When I pull it open, the serious look on Blake’s face causes my stomach to drop.
“What happened?” I ask, moving aside to let him enter.
I wasn’t expecting him tonight, and he hasn’t made any attempt to pull me into his arms the way he usually does when I see him. Instead, he moves straight for the couch and drops onto it, resting his elbows on his knees and dropping his head into his hands.
“Blake?” I press, hovering near the door.
He looks up at me, his blue eyes filled with regret. “I want to start by saying we didn’t mean to overstep any boundaries.”
The room spins.
I walk to the couch on shaky legs and sink onto it next to him.
“What’s going on?”
He blows out a heavy exhale. “Edward approached us after the game. Me and Everett.”
My gaze flicks to his hands, terrified of finding them bruised and bloody. Relief washes over me when I find them unblemished, but I don’t miss the resignation in his expression.
“I meant it when I said I’d never do anything to hurt you or Tinsley,” he rasps. “Violence won’t solve anything with him.”
I swallow around my unease. “We’re calling the lawyers on Monday. Why would you engage with him?”
He runs a hand through his hair. “I wasn’t going to say anything, I promise. Then Everett mentioned my name, and Edward put two and two together. He threatened you.”
“Blake—”
“He’s not pursuing custody,” he blurts out. “We convinced him to back off. He even agreed to sign Tinsley’s passport application.”
I blink at him. “What?”
“You can send the application to his lawyers, and he’ll sign it.”
My ears are ringing, and I shake my head to clear my confusion. “I don’t understand. How?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Blake pulls my hands into his. “Please don’t be mad at me for stepping in. I didn’t plan it, and I don’t want you thinking I’m trying to be your saviour. The opportunity to speak to him arose, and I took it.”
“I’m not mad,” I murmur, still shaking my head. “I’m confused.”
His tongue swipes over his lips. “You don’t need toworry about the details, only that Everett and I kept our heads and there was no violence involved.”
I sag against him. “It’s really over?”
He pulls me into his warm body and presses his lips to my temple. “It’s really over. You and Tinsley don’t need to worry about Edward trying to control you anymore.”
When I tilt my head to meet his gaze, he brushes his lips over mine in a soft caress. My heart beats erratically as I curl my fingers into his nape and deepen the kiss.
“I’ll do anything to keep you and Tinsley safe, pixie,” he murmurs against my lips. “I love you.”
“I love you, striker.”
He hooks his hands under my thighs, and I wrap my legs around his waist as he carries me to my bedroom.
My bed isempty when I wake up in the morning.
Music and laughter drifts down the hall, and a smile tugs on my lips as I make my way to the kitchen.
I peer around the corner, my smile widening as I take in the scene in front of me.
