“You knew there was something—”
“Didn’t know you were lying about your entire life story down to your goddamnname.”
“Well, then, why would you tell her you’re going to fucking marry me?!”Ben didn’t mean to get loud, but he couldn’t help the panic clawing its way up his throat and out of his mouth.
Phil gave him a look that would have leveled lesser men.“I don’t know if you noticed, Ben, but that wasn’t going great for you.I thought you wanted to keep Charlie.”
“I do!But lying won’t help!”
“Oh, really?”Phil exploded.“Then tell me what you’re doing to my fucking team!”
Ben bit his lip, stubbornly silent.If he told Phil now—if Phil learned his knee had been sacrificed for a stupid bet—Phil would never forgive him.
Phil sighed, rubbing at the back of his neck.“Look, maybe I took it a little far—”
“A little far?Phil, a little far is pretending to date so CPS thinks I live here—”
“You do live here.”
“But—”
“Look, she was about to say you wouldn’t be able to take care of Charlie if you didn’t have a long-term place to live, which I agree with, by the way.But since you can stay here as long as you need, problem solved.”
“New problem—now we have to get married!”
Phil shrugged.“I’ve done it before.It’s mostly paperwork.”
Incredulous, Ben stalked to the kitchen and started scrubbing the coffee cups.
Phil followed, albeit slowly.“You don’t have to wash up.The cleaning—”
“Fuckyour fucking cleaning service.”Ben threw the sponge into the sink.It landed with a disappointing wet thud.“We can’t get married.”
“Why not?”
“Why not?”Ben spluttered.“Let’s see.You’re an NHL player, you’re a public figure, you’restraight—”
“Soon to be retired.”
“What?”
“I’ll retire soon.Then it won’t matter if anyone finds out.Look, do you like me?”
Ben rested both hands on the rim of the sink, head bent down, and tried to breathe.“Yes,” he admitted against his better judgment.
“Great.Do you like living here?”
Ben closed his eyes.“Yes, all right?I think your stupid open-plan living room is great, except for the ugly rug.I sleep stupidly well on the mattress in the guest room.Your shower is ridiculous, and I never want to leave it.”
“Perfect.Let’s get married.”
“We can’t.You don’t even know—you don’t—”
“So tell me.”
“I…”
“I don’t know what number your parents pulled on you to make you this unable to trust people,” Phil said, “but I told you before.All I want to do is help you.”
