Page 69 of Game Changer
I grin.“We even did a trivia night there.We won.”
“Of course.”
“He’s a great guy,” I say.“But seriously, don’t say anything to anyone.If this gets back to any of his teammates—especially Steve—there could be problems.I don’t want to cause him any trouble when he was just helping me out.”
“Oh yeah, there could be problems, all right.”Brielle slides her head from side to side.“Wow.
“Nothing happened between us,” I say, ignoring the fact that we woke up snuggled together our last morning there.Ignoring all the times I wanted to kiss him or touch him or… “Nothing.”
“Okay.We won’t say a word.”Grace picks up a paper napkin.
I tell them about what we did, and the time I had to think about things.“I know I need to talk to Steve, and I will.He’s not here anyway.”
Grace wrinkles her nose.“Yeah…about that.”
“What?”
“He’s been posting pics on social media.It seems like he’s not alone, but there aren’t any pictures of him with anyone.”
Brielle clears her throat.“I think if he was with a friend, like a teammate, they’d show pictures together.”
“Shit.”I stare down at my pink drink.“You think he’s with Claire?”
“We don’t know for sure.But it seems like, yeah.”Brielle pushes out her bottom lip.“He’s scum.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that before I agreed to marry him?”I ask.
Their faces all register surprise.
“I’m kidding!”I add hastily.“I’m not blaming you all.I should have known he was scum.”
“I didn’t think hewasscum, before the wedding,” Grace says glumly.“I feel like I missed a hell of a lot, too.”
Brielle flashes me a guilty glance.“I knew he was scum.He hit on me once.”
My jaw drops.“Shut up!”
“Yeah.”Her mouth twists into a sardonic curve.“I should have told you.But…I thought I was doing the right thing by not telling you.You were so happy.”
“When did that happen?”
“Just before you got engaged, when we were all at Orion.I shut him down right away and told him to never say anything like that to me again.”She sighs.“I’m so sorry, Mol.”
My shoulders slump briefly.“Our whole relationship was a lie.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Grace replies softly.“I’m sorry this happened to you.I’m sorry you got hurt.We’re here for you.”
“Thank you.I know.”I straighten and toss back the rest of my strawberry Moscato.“I’m okay.Really.I’m sure I’ll learn something from this.”I make a sound of dry amusement.“Actually, I already did.Love isn’t real and marriage is stupid.”
“Oh no.”Grace shakes her head in dismay.“Don’t be like that.”
“Sorry, I knowyourlove is real and your marriage will be perfect.I just mean for me.That’s one thing Jax and I have in common.He feels the same.”
“Mmmm.Okay.”Grace’s eyes slide sideways to Brielle, then quickly back to me.“I hate it that you’re so cynical.Don’t give up on love because of one asshole.”
“Eh.We’ll see.”I pick up a stuffed mushroom.“I’m going to go away again for a while, since Steve isn’t here.”
“Where to now?”Brielle asks.
