Page 64 of Face Off
I stretch my arms above my head before righting my gaze on hers. “Got a hot date I don’t know about?”
Her shoulder relaxes as she climbs back on the bed, using her hands and knees. Making her way to me like she’s a puma stalking her prey. Her prey being me, that is by the hint of lust I see in her emerald eyes.
She places a chaste kiss, hovering over me slightly. “A date with Camden. I’m heading to my parents’ house now to talk to him.” She looks away from me, and I can see that Camden’s distance has been killing her. “I need him to understand. I don’t want to bad mouth Boyce, but I need him to know that I did what I did to protect his heart.”
Protect his heart. It’s what she had done for herself all those years when he turned his back on her. It’s what I’ve done after Tiffany.
My hand cups her cheek as my thumb runs along her soft skin. “Let me get dressed, and I’ll go with you.”
She plops down on her hip next to me, releasing a breath as I pull her close to me. Her head rests on my bare chest as I place a few kisses on top of her head. “I’d love for you to come with me, but…”
“But…”
“I need to do this on my own. It’s my mess, and I have to clean it up.”
Staring into her emerald eyes, I know she’s right. I rub my thumb along her bottom lip before pulling her back in for another kiss. She climbs off the bed and fixes her ponytail in the mirror one final time before looking back at me. Running back to my side of the bed, she places a quick kiss to my lips, lingering long enough to whisper I love you against them. Then in a blink of an eye, she’s gone.
I pull on a pair of sweats and make my way to the kitchen to turn on the coffee maker and grind some beans before pressing brew. I turn on the TV, clicking to Sports Center as I wait, scrolling on my phone in hopes of no new articles.
“Hey,” a voice echoes from my front door as it slams shut. “I hope you don’t mind me just stopping by, but I had some time this morning and thought I would come see how everything is.”
Sydney stops in the kitchen entryway, while continuously scrolling on her phone without even looking up. “How did you know I was in the kitchen?”
She finally tucks her phone away, making eye contact. “It’s you. You’re always in the kitchen.”
“Not always.” Okay. About ninety percent of the time. “What are you doing, Syd? You never just pop over.” Mainly because I won’t let her.
“I wanted to see how all was. Is that really so hard to believe?” Yes. My sister always has a hidden agenda. “And because the client I’m meeting today could be a problem.”
“A problem?”
“Yes, a problem.” She takes a seat at the kitchen island, narrowing her eyes at me. “At least a bit curious as to why?”
“No.” Yes. “But I’m assuming regardless, you’re going to tell me all about it.”
“You betcha.” She strums her fingers across the countertop while I pour myself a cup of coffee. “Thanks for this,” she says, taking a swig from my freshly poured cup as I turn my back for a few seconds to place the pot back on the warmer. Grabbing a cup from the cabinet, I pour myself another cup and wait for Sydney to start talking. “Okay… better now. So, my client…”
“Your client.”
“Um… how do I say this… is…”
“Is who, Syd? Spit it out.”
“Tiffany.”
I spit my coffee across the counter. “I’m sorry, but did you just say fucking Tiffany?”
She sips her coffee nervously before nodding. “Yup. She’s engaged to the goalie for that new expansion team in Oregon. The Timberwolves or something like that. I think his name is Rod Larson.”
Could shit get any worse? In addition to all the ongoing drama, now I have to deal with this. My ex, gold-digging fiancée is here in Seattle. Planning a wedding to Rod Larson, nonetheless. A guy who is bounced from team to team for being a goon on the ice. As much as I hate the guy, I can’t help but feel bad for him. Who has been mesmerized by puck bunny pussy, into a marriage that won’t last.
“Why the hell is she planning her wedding with a Seattle-based planner?”
Why the hell do I even care?
“You know what, don’t answer that. Don’t even tell me.” As long as she stays as far away from me as possible, I’m perfectly fine.
“I’ll be sure to pass along your congratulations,” she says through a smirk. “But enough about the wicked witch of the west. Seriously, Brooks, how are you guys holding up?”
