His face turns a shade of red that I’ve never seen on someone who isn’t ready to pass out.
“And if you don’t,” I say, smiling at him. “I’ll plaster that shit on every fucking social media page, send letters to every fighter, agent, commissioner, manager, and fight fan that I can find.”
“What are you talking about?”
I shrug. “You can think I’m blowing smoke up your ass, or you can believe me. I don’t give a shit. Because here’s the thing—I love your sister and I’m going to be with her until she says otherwise. And what I really want to do—fuck, how badly I want to do it—is ruin your entire life like you’ve tried to do mine. I mean, I get off on that at night sometimes.” I look him dead in the eye. “Give me a reason.”
He runs his hands down his face and takes a step back. “Why would you give me the option? If you really had all this shit about me, why would you keep it to yourself?”
I glance at the spot where Audrey just stood and smile. “Because that would hurther. And probably your parents, who are great, by the way.” How did he turn out to be such an absolute asshole…and effectively hid his true self from his family?Mind-blowing.“And as much as your pain would give me great joy, making Audrey happy is really all I care about. I imagine that seeing your name in the headlines and being disgraced everywhere sports are discussed—maybe even a mugshot—would send her spiraling. Your mother, too. And I just … I’m not that kind of guy.”
He takes the glass his father left behind and downs it.
“I will tell Audrey about our call,” I say. “And I’ll tell her that you made it clear that if I didn’t leave her alone, that you’d makemy life hard. But I’ll keep the rest to myself to spare her the pain of it because she doesn’t need that. It won’t help anything. If you decide to play this differently, let me know.”
He takes his hand and swipes it across an ice bucket, sending glasses and debris across the room. “Fuck you!”
I chuckle to myself and watch him storm away down a back stairwell. I shouldn’t find as much pleasure in this as I do, but … whatever.
The elevator is open, and I take it back downstairs, finding Audrey beside her mother. She collapses in my arms, relief evident in her sigh.
“Is everything okay?” she asks, searching my eyes.
“Everything is fine.” I kiss her nose. “Are you having fun?”
“No.” She frowns. “Want me to fake illness so we can leave?”
Jessica moves around her daughter, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I don’t mean to eavesdrop, but you’ve made an appearance. If you two want to leave, don’t feel obligated to stay.”
“Are you sure, Mom?” Audrey asks, confused.
She brushes a strand of hair off Audrey’s shoulder. “Darling girl, I just want you to be happy.” Jessica lifts her gaze to mine. “And I think you finally are. Enjoy your night.”
She drifts off into the crowd of people that’s growing by the minute. Audrey watches her in amazement.
“So …” I say.
My voice seems to ground her to the present because she looks at me and giggles. “Why are we still here?” She takes my hand and pulls me to the exit. “Let’s go.”
She doesn’t have to ask me twice.
I’ll follow this woman anywhere.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-ONE
Audrey
“So, what happens now?” I ask, sticking a toe out of the bubbles.
We’ve refilled the bath water three times. Each time, Brooks says it’s still warm enough, and I vehemently disagree. Hot baths are one thing I won’t compromise about. It might be the only thing.
He folds his hands around me, resting them on my belly. My head is tucked against his chest as we relax in the tub. A pizza box sits on a chair within reach, our phones are off, and the world is back on its axis.
“I don’t know,” he says. “What do you want to happen?”
“I’ve been thinking about that a lot.”
