Page 23 of Blindside Sinner

New plan: fuck her,thenget her gone. That should be easy enough. Just one taste, and then everything can go back to the way it should be.

I just have to make Sloan give in first.

13

SLOAN

I don’t see Beck again until it’s time to head to the arena. Even then, we drive in silence. I don’t know if he’s getting in the zone for the game or if he’s just ignoring me. And honestly, I don’t care to find out. I count any time I don’t have to hear his voice as a win.

We pull up to the stadium. Instead of letting him out at the front, I head to the parking lot. Beck’s eyebrow raises. “You’re staying for the game?”

“Thought I might. I’ve got a meeting with Vivian, but I figured I’d see if you’re really as good as they say.”

“Oh, I’m even better than they say. Maybe one day, I’ll prove it to you.”

“In your dreams, puck boy,” I mutter as we climb out of the car.

“Every night, baby.”

He sticks close to me in the parking lot. It feels like we’ve reached some kind of truce for the night. Of course, the secondhe sees Vivian waiting for me at the athlete entrance, he walks faster like he’s gearing up to bolt.

“Yeah, I’m not touching that with a ten-foot pole.” He shakes his head as he walks past her.

“Chickenshit,” I scoff, laughter bubbling in my chest.

Beck turns back to me with a wicked grin. “Trust me: I’ve already spent enough time with her. It’s your turn to pay the toll.”

I don’t bother answering as he strides past his ex without a single glance her way. Vivian’s lips curdle into a frown and I can read the muttered “Asshole” on them, but when I finally get to her side, she’s all smiles.

“Sloan, welcome to Wave Stadium,” she says.

“I’m a local,” I remind her. “I’ve seen this place a few times.”

Vivian grins. “Not like this, you haven’t.”

By the time we’ve grabbed our all-access credentials from security and made our way to the staff seats near the bench, we’ve spoken to no less than twenty people who work at the stadium. I plop my ass into the seat, already exhausted. Social interaction is draining.

“Since we’re going to be here all night, I thought it would be a good time to get through our first touchbase now so we can see how you’re doing. Then you can enjoy the game if that’s your thing.” She gives me a one-brow cocked look.

“Is it yours?”

I can’t help the question. I’m curious about the woman who has a vicious, violent hate-on about her ex.

Vivian laughs politely. “Not even remotely. I’m here for a job, not to watch grown men beat each other up like they’re fighting over the same toy.”

One of the vendors walks by with beers. I lift an eyebrow when Vivian orders a few for each of us. She catches my odd look and shrugs. “You aren’t on duty when he’s on the ice. And even if you were, who’s going to yell at you when you’re with me? Besides, I refuse to stay here sober.”

Well, I’m not going to argue with that.

The beer is cold and smooth, but I still nearly choke on it when Viv asks out of nowhere, “So how’s living with Beck been?”

I cough, setting the beer down in the seat cupholder. “It’s… fine. He’s been relatively good since I moved in.”

“Besides the party last night, you mean.”

My skin heats. I’d hoped she hadn’t heard about that. “Yeah, besides that.”

Vivian regards me, her gaze never wavering from my face, even when the seats around us start filling up. I wonder what she’s searching for.

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