Page 97 of Pucking Strong

They all just keep staring at me.

Okay, yeah, so I’m very aware that I’m currently sitting in the WAG room in a bedazzled jacket, smelling like Henrik’s cologne because I used some while I was getting dressed in his closet. Because I live in his house.

And married him

Oh, and we slept together last night.

I tip up my chin, defiant in the face of their stares. “You all just have to trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

From the pub chair on my left, Mama sighs. “Oh, Teddy.”

“What?” I glare around at my family. “If y’all got something to say, just go ahead and say it. Don’t hold back now. Spit it out, before Henrik gets in here and you switch to nice mode.”

Marcus huffs. “Nice mode, huh? I didn’t know my wife came with a nice mode. Is that only available on one of them newer models?”

“Oh, I’ll show you nice mode,” Shae snaps at him. “Right after Teddy tells us what he’s doin’ marrying a man he’s not in love with. A man who’sclearlyin love with him!”

“I told you—” My breath catches in my chest. “Wait, what?”

“This isn’t you,” she reasons.

“Are we sure he’s in love with Teddy?” Natalie asks at the same time.

“Yeah, you’re always the one getting lost in love,” Jayla adds.

Shae sits forward. “Do you even know how many times we’ve had to hold you while you cried because some boy who ain’t shit did you wrong?”

I hold up a hand, glancing around at all of them. “Hold up … You’re all worried that I’mnotfalling for my fake husband?”

“You said this was just a friend thing,” says Natalie. “You said Henrik needed the help.”

“Yeah, that it was about keeping a family together,” Darius adds.

“And we got that part,” says Shae.

“We would have done the same,” Jayla says over her.

“Family sticks together,” Rafael adds with a sage nod.

“It was wrong to take that little girl away from her uncle who wanted her,” says Shae.

Next to me, Marcus pats my knee. “You did good, Ted.”

“But you need to be careful is all we’re saying,” says Natalie.

My head is spinning. “Careful why?”

Shae points to the TV, where Henrik is still visibly suffering through the end of the press conference. “Because if that man is in love with you, you’re in trouble, honey. You need to watch out.”

“Watch out?” I’m fucking reeling right now. “Like, for what? Falling pianos?”

“She’s just saying you need to protect yourself,” says Marcus, patting my knee again. “Protect your heart, Ted.”

“Yeah, we all know how sensitive you are,” says Natalie. “He may want you.”

“Oh, trust me, he does,” says Shae.

“To me he seems like a cold fish,” Nat says over her.

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