Thad glowered. “Masculinity has nothing to do with it. I saw a better option and went for it.”
I tried to meet Coral’s eyes, wondering what she made of all of this, but she was making it impossible to catch her gaze. She was obviously uncomfortable. My instincts were to smooth the situation over, but my lingering hurt and bitterness stopped me from taking any steps to do so.
Coral had created this awkwardness. She deserved to experience it fully.
“Better?” Alec snorted. “‘Better’ people don’t stab their family in the back.”
I wondered if I should open my mouth and say something about how we could all just be nice and get through this week peacefully, but my lips remained sealed.
Apparently, I had a petty streak.
Thad started to stalk away, his hand still joined with Coral’s, but strangely, she hesitated.
“Tally, I…”
“Don’t worry about it.” I shook my head, dismissing her. I’d been silly to try to catch her gaze. Now that she seemed to want to talk, my chest was so tight that I didn’t think I’d be capable of getting anything out.
“No, really, I—”
“Just go!” I snapped, losing my cool.
She flinched and slunk away, as if I’d been the one to hurt her and not the other way around.
“What was that about?”
I started, realizing we were now at the front of the line. The receptionist waved us over, his eyes sparkling with interest.
“That was my ex,” I explained, grimacing. “He’s here with the same wedding party as me. The girl with him is my cousin, who he cheated on me with.”
His golden forehead creased with sympathy. “Oh, honey. I’m sorry. That’s rough.”
“It’s fine,” I said, trying to come across as breezy but I had a suspicion I was falling short. “I’ve got my new man here.”
May as well start the act now, right?
“So you do.” He grinned and thrust his hand across the desk. “Alec Wright, right?”
Alec blinked in surprise. Hesitantly, he shook the man’s hand. “Yeah. That’s me.”
“I’m such a fan.” The receptionist held onto him for a few seconds longer than necessary, unable to tear his eyes from Alec’s face. “The Dragons are my favorite team.”
“Really?”
The guy laughed. “I know; it’s not very Hawaiian of me to like ice hockey, but my Dad is from Montreal, and he’s obsessed. He loves the Canadiens, so of course, I had to pick a different team to support. It drives him crazy that I chose one from the U.S.”
“Sounds like you’re a man of good taste,” I said, relieved at him for offering such an easy change of topic from the shit show that was my former love life. “Who’s your favorite player?”
He pursed his lips. “Promise not to hold it against me if it’s not Alec Wright?”
Alec chuckled. “My ego isn’t that massive.”
“Phew!” He pretended to wipe sweat from his brow. “I love Badagova. He’s such a machine.”
I was impressed by his choice. A lot of people overlooked the defense and tended to favor the goal-scorers, but Davi Badagova was a total badass.
Someone cleared their throat behind us, and the receptionist straightened.
“Anyway, sorry to take up your time,” he said briskly. “Let’s get you all sorted then.”
