I need to be strong, though. I can’t feel bad. This was bound to happen.
I muster all the confidence I can as I say, “I’ll be okay.”
Zephyr’s behind me now. “What does that mean?”
I look down at my shoes. “It’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before. I’m going to wait outside for my friend.”
“I’m going to wait with you,” Callum says immediately.
Jax steps aside and lets me through the front door. The cold air hits me like a wall. I walk down the driveway and stand near the curb.
Zephyr pulls my bag off my shoulder. “I’ll hold it for you.”
Now I have all three of them standing outside with me in the cold. Waiting.
The guilt is crushing.
“Thank you for everything,” I whisper.
“This isn’t goodbye,” Zephyr says firmly.
“Call if you need anything,” Callum adds. “You know where I live.”
Jax doesn’t say anything. He just stares at me with those intense dark eyes.
Then I see Elle’s car cut the corner.
Has it really been twenty minutes already? No, it’s been ten. She’s a fast driver. Relief washes over me when I see her face.
Elle’s eyes widen as she pulls up to the curb. She steps out of the car and stares at the three men standing around me.
“Who the hell are these guys?” she asks.
“Elle,” I mutter as Zephyr opens the back door and places my bag inside.
I turn to look at all of them one last time.
“Thank you,” I whisper. I turn to Elle. “Let’s go.”
She’s staring at them like they kidnapped me.
We get in the car and buckle our seat belts. I can tell Elle has a million questions. The guys stare at me, but I can’t look back at them, so I don’t.
We drive off.
“What are you doing holed up with three hockey players?”
I sink into the passenger seat. “You recognized them?”
“Of course! Once upon a time I thought they were the hottest things on the planet, and now…”
“Now?” I wince.
“Are you hooking up with one of them?”
I wince. “What? No.”
“Then why did they have that vibe?”
