Page 60 of On the Breakaway

Liam grimaces. “I still can’t believe she dated that asshole.”

My head snaps toward him. “Who dated that asshole?”

“Avery,” Nathan repeats, clearly confused by my reaction. “For like a year, I think. Messy breakup.”

My grip tightens around my phone.

That’s her ex?

An article was just published about him assaulting a woman, and knowing how much of an asshole he is on the ice, he probably did it.

Suddenly, I’m remembering every drunk thing she said that night. The way she mentioned owing me after I helped her. The way she hesitated about going to my place. I try not to jump to conclusions, but it’s pretty fucking difficult when I know Damon’s a piece of shit.

“Did you guys see that shit about him in the news?” I ask.

“It’s gross that they’ll let him keep playing with allegations like that floating around,” Nathan says, curling his lip in disgust.

“We’re all just cogs in their wheel,” Wyatt adds.

My mind is still stuck on Avery. With Damon.

“Avery dated him, and now, he’s being accused of hitting a girlfriend. Do you think–”

Liam cuts me off before I can finish the sentence.

“Avery? There’s no fucking way. She would’ve eaten him alive.” He scrunches his brows as if forcing the implication out of his head. “Besides, she ditched the douchebag a long time ago.”

I nod, forcing myself to act indifferent, but really I’m piecing together how the timing of that article and Avery’s drunken night alone seems a little too convenient to be coincidental.

My phone vibrates again.

Chaos: Will I see you tonight?

Will she? None of this is my business.

And yet…

Me: Seems like you might want to see me.

Chaos: Usually no, but there’s something I want to ask you.

Me: Mysterious…

Chaos: Show up tonight and find out.

Me: Why would I do that?

She’s spent months making it clear she can’t stand me. And now she wants a favor? I should absolutely stay home. I shouldn’t be asking questions about her ex or worrying if she’s okay.

But then another message appears.

Chaos: Just come tonight. You already have the bra. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll see the other half of that matching set.

My entire body heats.

I reread the message four times, genuinely worried I’m seeing things. Because the Avery I know goes out of her way to remind me she doesn’t like me. She doesn’t bring up her panties in conversation.

But… fuck.