I scoff. “Addison needs to shut her big mouth.”
There’s a long pause.
“Ah, well, I was thinking if I come into town, I want to ask her out. Just wanted to let you know,” he says.
“Why would I care?” I ask.
“Well, I mean, if there are sparks and we get back together, it would be nice if you two could get along, you know?” he says, pouring salt in a wound.
“You’d take her back?” I ask.
He chuckles. “Kendall is a good person. We had some incredible times together. Not sure I realized how great we had it.”
I close my eyes and press my forehead against the cool wall.
“Shit, I gotta go,” Jameson tells me. “I’ll call you back later.”
“Talk soon, Jamie,” I say, using his nickname.
I stand in the empty hallway while guilt nearly strangles me.
If Jameson thinks there might be something between them, I need to be fine with that, even though I’m fucking spiraling at the thought. After Jameson was injured and could no longer play hockey, it changed him. Maybe they could work now.
I shove off the wall and head outside, wanting to forget it all. Kissing Kendall is still burning in my head.
I can’t be around her like this again, but I don’t really have a choice, do I?
Wednesday, I’ll sit in that chair again and give her nothing. Then I’ll watch my brother waltz into town and try to win her over. I’ll keep my mouth shut and swallow my jealousy down, per usual.
It’s what I’m good at. I’m pro-level at this point.
10
KENDALL
It’s been two days since Patterson ran out of our session like his ass was on fire, and I haven’t been able to stop replaying his parting shot about how I ran away from things when I went to Europe. He intended for his words to hurt, and they did because they were true.
I don’t know how it’s possible this man still knows how to get under my skin. I’m tired of him doing this same song and dance, even if I’m addicted to it. This is a twisted and risky game of cat and mouse. Sometimes, I’m the predator, and other times, I’m the prey.
My father would absolutely lose respect for me if I dated his star player. Patterson would be put on the chopping block and picked up fast by another team. Not to mention, I don’t think Jameson would approve of me playing dirty with Patterson. They are very protective of one another, and no part of me wants to come between them. Ever.
But I need Pattycakes to know he’s not completely in control anymore.
A smirk touches my deep crimson lips as I look at my reflection on the glass doors of the facility.
My red silk blouse is tucked into a black skirt that’s a little too short for a professional setting. The heels I chose add three inches to my height, putting me even closer to Patterson’s lips. My legs look endless, and my ass looks great. If he wants to keep throwing low blows, I’ll make sure he chokes on his tongue.
Today, I get to be the big bad wolf.
When I arrive, the conference room is empty. Late afternoon light streams through the windows. I arrange my supplies and try to convince myself the flutter in my stomach is anticipation and not nerves. Today is about keeping control of the situation, even if Patterson is unpredictable.
At exactly two o’clock, he enters, smelling so damn good that I nearly stop breathing.
I turn and properly eye-fuck him before throwing him a smirk.
His eyes slide down my body slow enough that I feel him everywhere. Something shifts in his expression, and his jaw clenches.
“Why are you dressed that way?”
