“Good and kind and selfless? Yeah, sure, Mir. He went behind my back, seduced my sister, tricked her into marrying him, then lied to me about it. Tell me how any of that is good or kind? And don’t even get me started on selfless. Everything he’sdone is selfish. He fucking deserves to be knocked off the first line. Hell, if I had my way, he’d be benched.”
“He didn’t do anything behind your back, Maddox! I’m the one who asked him to keep this a secret. I’m the one who got him drunk. I’m the one who asked him to lie. All the shit you’re mad about is my fault, but you’re blaming him.”
I’m pissed now, and I shove Maddy’s chest.
“He hated keeping us a secret, especially from you. He wouldn’t even sleep with me until I was sure about our marriage, and believe me, I tried to seducehimmultiple times so he’d go back on that decision, but he never did.”
My brother growls. “I don’t want to hear this.”
“Tough shit,” I shout. “You’re going to hear it. Griffin is better than good, Maddy. He’s the best man I know. He’s done nothing but protect me and take care of me and love me. And you want to talk about selfless? Do you know what he did today?” I pull the envelope with the deed to his apartment, as well as a bank statement that shows an account in my name with more money in it than I can comprehend. I didn’t find that little gem until after Griffin left. Probably because he knew I’d never accept it. I shove the papers against my brother’s chest.
“What is this?”
“Read them.”
Maddy frowns as he takes the envelope from my hand, and it deepens as he reads before the muscles in his face go lax, then his mouth is hanging open like a fish. His brown eyes scan the words faster and faster until he’s at the end of the last page.
When he looks at me, I see the same shock I felt reflected back at me. “He gave you his apartment?”
I nod.
“He loves that place.”
My chest fills with tingling warmth and light. “It would seem he loves me even more. He gave me a home and the means totake care of myself because he’s good and kind and selfless. Do you know he didn’t ask anything of me in return? Just that if I do come back to him, it’s because I can’t live without him, not because I can’t live without his house or the things he could do for me.”
“I…” Maddox looks between me and the papers, his jaw working.
“You owe him an apology. A big one. Don’t throw your friendship away because of your stupid pride or a misplaced need to protect me from the only other man besides you who’s gone above and beyond to protect me.” I sigh, suddenly completely drained. “And put him back on the first line. He doesn’t deserve to be on the second, and you know you need him with you and Logan going into the playoffs. Don’t be an idiot.”
“He gave you his house.”
We’re still stuck on that?
“He bought me a car, gave me his house and way too much money. He loves the shit out of me, Maddy. If anything, I’ve been the selfish one.” I’m going to do everything I can to work on myself and deserve him. “So pull your giant head out of your ass, make up with your best friend, and win some hockey games.”
“Shit.” Maddox hands me the envelope and rubs his temples. “Shit.”
“I know the feeling.”
“I need to get to the airfield.”
I nod. “Hurry up and pack. Then talk to your best friend.” A wicked grin curls my lips. “Go talk to your brother-in-law.”
That stops my brother dead in his tracks. “Shit.”
All I can do is laugh.
forty-seven
MIRA
The arena buzzeswith anticipation as Isla, Lexi, and I walk in. Eyes turn our way when they notice our playoff jackets, and I squirm. Everyone knows Lexi and Isla are with Rogues players, but me? That wasn’t public knowledge. Until now.
Hell, I tried to fight the girls on giving me a jacket, but once the other WAGS heard through the locker room grapevine and their significant others that Griffin and I are married, they wouldn’t hear it. It didn’t matter to them that things between Griffin and me are still up in the air. I’m his wife, and that’s all they needed to know.
The black faux leather jackets are emblazoned with the bejeweled names and numbers of our partners. Isla wears an 84 with Graves on the back, Lexi wears a 13 with Hanson on the back, and I’m wearing 16 with Wright on the back. I try to ignore the whispers and speculation, but it has my hackles up. I’d probably enjoy showing off his name on my back if things had gone according to plan before everything went down in Michigan. If we’d announced our marriage to excited family and friends, instead of having to explain to them why we’re… Well,I’m not even sure what we are. We’re not broken up, but we’re not entirely together, either.
It’s all way too complicated, and I feel the weight of that tonight more than ever.
