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He pushed off the couch. “Riley—”
I stepped back. Twice. “No. You knew that if this arrangement ever came between my career, I was out. Not only do I not have the time to spare, but if someone found out about us, I would be done for. This is my only option, Sebastian. I’m sorry.”
I turned around, not able to stand his face anymore, and headed forthe door.
I was just reaching out for the handle when his next words stopped me, his voice directlybehind me.
“Please don’t go. We can figure something out. Ilove you.”
No. No, please. Oh, God.
The wind left my sails, and my head fell onto the door with a bang. I didn’t feel the sting. I only felt Sebastian’s arms as they curled around my stomach.
My nails dug into his forearms. It would have been so easy to lean back into his warmth, letting him protect me and take away all my worries.
I savored the feel of him and then pushed on his arms. He didn’t fight me, and I escaped his embrace.
“I’m so, so sorry,” I muttered into the air. Then I was out the door and down the street before my heart could make meturn back.
Twenty minutes later, I was back at the arena gym, running full tilt on the treadmill until I tasted blood. Then I picked up some free weights andpushed on.
Chapter 17
With a heavy thud of my foot, I stopped dead and checkedmy watch.
New personal best!
With a little pep in my step, I danced up the steps to my house, into the kitchen to grab some water, and through the living room, where my mood was violentlymurdered.
Like they had been doing for the past few weeks since I broke things off with Sebastian, Drew and Mason sprang out of each other’s arms and settled farther apart on my couch. One would think I just walked in on them mid-bone and discovered that they were gay. Honestly, that would have been preferable to what they were actually doing—trying to be “sensitive” about my “break up” by not rubbing their relationship in my face.
I’d told them a million times to knock it off, but they were determined to not cause more pain to my “broken heart.” I knew I should appreciate the sentiment, but it was just pissing me off.
Even interacting with Sebastian was less painful than them sometimes. But that was probably because Sebastian hadn’t looked in my direction, on or off the ice, even once since he told me he loved me and I rejected him.
My watch picked up the spike in my heart rate.
I took even breaths and watched the number on my wrist go down. This stupid avoidance game was almost over, and then I wouldn’t have to see Sebastian again for months. Because tonight was the Blizzards’last game.
I took a distracted sip from my bottle before I realized Drew’s mouth was moving.
I lowered my water and removed my earbuds. “Sorry? What were you saying?”
“We came to a decision yesterday and just wanted to give you aheads up.”
“A decision about what?”
Mason took over. “I’m going tocome out.”
A pause, then my mouth dropped open. “Of the closet?”
“Yeah.” Mason grasped Drew’s hand. “I’ve been thing about it since that half-naked run-in with Kings—” Mason coughed. “I mean, I’ve been thinking about it for a while. And I realized that I don’t want to have to come up with lame excuses every time I’m seen with Drew. I want to be able to shout that he’s my boyfriend. And hold his hand in public. And blow him a kiss through the boards before every game.”
Drew blushed.
“But what about hockey?” I asked.
“I’m sure it will all be fine. They have queer women in the league.” He gestured toward me. “I doubt they will riot over a queer man, and even if they do, I’m tired of hiding. I just want to be out and happy with Drew. I’m willing to takethe risk.”
