Page 113 of Win Big

Finally I draw back. “It’s my fault he’s dead,” I say flatly.

“No! It’s not your fault!” Her eyebrows slope down in distress. “You can’t believe that.”

“It’s true.” I set my jaw. “That’s why I asked to be traded here. Because Heather and Owen are here.”

“Youaskedto be traded here? I didn’t know that.”

“Yeah. We kept it on the down low. I had a word with our GM one day, told him the situation. I said I’d like to move to California, so either the Condors or the Golden Eagles. I was lucky. He made it happen.” I pull in a breath through my nostrils. “So I do what I can for the two of them. I owe them. I took Owen’s dad. Heather’s husband.”

“No,” she says again, staring at me. “You didn’t.”

I meet her eyes. “Heather’s in love with me.”

She jerks back. Sits onto her heels. “Oh.”

“She thinks Owen needs a dad.”

Everly’s head is shaking, back and forth in tiny, jerky movements.

“And he does. I try to be a dad figure for him.”

Everly scoots farther away. “Are you... in love with her too?”

“No. But I owe them. I owe them my life.”

Her eyes widen. She looks stricken. She scrambles to her feet. “You don’t owe them your life. That’s crazy, Wyatt.”

“I owe it to Hank to look after them.” My voice cracks.

“Oh God.” She pressed her fingers to her mouth, staring at me. “I’m so, so sorry for what you’ve been through. That’s terrible. I’m sorry you lost your friend.” She stands staring at me. “I-I’m sorry.” She grabs her purse and heads to the door. “I shouldn’t have come here.”

Guilt punches through me, bands of metal squeezing my chest. I watch her tear out of my condo.

It’s for the best.

24

EVERLY

I shouldn’t have gone there.I shouldn’t have talked to him. I almost told him I love him and then he gave me that bullshit about having to take care of Heather and Owen and her being in love with him and...shit.

I’m stalking along the sidewalk in the dark to where I left my car when I arrived at Lacey and Théo’s place for the meeting. Except tears are blurring my vision and I don’t remember where I parked and I can’t see the street signs.

I swipe the back of my hand across my nose and let out a little sob.

Fuck. I turn and make my way back to Lacey’s place. I punch the doorbell and lean against the wall, crying.

Théo opens the door. Alarm widens his eyes and tightens his features. “What the... Everly. Get in here. What’s wrong?” He takes my arm and tugs me into the condo. “Are you okay?”

Oh yeah, nobody’s ever seen me cry. This is probably tripping him out.

“I need to talk to Lacey.” I sniffle pathetically. I have to get my shit together. “I’m sorry to interrupt.”

“Don’t apologize, it’s fine. Lacey!” he shouts over his shoulder in a panicked tone, then turns back to me. “Are you hurt?”

“No. I mean, yes. I’m... sad. Very, very sad.”

His lips twitch, but his eyes are kind. “I know.”

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