Page 44 of Worlds Collide

“I’d love to go to the game with you.”

“Thanks for meeting me here,”I tell Hawk. Then I nod at Tate and he nods back stoically. “I’ve never been to a game at this stadium.”

“It’s fine, here’s your pass.”

Hawk hands me a laminated ticket with a cord hanging from it. I put it around my neck and follow them to the VIP entrance that the team lets Hawk use to get in. People who go to other suites go in through another entrance, Hawk tells me while we put our things in a container so they can pass through a scanner.

“Thanks for coming. I’m sorry for rambling so much on the phone,” Hawk says in a quiet tone once we’re in the elevator.

I don’t know how, but I feel like Tate’s paying special attention to me at this moment. I look back and see his intense eyes boring into me.

“I don’t mind. I think it’s part of your charm. Also, I’m sure none of the wives of Derek’s teammates are mad at you.”

“I hope not,” he says and lets out a harsh burst of air. “It would be hell if they all decide they don’t like the only male WAG.”

I snort.

“No one could ever hate you, Hawk,” I tell him, believing it completely, and pat him on the shoulder. Finally, Tate’s eyes shift away to the front of the elevator. I guess I passed some kind of test.

“You’d be surprised,” Hawk mumbles with his eyes firmly on the doors. I’m about to ask what he means when the doors open and we’re on the move in a busy hallway.

There’s a waiter inside the suite when we get there, and he asks us what kind of drinks we want today. Hawk orders Cokes and I ask for water and a beer.

There’s only silence after he leaves. Tate stands by the door, and Hawk goes to the seats with a better view of the field and stares out.

I feel suddenly awkward, like I should say something about the whole thing with Wolf to reassure Hawk, so I step up next to him and try to be as casual about it as I can be.

“About the pictures,” I start out tentatively. “I just want to let you know that nothing is going on between your brother and me anymore, Hawk. He actually kicked me out in the morning and was?—”

“I’m gonna stop you right there.” Hawk says with a seriousness I’ve never heard from him. He holds up a hand to my face and closes his eyes to take a deep breath. “I know better than anyone that my brother isn’t perfect, but between literally any other human in the world—except maybe Derek—and my brother, I will always choose Wolfie. I like you CJ, I really do, and I’m glad you agreed to come with me today, but if you want to bitch about Wolfie, which is something you’re totally entitled to do, you better never do it in front of me.”

I stare open-mouthed at Hawk for a solid ten seconds.

I never saw that coming,damn.

“He’s lucky to have that kind of loyalty from you.”

“Well, he’s earned it,” Hawk says with a nod, then he’s suddenly back to his usual smiley self. The shift is abrupt, like he just flipped a switch inside himself and is once more happy Hawk. The door opens before I can say anything else, and three gorgeous, dressed-to-the-nines women come in. Hawk goes right to them and greets them with his awesome warmth, and introduces me like he didn’t just basically threaten me.

It’s a different kind of intensity to Wolf’s, but the level is the same. I see now that they not only look alike, but they’re probably very similar too.

That tells me more about Wolf that I thought I’d ever learn.

Like Hawk is, Wolf has to be a deeply emotional person. What other reason would he have to react the way he did when he found out about the pictures if not emotion?

Stop, I tell myself. His reaction was an asshole move, there’s no excusing it.

Right, I have to forget all about him and get back to becoming the man I’m meant to be.

Hawk stares at me,indignation clear in his creased eyes and open mouth, when I finish telling him about my unofficial suspension from my residency.

“That’s so fucked up,” he squeaks. Then he clears his throat and tries speaking again. It comes out normally then, and makes me smile. “It’s not your fault people are so damn money hungry.” The grumble is cute as hell.

“I don’t really hold it against them. I didn’t work for all that money, all I did was be born. It’s unfair, and some people really need it.”

“And you’ve given a lot of people a lot of fucking money already, CJ, damn. You can be mad about this, you know?”

“Yes.” I nod and concede the point. “Of course I know I can be mad about it. I am mad about it. But being mad won’t make threemonths go by faster. Though Adam’s parents are coming for a week tomorrow, so at least I’ll have them to hang out with for a handful of days.”

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