“I have you to thank for that.”
I narrow my eyes, forcing my face to remain otherwise neutral despite the jump kick to my heart at the implication. “What are you talking about?”
“Isla. People talk in this town, as you know. And this morning, they were talking about seeing Wes with a woman last night.”
“Okay…” I say, drawing out the word, playing dumb.
He points to me. “You.”
“Sorry to ruin your gotcha moment, Spence, but I was out with Max last night.”
I resume my warm-up.Nothing to see here.
“So, the rumor that you and Wes stayed for a wildly long time in the back of the bar was off base?”
Shit. I switch to backward crossovers, forcing myself to keep moving to prevent him from realizing I’m full of crap.
“Do you know how many women look like me? I'm a dime a dozen.”
“Apparently not to my brother.”
Spencer skates into my path about ten feet ahead, stopping me in my tracks. I open my mouth to attempt to throw him off the scent, but he holds up his hand.
I shut my mouth.
“Don't think of telling me another lie,” he says. “I know one strawberry-blond figure skater in town who gets under his skin.”
I cross my arms. “Okay, I know you’re lying. No way anyone gave you that description.”
Spencer snorts. “I think you underestimate how much people pay attention. Wes doesn’t whistle or smile into his coffee or ask me about my morning until caffeine has hit his bloodstream.”
“Someone being willing to look past his curmudgeon-y exterior for what I’m sure is mediocre dick—”
“Based on what someone overheard, I think you’re underselling it.”
The blood drains from my face. People heard us?
I wish the ice would open beneath my feet and swallow me whole. Spencer knows almost my entire romantic history because I needed him to understand the context behind the comments that Sebastian made about me after we dissolved our partnership. Every critique about my work ethic, talent, and emotionality stemmed from my rejection of him and wasn’t true.
I made it clear that I havezerointerest in a romantic relationship and want nothing to interfere with my skating. But after all of that, I hook up with his brother. Spencer must think my reputation is warranted, and that I’m full of shit.
“I can explain.” I let my hands fall to my side, defenses down.
Spencer gives me a wry smile. “I'd rather you didn't.”
“But—”
“I don't care what you and Wes do together as long as you're both consenting adults.”
A breath eases out of me. “You don't?”
“Why would I?”
“I don’t know, it’s your brother, and I made a big deal about not wanting anything to distract us from skating. Wes thought it was a good idea not to say anything so I assumed you wouldn’t be on board.”Even if I’m the one who beat him to the punch by asking to keep quiet about us. I didn’t want Wes to ask me to pretend it didn’t happen.
Spence shakes his head. “He's so damn predictable.”
“I'd disagree.”
