Page 73 of Crossing Lines

“When are you going to tell him you came here with me, then?” He picked up his beer as the bartender dropped it off, then paid for our drinks.

“Probably tomorrow.” I sipped my beer and studied Laurent, eyeing me. I knew what he was thinking. “It’s too late to tell him now. He’s probably in bed and needs to rest.”

My gaze caught on a guy with dark hair entering the bar. Owen. “Shit.” I turned my back on the doorway and hung my head. When did the guy study? Was he here every night?

“What’s wrong?” Laurent flicked his gaze to the door, then focused on me. “Ryan, talk to me.” Wrapping his arm around my shoulders, he came in close. “Did you see the clinger?”

“Yes,” I said between clenched teeth. This was bad. I didn’t want him saying shit to Laurent, and I didn’t want a fight.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let him touch you.” Laurent stiffened his shoulders and expanded his chest.

Owen stepped slowly by us, his eyes narrowing as they focused on me. As he bellied up to the bar a foot away from me, he twisted and said, “Tired of your puck boy already?”

With a glance at Laurent, my breath hitched. Shit, I could use this opportunity to make him think I wasn’t with Jonah anymore. “It’s none of your business.” I wrapped an arm around Laurent’s waist and edged into his side.

“Wait, what?” Laurent lifted his arms and gawked at me.

“Who are you?” Owen up-nodded Laurent, then ordered a drink.

“I’m Ryan’s friend. Who are you?” Laurent tightened his hold on my shoulders.

“Just a guy he hooked up with then dumped for one of his players.” Owen leered at me. “Did you know he’s having an affair with one of his hockey boys?”

“I do. In fact, I met him tonight.” Laurent’s brows lowered. “What’s it to you, anyway?”

“It’s against school policy. He could get fired.” An evil smirk broke out over Owen’s face. “But of course, someone wouldhave to tattle on them.” Lifting his brows, he pressed his fingers to his lips, then smiled.

Damn it, Laurent had just solidified my relationship with Jonah to him. My heart thumped in my ears. Owen was threatening me now, and right in front of Laurent. I clenched my jaw. I had no idea what to say.

“But of course, you’re not a tattler, are you?” Laurent left my side and stomped toward Owen.

“No, of course not. But there are a lot of students around that have seen them together. Some in this very bar.” Owen watched me while he sipped his drink.

Laurent twisted around. “Ryan, we need to talk.” Snatching the back of my elbow, he led me from the bar toward a set of sofas facing each other in an alcove. “What have you been doing?”

Damn it. “I’ve been careful. That guy’s full of shit.” With a scoff, I drank my beer and placed a hand on my hip. “He’s got a screw loose. He’s been stalking me, for fuck’s sake.”

“Stalking you?” He side-eyed me. “More than the time Jonah had to pull him off you?”

“Yes.” Fuck, now I had to explain the whole thing. “It’s under control, Laurent.” I glanced behind him at the bar. Owen wasn’t there.

Grabbing my wrist, he pulled me down into a couch, turning his body into mine. “It doesn’t sound like things are under control to me. You’ve got a psycho stalking you who knows about your relationship with one of your players. How many others know about it?”

“Uh, just Jonah’s friends, who are all on the team.” I set my beer on the coffee table in front of us and wrestled my hands together, a knot forming in my gut. He was right. It didn’t sound great. “We only have a few weeks, and the season is over.”

“Does it matter though? If the head coach finds out after the fact, what happens to your job down here?” He knitted his brows. “Aren’t you here on some sort of work visa?”

With a nod, I said, “Yes. I suppose I’ll have to come home if I lose the job.” Which wouldn’t be so bad if Jonah ended up with a Leafs’ contract. Jesus, was I really thinking like this? I’d be all right giving up my job for him?

He stared at me and parted his lips. “You’re willing to lose it all for a guy you just met?”

Blinking, I said, “We didn’t just meet, but I guess so. I can’t explain it, Laurent. From the moment I saw him, I knew we were meant to be.” That’s why my heart fluttered so wildly that first day. It knew what my mind had yet to figure out.

He balked. “But not when you saw me.” Shaking his head, he blew out a long breath. “Ouch. That stings.”

“Come on, Laurent.” I covered his hand with mine, resting on his thigh. I didn’t want to hurt him. I did still care about him, loved him even, but only as a friend. “We had a good run. If it weren’t for you…”

“You’d have ended up in a drug rehab somewhere or dead.” He twisted his hand to twine our fingers together. “Look, I’m glad you found someone you really love. But you’ve got to get a handle on this thing.” He threw a peek behind him. “And that clinger? When you say he’s stalking you, how?”

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