Twenty minutes later, my phone buzzes with a response.I'm at Ariel's. I'll come by in the morning to get my things. My apartment is ready.
What the fuck? I call her immediately, but she doesn't answer. I text back.What's going on? We need to talk.
No response.
I sit on the couch, trying to understand what the hell is going on. Yesterday morning, Harper was in my arms. Tonight, she won’t talk to me. Is it about the press conference? Does she think I denied our relationship to protect my image like Brett does?
A seed of doubt forms in my mind. Maybe I didn't protect Harper at all. Maybe Brett was right.
23
Harper
“How many times are you going to watch that?” Ariel asks, refilling my wine glass for the third time.
“Shush. One more time.” I clutch the remote, my eyes fixed on her laptop screen where Cole's press conference plays on repeat.
“Harper Hayes is a professional event planner who has done excellent work for our organization,” Cole says into the microphones, his expression completely neutral. “The photo in question was taken at a charity auction where we were discussing work-related matters.”
Work-related matters. Like, I'm some vendor he occasionally has to deal with.
“Are you saying there's no romantic relationship?” the reporter presses.
“I'm saying Harper is a consummate professional who has exceeded all expectations in her work with the Renegades. Any suggestion that she received preferential treatment is baseless.”
I pause the video, staring at Cole's face frozen on the screen. His careful non-answers, his refusal to acknowledge what we have, feels like rejection. Sure, he had said that he would tryto turn the focus back to hockey, but hell, I didn’t imagine that entailed dismissing me like someone he barely knew.
“He's protecting the team,” I say, my voice hollow. “Just like Brett warned me he would.”
Ariel sits beside me on her couch, her expression concerned. “Maybe he was trying to protect you, too.”
“By denying I exist?” I laugh bitterly. “By making me sound like some random contractor he barely knows? Now, in addition to looking unprofessional, I look like a slut. “
I think about all those nights in his arms, the way he looked at me like I was his whole world. The man who told me he loved me, who wanted to show me off to everyone. Where was that man during the press conference?
Brett's words echo in my head.Don't say I didn't warn you when he chooses hockey over you.
“I need another drink,” I mutter, reaching for the bottle.
“Maybe you should slow down,” Ariel suggests gently.
“Why? So I can feel this more clearly?” I pour myself another generous glass. “My career is falling apart, the man I love just threw me under the bus on national television, and my brother was right about everything.”
Ariel reaches for her own glass, which is nearly empty. “You know what? You're right. Let's get properly drunk and talk about what disasters we are.”
“Now you're speaking my language.” I top off her glass with the remainder of the bottle. “Tell me about Miles. How's he adjusting to living in his mother’s house?” It feels good to talk about someone else’s troubles.
“Slowly and painfully.” Ariel takes a large gulp of wine. “Do you know what he said to me yesterday? He asked if I could cover his half of the utilities because his freelance check is late. Again.”
“Miles will never grow up.”
“I’m tired of supporting a grown man who thinks ambition is a dirty word.” She kicks her feet up on the coffee table. “You know what the worst part is? I actually thought I could fix him. Like my love would magically make him want to be successful.”
“We're both idiots,” I say, clinking my glass against hers. “I fell for a man who's married to his hockey stick, and you fell for a man who's allergic to employment.”
“At least Cole has a job,” Ariel points out. “A very good job that he's probably going to choose over you.”
“Thanks for the reminder.” I take another drink, feeling the wine make everything slightly fuzzy around the edges. “You know what I keep thinking about? All those nights he held me and told me I was extraordinary. Made me believe I was special.”
