Bree’s technically not the one I’m angry with—Chase gets that honor—and I’m mature enough to recognize that the hurt I’m feeling over her dating him instead of me is my problem, not hers. I’ve never told her how I feel.
But that doesn’t answer the bigger question: What did the scumbag do to her? Because I know Chase, and I’m one hundred percent positive he’s the one who messed with her head.
Once I shut the door, I face her. Before I can temper my tone, the words fly out. “Chase Langston? That’s who you were dating?”
Chapter Twelve
BREE
How did Wade find out?
That’s the first question that flies through my head.
The second?
Did I just lose my best friend?
At this stage in my life—let’s just call it suckville, okay?—I can’t afford to lose my one and only best friend. I had a few friends in Texas, but they were either staff like me or WAGs of the players. After I quit my job to start my own PR business—and to get away from Chase—I didn’t hear a peep from any of them.
I later found out that one of thosefriends—Amber—turned out to be the one Chase was cheating on me with. And since she was the lynchpin of that friend group and I was the newbie, my phone didn’t ring once after I left. Not surprising. I can only imagine what she told the others.
If there’s such a thing as a mental groan, I think I just did one. How could I forget howsmallthe hockey world is? I should have known he’d find out, eventually.
Did Chase say something? Did Amber? Are they spreading rumors about me now? I didn’t consider Chase stooping thatlow, but then again, I didn’t realize what a manipulation mastermind he was until it was too late.
Wade’s gaze bores into me harder, if that’s even possible, making me realize I haven’t said a word yet.
“How did you find out?” My voice squeaks as a burn hits me behind my eyes.
He must notice my distress because a wave of regret softens his features. “A little birdie told me.”
The mention of his nana’s expression is like a wrecking ball hitting the walls that have held my emotions in place for the last several months. And you know what they say? When the floodgates open…
Sobbing, I drop onto the edge of the bed. “See? I knew you wouldn’t approve.”
“That should have been your first clue. The guy’s a scumbag.”
My stomach twists into a knot as I take in his disgusted expression. Great. Now I repulse him.
I bury my face in my hands again. There’s no stopping the tidal wave now. I don’t know how to handle this version of Wade. And what a way to wreck an evening, right? I was really clicking with Sophie, Mia, and Lily. What will they think of me now? Will this be another repeat of what went down at my previous job?
Warm hands touch the sides of my knees, making me gasp in surprise. Wade’s kneeling in front of me, his face a tortured mask of emotions. His mouth moves as if to speak, but nothing comes out.
But I know what he’s asking, though.
Is Chase the real reason I left Texas…
I nod before falling forward into him, clutching his shirt and crying it out against the base of his neck. One of his hands presses me closer while the other runs up and down my back in a comforting caress. Between crying and the security of his warmembrace, some of the stress and hurt I’ve carried over the last few months melts away.
Finally, my tears dry up. But I’m still so embarrassed that I can’t bring myself to look at him because of what I might see when he looks at me.
But as Wade does, he forces the issue by leaning back far enough to lift my chin. Even on his knees on the floor, I still have to look up at him from my perch on the end of the bed.
His eyes appear more cloudy brown than hazel green as he searches my face. “What did he do to you? Did he…?”
I shake my head. “Nothing like that.” But almost as bad, right? How do I explain what happened without sounding like a naïve idiot for believing Chase? If I hadn’t been so trusting…
“Then what? You know you can tell me anything, right?” The concern in his voice borders on pain.
