Page 83 of The Cutting Edge
His lips curve into a gentle smile as he wraps me in his arms. I cling to him, breathing in his comforting scent. Safe and sheltered in his embrace, the last of the tension seeps from my body.
Brent is gone, banished from my life once again. But this time, I have someone to stand beside me. Someone who makes me feel cherished and protected.
Loved.
“So… did you just call me your girlfriend?”
“Yeah, I definitely did,” he chuckles. “Sorry, should I have asked you first?”
“No, I’m good,” I grin.
And suddenly, unexpectedly, an ache rips through me, like someone took a flamethrower to my heart.
I’m falling in love with Logan. And I’ve been lying to him for weeks. Have I set myself up to betray him and destroy his shot at winning the Cup, just like Brent betrayed me?
Chapter thirty-five
Coco
Iwalkintothefamiliar frigid air of the Slashers’ empty rink, my skates slung over one shoulder.
The Zamboni circles the ice, smoothing over the divots and scratches from this afternoon’s practice.
My stomach twists with guilt. I’m falling hard for Logan, but every time I pocket another deposit from the Slashers organization, I feel like I’m betraying him.
I find Coach Rocco in his office, poring over stats and plays. I knock on the open door. “Got a minute?”
He glances up, brows knitting together. “What’s wrong?”
I perch on the edge of the worn leather chair across from his desk, clasping my hands. “I can’t keep taking the Slashers’ money.”
“I don’t understand. I thought you and Logan were—”
“We are. That’s the problem.” I sigh, dropping my gaze to the scuffs on my skates. “Logan doesn’t know the team’s been paying me to be his lucky charm. I know I signed an NDA, but I feel just awful deceiving him like this. I can't do it anymore.”
“You don't need to worry – you’re not deceiving him.” Coach Rocco leans forward, folding his hands. “It was Logan’s idea to hire you in the first place.”
My head jerks up, eyes widening. “What?”
A flush creeps up Coach Rocco’s neck. “Damn. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“You can’t drop a bomb like that and then clam up.” I stand, crossing my arms. “Spill. Now.”
Coach Rocco winces, dragging a hand through his hair. “After Log accidentally hurt you, he was desperate to make things right. But he said he knew you’d never accept money from him personally. So he came up with a plan to have the team hire you as a...lucky charm, like a mascot of sorts. To help pay for your training and make up for what he did. The thing is, it’s really working. You’re worth every penny.”
My heart stutters. Logan orchestrated this whole farce? Anger and hurt war inside me, twisting into a tangled knot. "I've been wracked with guilt over this for weeks and weeks — for keeping this from him, for betraying him… and he knew the whole time?"
How could he do this behind my back? I thought he actually cared about me. But it was all just a scheme to ease his guilty conscience. Just throw money at me. Must be nice to be so rich you can just buy your way out of anything.
I’ve been such a fool.
“You can’t tell Logan I know the truth,” I grit out. “I signed a contract. I’ll see the Slashers through the playoffs because I honor my word, and because I don't want to hurt the team. But after that, I’m done. With the team and with him.”
Before Coach Rocco can argue, I storm out of his office and into the chill of the empty arena. The betrayal slashes deep, the cutting edge as sharp as the blades on my skates.
I thought he was different. But Logan Rivers just broke my heart into a million pieces. And this time, nothing will put it back together again.
Chapter thirty-six
