Page 71 of Her Greatest Mistake

“You’re really going to blame an eighteen-year-old girl for your mistakes? For your greed? You never wanted to help me. You thought if I skipped out on Florida, that because of who my father is, Vancouver would have picked me up and in turn would have been able to offer me a heavier contract. It was never about the team or the coach. It was always about you and how thick you could line your pockets.

“I don’t know how you have anyone left at this point. You burn every bridge you build. The only reason the full truth never came out about you was because of Braxton. It would be a hell of a lot worse for you had she not begged me to keep out the details. You owe her a thank you. But at this point, we all know it would fall on deaf ears.”

Maddox is eerily calm as he finishes speaking and looks at me, his lips forming just the hint of a smile.

When he speaks, he doesn’t look away. “I don’t really care what you think about our relationship. Believe it or don’t. You can shit on my name to everyone who will listen because the best thing you’ve ever done for me is bring Braxton back into my life. It’s the only thing I will never hate you for.”

26

MADDOX

The silence followingmy statement is so, so loud.

Braxton’s eyes on me have it impossible to look away. They’re so blue. So beautiful. They remind me of the deepest parts of the ocean where the bright blue becomes a dark navy, as if someone added a million cans of black paint to deepen the colour.

But while I fear the ocean, I don’t fear her.

I move my arm from around Braxton’s shoulder and drop my hand into her lap instead. With my thumbs running over her knuckles, I finally look away, turning to her dad even if that’s the last thing I want to do.

“If you continue to spew lies about me, I’ll take you to court for slander. That’s a promise,” I say.

Feeling calmer than I expected, I look at my girl again. She hasn’t turned away from me, and that makes me feel like the luckiest son of a bitch in the entire world. Her lips part with a smile—just a small, reassuring one—but it does the job and then some.

“You have no idea what you’re doing,” Roy says, shaking his head at me as if he genuinely can’t believe what I’m saying.

“No, you see. That’s the difference between this conversation and the one in your office eight years ago. I didn’t know what I was doing with you then, but I sure as shit know what I’m doing now.”

“I don’t know what I was expecting from this meeting today, but for the first time in years, I can say you surprised me, Dad. Who knew you would be so willing to throw me in front of a bus to save yourself,” Braxton says sharply, grabbing her purse strap and dropping the heavy thing onto the wooden table.

“Honey, please stay and finish your breakfast with us. At least let me drive you home so we can. Don’t go back to work and ignore this,” Mrs. Heights begs her daughter, a quiver in her voice.

“Are you serious, Mom? You just want her to sit here and listen to this?” Annalise guffaws. “Let her go. Actually, let us all go. I’m with Brax on this.”

“Quit being dramatic, Annalise. This isn’t your business,” Roy grunts.

“No? Then why was I invited to this lame excuse of a brunch? Can we even call it that when we haven’t eaten? Did you pay the waitress to avoid our table while you did this?”

“I was hoping your presence would help keep your sister calm enough that we could have a grown-up discussion about this. The waitress isn’t needed yet. This isn’t a conversation I want interrupted,” Roy snaps.

“Well, that just proves how little you know about the women in this family because we get vicious when we’re hungry. And I’m damn near ravished,” Anna growls.

Braxton laughs under her breath, and I flash her a grin, laughing right there with her. Annalise whips her head toward us, and as soon as she sees us laughing, her anger starts to lift.

“You’re telling me you decided to have this conversation in public when you wanted privacy?” Braxton asks, as dumbstruck as the rest of us, minus her dad.

Roy narrows his eyes on her, and my smile drops as I glare back.

“I knew you wouldn’t come to the house,” he says.

“You mean after the last time you asked me to come over only to blindside me with your plan to sabotage Maddox? Wow, imagine that.”

My interest spikes at those words, and a wave of frustration starts to build before I push it away.What was she supposed to do, you big idiot? Stalk me on social media and send me a message warning me?Even if she had, I probably wouldn’t have believed her.

“Your sarcasm is unbecoming.”

“I beg to differ. Nothing is unbecoming on Braxton,” I chime in.

“Stop it. That’s adorable,” Annalise swoons despite the seriousness around us. I wink at her.

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