Page 94 of Fair Play
I laugh even though none of this is funny. “What on earth makes you think I’m innocent?”
“Sleeping with one hockey player in college doesn’t count.”
There were actually two, but it doesn’t seem prudent to point that out.
“He’s a good guy, Bodi. He makes me feel?—”
“He’s using you!” he snaps. “Don’t you see? He’s made it clear that he hates L.A., so it’s not like he’s going to stay here. Right now you’re convenient. God damn, how much more convenient than living in the same house? An easy lay until?—”
“Don’t do that,” I growl angrily. “Do not minimize my worth just because you think every woman you see is fair game.”
“At least I’m honest! He’s never going to stay here. And hell, everyone knows about his cabin in New York and his retirement plan. This was basically his last chance to play and after that injury, there’s no way they’re picking him up for another season. You’ve been a bed warmer, Billie.”
“And you’re a jerk,” I say quietly. “You have no idea what our relationship is like because you won’t give him a chance. You run around screwing every puck bunny that moves buthe’sa bad guy? I’d say you’re worse.”
“It’s not a dick move if you’re honest about it.”
“No, it still is. Because they’re all looking for a husband, hoping they’ll be good enough, pretty enough—wild enough in bed—to change your mind. Andthat’sthe example you’ve set for me. Why shouldn’t I behave the same way?”
He growls in frustration. “Don’t use your fancy college education to twist things, Billie. This relationship is over. Do youhear me? If you don’t, I’ll make sure the team knows what he’s done.”
Fear grips me.
Not because I care what Bodi thinks but because I know how important it is for Rome to play another year. If Bodi makes it look like he’s done something wrong, it could hurt his chances.
“Don’t you dare,” I say as calmly as I can. “This has nothing to do with the Phantoms. And it was my choice. In fact, I came on to him first.”
“Doesn’t matter. I created a boundary and he crossed it. That’s not what we do on this team.”
I can think of a lot of mean things to say but I hold back because he won’t take it out on me—he’ll take his anger out on Rome.
“You know I’m twenty-two, right? An adult in every sense of the word. I can buy alcohol, get a tattoo, join the military… the only person who doesn’t see me as a grown-up is you. And something has to give, Bodi.”
“Oh, so you’re choosing him over me?”
“This isn’t about making a choice! You’re my brother and I love you. But I can also love him.”
“Does he love you?”
“I don’t know yet! We’ve only been together a couple of months.”
He laughs derisively. “There you have it. He made you fall in love with him but hasn’t said it back. Don’t you see the red fucking flags, Billie?”
“There are no flags! We agreed to wait until the season was over before we?—”
“So he could leave town without saying goodbye! He told me he was heading to New York as soon as we cleaned out our lockers, that’s how much he hates L.A. He doesn’t love you,Billie. You were just another casual fuck in a long line of them. Go online and check out his reputation.”
My brother might be the most infuriating man in the world. And I don’t know who I want to kill first—him or myself.
“Bodi, I’m not going to argue with you. You don’t get to tell me who I can fall in love with. I’m sorry you have such a low opinion of yourself, and hockey players in general, that you think every single guy who plays is an asshole. That’s sad.”
“This isn’t about me.”
“I think it is. I think you’re projecting your own bad and reckless behavior onto all the other guys. Did you have this conversation with Rowan?”
“Of course not. She and Blake go way back, to high school.”
“But he’s not a bad guy just looking for an easy lay? I mean, he got called up to the Phantoms and there was his high school sweetheart, working for the team. It doesn’t get much more convenient than that.”
