the hotel lobby restroom!”

“This is what I fucking mean, Tanner!” she harshly bites back. “I get it! You have a job to do! Fans to please! People on your nuts, but I’m so tired of you ending up in these compromising positions leaving me to make questionable calls that have me wondering if I can really trust you!”

“What on bloody earth have I ever donenotto deserve your trust?!”

“Fucking my sister for one thing!”

“That was a mistake! I admitted that!”

“And yet every time I turn my back it seems like you’re one puck drop away from repeating it with every sleet slut that behaves just like her!”

“That’s. Not. Fair.” Stepping forward is done on a finger stab in the air. “You’rethe one who insists on me keeping up this bloody puck bunny chasing façade instead of the happily slayed puckhead that I am so that you don’trisklosing yourfucking job!You’rethe one who forces me to go outaloneand be seennearother females essentially givin’ all of soc’ material for their man whore fairytales so that no onesuspectsthat I’m actually dating the woman who is constantly documenting my entire existence!You’rethe one who demands this much bloody distance whenever we’re in public simply to leave no space for anyone to question whether your loyalty is to your bloody job or me.” Outrage rips through me prompting me to chomp, “Like I don’t fucking matter to you nearly as much as it does.”

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