"Don't play dumb, Bree. You set me up. The crying. Asking me to walk you to your room. Wearing my hoodie. Someone just happened to be there at the perfect moment to take a photo?"
She crosses her arms. "So what if I did?"
The casual admission catches me off guard. "What?"
"You heard me. So what if I staged it?" She steps closer. "I was just showing Sutton what you really want and need. I wanted her to see that you and I are good together. We work. You and Sutton are a disaster waiting to happen."
"Are you insane? I don't want to be with you!"
"You do. You just don't realize it yet." Her voice takes on that syrupy sweet tone that makes my skin crawl. "You've been sending mixed signals for weeks, Declan. The way you touch my arm when we talk. How you laugh at my jokes. The way you look at me when you think no one's watching."
I stare at her in disbelief. "I've never looked at you like anything. I've been polite. That's it."
"Polite." She laughs. "Is that what you're calling it? The coffee you made me that morning in the kitchen? The time you asked if I needed help with my bags?"
"You're misinterpreting basic human decency for romantic interest!"
"Am I?" She tilts her head. "Because from where I'm standing, you've been giving me plenty of reasons to think you're interested."
"I have a girlfriend!"
"A girlfriend who doesn't fit in your world and who delivers fries for pennies while you're going to the NHL. She can't keep up with your lifestyle." She reaches out to touch my chest, and I grab her wrist.
"Don't."
"See? Even now, you're touching me."
I drop her wrist like it's burning me. "You're delusional."
"I'm realistic. Sutton's sweet, but she's not right for you. She doesn't understand what it takes to be with someone like you. The pressure. The expectations. The scrutiny." She moves closer. "I understand. I could be what you need. I know the world we live in and what’s expected of a hockey wife. I know the right people. The right parties.”
"You're what I need to stay far away from."
She scowls, pushing her lips into a pout. "You're making a mistake."
"The only mistake I made was being nice to you." I step back. "Stay away from me. Stay away from Sutton. And stop spreading lies about me."
"They're not lies if people believe them."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
She smiles, and it's cold. "Everyone's been watching us, Declan. Seeing how we interact. How comfortable we are together. I didn't have to say much—people drew their own conclusions."
"You manipulated them."
"I showed them what was already there." She picks up her bag. "And now Sutton sees it, too. She's not coming back to you. You're free."
"I don't want to be free of her. I want you out of my life!"
"We'll see how you feel in a few weeks." She starts to walk away, then turns back. "Oh, and Declan? I won’t wait forever. I’ve been patient, but even I have my limits.”
She leaves me standing there, my blood boiling.
I need to talk to Holden. It’s time to bury the nonsense—bros before hoes and all that.
I find him in the weight room, running on the treadmill. He sees me coming and immediately tenses.
"I'm not here to fight," I say, holding up my hands. "I'm here to apologize."
