Page 90 of Rebel Bride
“I know it’s going to take time to forgive me, Dash. But I’d appreciate it if, in the meantime, you didn’t slander me in the press or bad-mouth me to everyone you know. Otherwise, I might have to bite back.”
He wagged his finger at me. “You have no power here, Summer. You’re just a girl from nowhere, a nobody who’s only got connections because of me.”
And then he left me to ponder that undeniable truth. Dash might not know a single thing about me, but he’d still managed to hit the nail on the head.
Nowhere Girl. That about summed it up.
Chapter Thirty
Hatch
* * *
I should have punched Carter in the nose.
I could tell from the smirk on his face when he returned to the locker room that he’d been an absolute asshole to Summer. So maybe she deserved a few harsh words, but to be trashed like she’d been in that article? That was all wrong.
Today was the last day of camp. I’d spent the entire session with the budding hockey champions, staying out of Carter’s way because if I got even the slightest whiff of his self-righteous, woe-is-me attitude, I would have checked him through the plexi. Not the best example for the younglings.
Now he was back in the locker room, so damned pleased with himself.
“How did it go?” I asked. How’s Summer?
“Crushed it.”
Conor pulled on his T-shirt. “Made her cry, big man?”
The way he’d said that could be interpreted as standard bro-speak or artful shade. Knowing my brother, it was the latter.
“No. Because I’m a gentleman.”
I snorted. Jason flashed his eyes in warning.
Carter narrowed his gaze in my direction. “Something to say, KJ?”
“Nah. You said all the words in that gossip rag. Sure showed your ex.” I didn’t have my brother’s sneaky subtlety.
“And you have a problem with this because?”
“No problem. Just the way you talk about her, I don’t get why you wanted to marry her. I don’t see the connection.”
“Connection? Fuck, Kershaw, you reading romance novels now? She was hot and she got hockey.”
Conor chuckled darkly. “Hot and hockey, a match made in heaven, C-Dog.”
More bafflement on Carter’s face. He really couldn’t parse my brother’s tone.
“I told her that she’s done in this town. I know she’s crashing at your sister’s place, but I can’t imagine that’ll last long. The Rebels aren’t going to rehire her.” He picked up his holdall. “Well, Kershaws, it’s been a blast. See ya in a few weeks for training camp.” With a jaunty salute, he headed out.
“Fucking dick,” I muttered.
Conor cocked his head. “H, were you not present when Dad beat the living shit out of Lars during a game last season? Because that’s where you and the franchise are headed if Carter gets wind of your shenanigans.”
“There are no shenanigans.”
My brother side-eyed Jason. “You buying this?”
“Leave him be.”
