“We know you’re good with the ladies, but this one feels different, doesn’t it?”
I think it’s just a photo of us. Until the image suddenly changes, and my mouth drops open as I’m gut-punched with shock on live TV.
It’s Ollie, curled over on the hospital waiting room floor, and a clear shot of me talking to the nurse. And the air vanishes from the room as I hear my voice echo out around the studio.
“Yes, they’re my mate. I’ll take care of them.”
Ice slides through my body, hands shaking, panic setting up a tempo inside me as the video starts to play.
The back of my head is to the audience, so they don’t see me throw the host a scared look, but she’s grinning at the screen with pride.
What the hell is going on?
“This was caught by an onlooker who just happened to be there. We thought we’d show you as a surprise!”
So basically, someone caught it, and the smart person thought to sell it to the show instead of posting it online. No wonder they were hounding Marilyn to get me in for an interview.
I told Ollie so many times I wouldn’t put her in the spotlight. It must have been filmed from the seating area. So how did the talk show have a video like this?
“We’re so looking forward to hearing who she is and how you met her!”
The way the hostess keeps assuming and emphasizing that Ollie is a woman just because she’s an omega is annoying me.
I need to get myself together. I can’t let the cameras catch my reaction. But I’m more scared that it will show Ollie’s face than I am about my reputation. I can deal with Timber’s anger, but I never want to be in a place where I might lose her, not again.
Thankfully, the way I’m holding her in the video means her face is mostly hidden by my body.
I turn to face the hostess with a cool smile. “I’m not sure how much I can say. She’s a very private person.”
“So, there is someone!?” she asks excitedly, leaning forward in her seat, the prompt cards magically forgotten.
The video behind us fades out to show another image of us walking down the street with my arm around her. It was a busy area, so it’s not a surprise someone saw us.
Yeah, we were in public, but I didn’t think we were going to be followedthatclosely. I’m just a hockey player, for fuck’s sake.
Luckily, the photo was taken when I was hugging Ollie, so I got away with it again. It definitely looks like we’re kissing.
There’s no time to catch myself. I sigh, running my hand through my hair.
“Hm, okay, maybe I’ll admit that I’ve scent matched with someone, but I won’t say anything more than that.”
Gasps ring through the crowd, and I inwardly cringe. Telling Ollie about this is not going to be a highlight of the year. But I need to get in there first in case people find her, or worse, she’s watching it live.
“And how does Timber Holtz feel about it all?”
“What?” I tilt my head, my brow furrowing. “What does Timber have to do with any of this?”
Her expression changes to something wicked as the screen behind her fades out, and a new picture is thrown up.
I shoot up from the couch, my heart plummeting as shock bursts through my body.
Right there, right on the screen, is a picture of the moment I pulled Timber to my lips while Ollie stayed sandwiched between us at the restaurant.
“Oh,fuck.”
Bile rises in my throat, staring at the image with wide eyes as I remember we’re live.
“Sorry! This interview is over!” My manager comes hurtling out from the wings and grabs my arm. I’m numb as she pulls me away while people shout questions, wondering how the hell they got pictures of us back then, and why they held onto them for so long.
