Page 258 of Wrong Pucking Player

“I got them for Wyatt already.”

“Got what?”

“The pills,” he declares. “Gave it to him at Blood Rock. He’s been on it for almost a month now.”

I’m speechless. Literally speechless.

He reaches out to brush my cheek while his left arm is secured around my waist.

“I’ve since seen different sides of Wyatt during this season thus far,” he admits as his eyes bore into mine. “But I’ve never seen the Wyatt on the ice that looked so alive. Doesn’t mean he looks miserable being equipment manager, but watching his gameplay and how fans welcomed him back into this field of competitiveness after years of not seeing him play was magical. To observe it with my own eyes made me want to help in some way. Oliver wanted to assist, too.”

He moves his hand from my cheek until it’s in my hair and tugs the hair tie that’s been keeping my hair in a messy ponytail. My blonde strands cascade down past my shoulders, my extensions still in since I wanted to have long hair for the fundraiser ball.

“So, we got it from Moscow, and since he’s been on it for a month, not a single dizzy spell.”

No way.

“Not even one?” I barely get the words out.

Watching him shake his head makes me want to cry.

“How… could you afford it,” I whisper. “I… I wanted to help, but I don’t have enough.”

“Remember, Kitten, I’m not poor,” he reminds me. “Now that you know about Winchester and how he’s actually the broke one, I don’t need to hide that Oliver and I have a few million racked up in savings. Plus, Oliver does more business than I do. I’m sure he’ll be a billionaire soon.”

“Oscar, if you were rich all this time, why did you move in here?” I can’t fathom it. “Move here. Be treated poorly by so many who judged you for being some broke ass. Winchester treated you like shit when you’re the one who was covering his shame. I don’t get why you put up with all of that. You didn’t deserve the years of shame and humiliation.”

“To be honest, I didn’t care about how others viewed me,” he admits with an added shrug. He’s still combing my hair with his fingers. “As for why I moved here specifically… well…” He trails off as he thinks about how to answer. “I didn’t want you to be alone in this place.”

“Huh?” I don’t get it. “What do you mean?”

“I found out by accident you were moving into this place. I think Winchester was talking smack after overhearing your fake aunt bragging about the money the government will be giving you once you set yourself up in this building. It pissed me off when Winchester was saying stupid shit, but he also mentioned how that building was full of druggies and rapists. I didn’t like that. I wasn’t sure if you could defend yourself or not, but no girl deserves to feel unsafe in their own place. You were being forced to get this home instead of staying with your fake aunt. I guess… back then, I didn’t think it was fair. I didn’t want you to be sacred and feel more trapped than you may have already felt.” He shrugs and looks away.

“So, I figured I could be your neighbor and keep an eye on you.”

“Oscar…” I whisper because this is so much.He’s been protecting me all this time.“You… really moved in to be my next-door neighbor to protect me? Despite the ridicule and judgment?”

Despite the fact I was dating Wyatt and not even looking his way…

“Again, their opinions didn’t matter to me.” He’s looking at me again. “As long as you felt safe, that’s all that mattered to me. I’d protect you until you could protect yourself just fine.”

“Despite that, you stayed,” I whisper. “Even… though you’d get nothing in return.”

“Couldn’t let your plants die,” he notes with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood. “Don’t cry, Andrews.”

I don’t even realize my tears until they’re falling.

That’s the nicest thing anyone could have done for me in this lifetime.

“Oscar. You were going to let me go and never tell me all you’ve done to keep me safe?”

“It’s not something I’d brag about,” he admits and brushes away more of my tears. “Kenzie. Stop crying.”

“I can’t, dummy,” I whimper and let my tears fall. “Why are you such a good person, yet you hide it so perfectly? So many think you’re a poor douche who follows Winchester’s lead like a fucking dog, yet look! You’ve been financially protecting his family’s legacy while he treats you like complete shit because he’s an ungrateful bastard. You’ve been my neighbor for years to ensure I don’t get jumped, raped, or deal with bullshit. You even took care of my plants and apartment for five years when I was going through my crisis of feeling like a useless soul, and now here you are, getting Wyatt five-figure medication to treat his dizziness! You do everything for everyone, but who’s protecting you? Who’s standing up for you when you need it?”

“I haven’t needed help in a long time, Kenzie,” he whispers and proceeds to lean in so he can kiss my wet cheeks. “I can defend myself.”

“You won’t always be given the opportunity to defend yourself, Oscar. There could be a time when Winchester or even Fernandez decide they want to make your life a living hell. So many have a bad perception based on Winchester and others’ viewpoints. It’s not like me, Wyatt, Coach Johnson, or even the rest of the Pincers who have a glimpse of what an amazing person you are. That’s why you deserve to show the real you! To show the world what an amazing person you are.” I press my hands onto his chest before moving them until they grip his cheeks.

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