Good. Maybe now they’ll back off.
Another reporter glances down at her notes. “There’s been a lot of speculation online since your interview. Especially after the ‘she’s with me’ comment.”
Connor starts choking somewhere behind the cameras.
Traitorous bastard.
I ignore him.
“Were you surprised by the reaction?” the reporter asks.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Because I didn’t realize how obvious it had become. Because I didn’t realize how protective I sounded until I watched the clip later. Because hearing another man talk about Peyton wakes something violent inside me.
Instead, I shrug once. “I don’t pay attention to that stuff.”
“That’s hard to believe considering social media basically exploded.”
I stare at him blankly. “It’s easier when you hate social media.”
That earns a few more laughs.
Again, I don’t laugh.
Another reporter smiles carefully. “Fans are calling Peyton ‘Mrs. Goalie’ online.”
My jaw tightens.Jesus fucking Christ.
“Thoughts on that?”
Connor makes a wheezing noise somewhere in the background.
I’m going to kill him. Slowly. Painfully.
“I think people online should get hobbies.”
That actually gets a bigger laugh.
One reporter lifts her brows. “You seem protective of her.”
Protective. That’s one word for it.
I glance briefly toward the floor before answering. “She didn’t ask for any of this.” My voice comes out rougher than I intended.
The room stills slightly again.
Then another question comes, sharp and too personal. “Do you think the relationship will affect your performancethis season?”
Something cold flashes through me. I know exactly what the question means.
Distraction. Weakness. Problem. Like Peyton is something damaging.
My expression hardens. “No.”
The reporter opens his mouth again, but I cut him off before he can say a word.
