“How else would I know Kozlovsky has a little shamrock tattoo on his ass?” I tell him flatly, crossing my arms.
Both of them look at me. I’d never told Archangel the detail. I think his shock drives my point home even more.
“She told me she’s only slept with the two of us.”
Archangel and I both laugh. I can’t even help it. Mark’s lip curls. He flips from fuming to embarrassed to maybe even doubt. Our laughing isn’t helping. I elbow Archangel, and we both collect ourselves.
“Sorry to break it to you. There are very few guys on your team she hasn’t fucked,” Archangel says when he recovers.
“I just don’t know how to process this. She couldn’t even look at hockey players after Wolfe. I had to work to convince her to go on a date with me.”
“I don’t know why she lied, but she was a puck bunny,” Archangel says carefully, probably sensing Mark is either going to kill us or his sister. “And how else would Wolfe know about Kozlovsky’s tattoo?”
“Why would she make that up? She wasn’t claiming virginity!” Mark looks like he’s about to have a mental breakdown.
“Buddy,” I say, feeling more sympathy than anger for the guy.
Tears well up in Mark’s eyes, and he lifts his fists.
“You still want to hit me?” I hold my arms out by my sides.
He doesn’t come at me, and it’s a tense few sections before he speaks. “No.”
“I’m really sorry to have to be the one to tell you that stuff, but it’s the truth.”
He hesitates, then his stance sags in defeat. “No, I believe you. You’ve got nothing to hide, why would you lie? I guess I’ve just been blind. She made herself out to be the victim.” He holds out his hand for me to shake. “Thank you for letting me know who I really married.
I cringe but take his hand. “I wish we could have figured this out sooner.”
“Me too.” He turns back to the building but doesn’t go inside. “What the fuck do I even do? I’m married now.”
“Annulment is an option,” Archangel says, and I elbow him again.
We should probably leave Mark to work stuff out on his own.
“I guess so.” He sighs, then says, “Good luck with the draft next month.”
“Good luck to you, too.”
We stay out back when Mark goes inside, reeling.
“No wonder he hated me.” I lean against the brick wall. “I would have wanted to hit me, too. I’d kill someone if they did that to you.”
“I’ll give it to her. That’s a great fucking story.”
“No shit. Bet she didn’t think we’d ever date when she told it so no way of it getting out.” I shake my head.
“Atticus,” a voice calls.
My entire body recoils and locks up just at the one word.
My mom comes around the building. “I tried to get into the wedding to see you, but they wouldn’t let me in.”
“Leave,” Archangel says. “You have no right to show up here.”
“I need to talk to him, and he won’t answer my calls.”
“And I won’t ever answer your calls,” I find my voice.
