I was told this was a photoshoot for the New Romantics article. Apparently they didn’t deem it necessary to inform me that my face was going to be on the cover of a fucking magazine.
My life feels like it’s spiraling out of control a bit. Ever since Sidney got hurt, I’ve been barreling forward and I haven’t had time to consider how this will all work.
The conversation with JJ this morning only reinforced that. I’mtempted to stop playing this part in Savannah’s series, but she’s so excited, and I’m the one who offered to be her New Romantics girl. How do I let her know that I no longer want to date a bunch of random men when I can’t tell her that I’ve already found my forever man because he’s married?
God, that sounds so bad.
It is bad.
And if I didn’t know the truth about their marriage, maybe I’d feel badly for stepping in like this. But I do know the truth. Tabitha didn’t marry JJ for love. She used him. Not even for her daughter like she told me that day in the hospital. No, she used him for his money, and now that he’s cut her off, she’s stopped even attempting to have a relationship with her daughter.
She’s awful.
But I’m not stupid enough to believe that ours is a love story anyone would celebrate.
So I’m stuck standing in front of the net, goalie stick in hand, trying to look like a serious hockey player while also apparently looking like a sexy woman who is deserving of love.
I’m pretty sure I just look exhausted.
“You almost done in here?” Gavin calls as he enters the arena.
“Yes,” I yell.
Savannah, though, is louder. “Just a few more minutes.”
“Savannah,” he growls.
My best friend spins and gives him her megawatt smile. Honestly, between her curves, her smile, and her sassy attitude, Savannah tends to get what she wants. And if she can’t use any of those features, her sexy fiancé steps in and makes sure it happens. But Gavin was Camden’s coach too, so he’s not afraid of him like most people would be.
“Two minutes.” He rolls his eyes and turns around. “Fucking beauty pageant on the ice.”
I wince. “Sorry, Coach.”
As he’s waving me off, Brooks, Brayden, and a man wearing a ball cap appear and walk toward him. The man is familiar in a way I can’t place, but from here, I haven’t gotten a good look at his face.
The photographer calls for my attention, so I push that thought aside, force a smile, and hope they get the damn shot.
Five minutes later, as I’m finally skating toward the bench, I realize why the man in the hat was so familiar.
“Ryan?”
“Addie.” My old Olympic coach breaks into a big smile, arms held out for a hug.
“What are you doing here?” I pull out of his hold and take in his familiar brown eyes. Ryan was my coach in both Olympic appearances, and we kept in touch, though since the season started, I’ve been too distracted to keep up with what he’s been up to.
I can barely keep my own head on straight.
“This is why I wanted to meet today,” Gavin grouses. “I was going to wait until Jarred and JJ got here, but seeing as how you were playing Barbie on the ice, I guess we’ll do this twice.”
I hold up my hands and take a step back. “Talk to Cat and your sister. They arranged for this.”
“Don’t you worry. Sienna will be hearing from me,” Gavin says.
His youngest sibling also happens to be the creative director forJolie.
“Brooks,” he sighs, “can you call the guys and find out what’s taking them so long?”
“You look great,” Ryan says, stepping closer.
