Page 92 of Second Shot

“As entertaining as this is,” Matt says, tossing a towel at us. “We’ve got a game to get ready for. Think you can get along for a fewhours?”

“Yeah,” Sebastian grumbles, sitting down on the bench and pulling out his skates. Blake nods aswell.

“You’re acting like pussies,” Austin Branson says across from us, dragging his hand through his blonde hair, then placing his helmet on. The kid is just as vulgar as Tyler, but when he speaks there isn’t the same animosity in his words. Just the boorish truth. “And why, because of a pair of tits? Hope they’re worth it. Because if you assholes don’t get your head out of your asses, you’ve already lost the game forus.”

Chapter 31

Brynne

“Areyou sure you don’t mind taking him?” I ask as I hand Noah over toKiley.

She gives me one of her rare smiles. The bruises have started to fade, and she’s put on a few pounds since she’s been staying with Blake, but there’s a sadness in her eyes that never seems to goaway.

“I’m happy tohelp.”

“Thank you.” Felix is coming over soon to look at my new pieces, and after that I could really use a nap myself. I haven’t slept much this past week, and even less since Kane has beengone.

“I’ll take him back to Blake’s apartment for his afternoon nap.” She puts him in his stroller, then takes the diaper bag from me. “That way you don’t have torush.”

“You’re a saint. You knowthat?”

She blushes and looksaway.

“I’ll order Chinese tonight, and we can watch the gametogether.”

“Soundgood.”

When she’s gone, I tidy up quickly, but I don’t have much time before I get the call from the front desk letting me know Felix ishere.

I’m nervous. Other than Kane, I haven’t shown anyone the new pieces I’ve been workingon.

They’re different. A lot different than anything I’ve ever painted. But I think they’regood.

Of course, Kane thinks they’re brilliant. But I swear I could paint a giant red dot on a blank canvas and he’d think the samething.

“You look good,” Felix says when I answer the door, his dark eyes roaming down my body in a way that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand onend.

I don’t know if he’s always looked at me that way or if I just never noticed it before, but it makes me uncomfortable. And for a second, I hesitate before widening the door and letting himin.

“Nice place.” He walks in, his posture tense, nostrils flaring as he looks around. “It always shocks me how much money these athletes make. I mean, seriously, half of them have the emotional and intellectual IQ of a five-year-old, and they’re making millions. Blows mymind.”

I open my mouth to argue, but I realize that he’s just repeating the same monologue I used to say, even though I know the truth. The men who’ve made it as far as Kane have worked their asses off to get where theyare.

“Come on. I’ll show you what I’ve been workingon.”

Felix reaches for my hand, his attention back on me. “That…boyfriendof yours, he’s out of town,right?”

“He’ll be back tomorrow.” Unease settles in my stomach. I pull away from his grip, but he hesitates before releasing myhand.

“Then we have allnight.”

“Excuse me?” I take a step back, putting distance betweenus.

“I’m kidding, Brynne.” He chuckles, but it doesn’t hold anyhumor.

“Right.” I chew on my bottomlip.

“But you could offer me a glass ofwine.”

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