Page 147 of What About Us

“The team offered me a job,” I admit softly. “I haven’t even told Xander yet, but I wouldn’t have to be away from him at all.”

Greg blinks in surprise. “Sounds like you have all the tools, you just have to decide what’s best for you.”

I glance outside, where the snow has slowed down.

“Xander is what’s best for me.”

“I like that a lot,” he replies, and we finish our breakfast.

An hour later, after I’ve helped wash the dishes and tidy up, I’m about to walk out to my truck, but I stop and turn back to him.

“I have a question.”

“Shoot.”

“What’s Xander’s middle name?”

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

XANDER

“Well, you’re fun tonight.”

Cooper and Brit invited me over for Wednesday night dinner, and I came, despite not wanting to.

“What’s going on with you?” Brit asks.

“Well, Ivy’s flights were all canceled today, but I’m not convinced she’s coming back at all.”

The two of them look at each other and then back at me.

“Huh?” Cooper says. “Why not?”

“We had a . . . shit, I don’t know what it was. Not really a fight. A misunderstanding? An impasse, I guess. It freaks her out that I love being here. I can tell that she’d rather I wasn’t playing hockey, and I can’t give up this career for her.”

“Men are so fucking stupid,” Brit mutters, and I glare at her.

“Don’t say it,” Cooper warns me. “I don’t want to have to punch you for disrespecting my girl.”

“I’m not an asshole.”

“No, you’re an idiot,” Britney says. “Honey, that woman loves you to bits, and she loves that you play hockey.”

I rub my hand over my face.

“You weren’t there yesterday morning.”

“No, I wasn’t. But we had a talk. I’ve known that something was amiss. I won’t betray her trust, but I’m telling you that she doesn’t want you to quit your job. She’s damn proud of you.”

She clarified, more than once, that I’m happy here. That this is what I want.

Why would she do that?

“I asked her to stay to talk it out, and she left anyway.”

They both blink at me.

“Yeah, ’cause she has a job, Xander. Same as you.” Britney sighs. “I didn’t dig too deep with her. You’re right, something’s off, but she doesn’t want to leave you, and she doesn’t want you to quit. I think you need to sit down and have a really meaningful talk. That woman is coming back.”