Page 140 of Playing for Keeps
“She went back to Hope Creek.”
My stomach twists. “What? When?”
“Right after you left for training. Her mom called. Reporters showed up outside their house.”
I drop my head into my hands. “Shit.”
Ash hesitates. “She lost a client this morning too.”
Ash’s words hit me like a punch to the gut. Reporters outside her parents’ place, clients dropping her, and all because of me. I feel sick.
“Fuck!” I yell, turning and slamming my fist into the drywall with a loud crack. Pain shoots up my arms, but I barely feel it over the rage.
Ash rushes forward and grabs my arm. “Wyatt. Hey! Stop.”
“This is my fault. All of it. She’s being torn apart because of me! I did everything I could to get ahead of this. I put the statement out fast. Cleo called in every favor owing to her to get ahead of it, but it wasn’t enough. I was blindsided, Ash. This came out ofnowhere.”
Ash nods, her eyes wide with concern. “I know. I knowyou did. You moved fast. But the internet doesn’t care about the truth. You were never going to stop this completely.”
I pace the kitchen, anger and frustration at the situation coiling tightly in my stomach. Stopping, I pull my keys from my pocket.
“I’m going after her.”
Ash steps in front of me. “Wyatt, wait. You have to breathe.”
I frown as I look down at her. “I can’t just sit here while she’s dealing with this alone. She’s scared. She didn’t even call me, Ash. What does that tell you?”
“It tells me she’s overwhelmed.”
I clench my jaw. “She’s the one paying the price for my mistakes.”
She places her hand on my chest. “So be the guy who helps her shoulder the weight, not the guy who rushes in withoutthinking. She went home because she needed space. Give her that for now.”
I drop my head in my hands. “I just hate that I’m the reason she’s hurting.”
“Just give her some time.”
I don’t say anything. I can’t because I’m seconds away from driving to Hope Creek and begging her to forgive me for all the chaos I’ve brought into her life.
“I’m still going to head home. That way, if she does need me, I’ll be close by.”
Ash raises her eyebrows, and I raise my hands.
“I’ll give her space, I swear. I just need to be close to her.”
She nods and smiles. “Okay. Let’s go. I’ll follow you back.”
I wrap her in a grateful hug. “Thanks for being here for us today, Ash. It means a lot.”
“Always. I love you both,” she says, then adds, “And Ivy loves you too.”
God, I hope she still does after all this. I wouldn’t blame her if she walked away, but I’m praying she doesn’t. I can’t lose her. I won’t.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Ivy
Ilie in bed in my childhood room, staring at the ceiling as the early morning light creeps through the drapes. Sleep eluded me all night, my thoughts a tangled mess of everything that’s unfolded.
