Page 192 of Wrong Pucking Player

“You didn’t ask to kiss me.”

“Sorry.”

I can’t even be mad at him, not after that story.

“Do you regret protecting the little girl?” I ask when he leans back to stare at me once more.

“No.” He shakes his head for added measure. “I’m sure that girl will play a big role one day in life. I may not be present to see what that role is, but I don’t regret saving a life. Even if it means I may not get to play hockey again.”

“You’ll play again,” I whisper, feeling a need to figure out how to help him. “We’ll figure it out.” I reach over to grab his hands and hold them tightly in mine. “Together. We’ll find a remedy without it going on record, and the moment the opportunity comes to get you on a team to play hockey professionally, you’ll be able to take it.”

“Xandra,” he whispers.

“Kenzie,” I correct, but can’t help but get teary-eyed as I whisper, “So… you weren’t hiding me from your family.”

His family to him is his dad. The most important man in his life. The first person he introduced me to way back then.

“As long as my dad approves of you, Kenzie, I never cared if anyone else from that side knew about us,” he reveals. “I don’t go to those events because I want to. I do it simply to keep up a narrative. I know once their money runs out and they come racing for more, the truth will finally come out, and they’ll be forced to confront their parents as to why they’re not truly from the Cyrus lineage. Then, when they ask me, all I have to do is pretend I don’t know shit, and I’m just as shocked as they are. The only difference by then is I’ll still have millions in the bank and hopefully a professional career in hockey.”

“While they’ll be spoiled brats who assumed they would have golden tickets into the hockey world because of their last name,” I summarize.

“Bingo,” he whispers. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you earlier. I just… didn’t want to involve you, Xandra. You deal with enough. From your greedy aunt to other bullshit I’m not even aware of. I didn’t want to burden you with more, but hiding the truth hurt you and made you feel invalid. So, again, I apologize.”

“Wyatt.” I let my tears fall before hugging him again. “You’re such a dummy.”

“A dummy you’re willing to give another chance to?” he mutters into my shoulder as he hugs me back. “I’ll work harder for you, Wildflower. I promise you that.”

“I told you we can try again,” I remind him as we pull away to wipe each other’s tears. “But… you kind of have competition.”

“As in Winchester competition?”

I bark out a laugh.

“In what universal plane can you envision Winchester with me?” I say in utter disgust. “And let’s shut that down right now cause… no. Me and him would never happen. I already had one shitty ex. I don’t need another.”

“I was a shitty ex?” he questions with a pout of his lips.

“Ugh. Not you,” I groan. “I dated another guy. He was a douche. During college and university. We broke up because he was a possessive douche.”

“I’m a possessive douche,” he doesn’t mind acknowledging with a scowl. “But now I want to find him and ensure there’s only one of us.”

The way he says it makes me lose it in laughter because he looks far too serious.

“Jeez! Lower your overprotective self,” I groan and push him enough that he’s falling off the bench.

“Ah.”

“You’re more tolerable in the possessive douche department than he ever was. Besides, for someone who’s possessive, you don’t have a problem with Armani in my life,” I voice the obvious as I watch him sit on the floor with his hands resting on his knees. “Why is that?”

Wyatt stares at me for a few seconds.

“He brings out a different side of you,” Wyatt admits. “A side that turns me on differently. With me, you’re more submissive, something I’m used to… but I always wondered what it would be like if you took more control. With him, you do that. You’re feisty in a good way and don’t let his presence overpower you. It’s hard to put into words, but when you’re next to him, you guys are like on even ground. That you complement one another, even when you fight every chance you get publicly. I don’t know.” He shrugs.

“They say opposites attract, and that’s what I get with you and Oscar. I hate the connection you share because I envy it, but do I hate him being in your life? No.” He sighs. “Do I wish I was the one you were more comfortable in having phone sex with? Yes. However, I didn’t earn you being comfortable enough with me to do those things.”

He ruffles his hair and rests his chin on his crossed arms that now lay on his knees.

“Which is what I want to do now. I want to start our relationship over and work toward you being comfortable in being the real you around me. Not just the ‘image of you’ that you think I’m attracted to,” he declares. “For I love every shade of my Xandra. All I hope for now is she’ll be willing to show me every part of her without holding back.”

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