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My lips part and I exhale softly. There are about forty journalists between him and me. I know he’s not going to make a scene, because he knows how much I’d hate that.
I just want this all to be over.
My dad puts on his trademark smile and leans forward into the microphone. “Well, folks, don’t ever tell me I don’t put on a show for you.”
And of course the journalists laugh.
“I’m going to ask you one thing,” he continues, still grinning. “Just pretend to be interested in the game, okay? The first ten questions need to be about that.” He glances over at Eli, then at Danny. “And after that, we’ll take a personal question for each member of the teams. Just one.” He lifts a brow. “Including me.”
The first few questions go smoothly. Dad answers one, Eli another, then they ask Carter about his goal and he basks in the limelight. And I realize why Eli is here. Not because he wants to answer any questions but because he loves his team.
They deserve this kind of exposure. He’s going to make sure they get it.
And when the technical questions are done, thirty hands shoot up. My dad picks a journalist in the center and everybody else groans at not being chosen.
“This question is for Eli Salinger,” she says. “Are you and Greg’s daughter in a relationship?”
Eli’s lips are tight. He glances at my dad and then over at me. And I realize that if he says no he’s lying.
We are in a relationship. I nod at him and he frowns, not understanding.
You can tell them. It’s okay. I love you.
“I, ah…”
“He’s just taking my sloppy seconds,” Danny says, leaning into his mic. “I told him he needs to aim for the Gauthier double. Both sisters. I can highly recommend it.”
Eli’s on his feet before Danny can finish speaking. His eyes are narrow, his jaw tight, as he stalks toward the man who once broke me.
Goran and Carter stand, too. They don’t know why Eli’s so mad but they’re on his side no matter what. But then the last person I expect to back him up is behind him.
My dad.
“Son,” he says, putting a hand on Eli’s shoulder. “I’ll take this one.”
And then my dad reaches for Danny’s collar, yanking him out of his chair. Danny tries to push Dad off him, but there’s still a lot of strength in my old man. He releases Danny’s collar and shoves him hard, until Danny falls backward, landing ass first on the floor.
“If I ever hear you disrespect my daughters again, I’ll hit you so hard you won’t know what fucking year it is,” Dad says, his voice gritty. Danny frowns and starts to open his mouth. Cameras are clicking and phones are being held up. My face flames even though only three people in the room know I’m one of the daughters he’s referring to.
“Shut the fuck up,” Carter tells Danny. “Seriously, man. I used to fucking worship you, but if you say a single word I’m going to slam my fist against your teeth.”
Eli’s eyes connect with mine again. He leans in to whisper at Carter, who reluctantly nods and goes to sit down. Danny stalks over to the door with as much dignity as he can muster, which isn’t a lot.
And then he sees me.
He frowns and looks back at Dad, then at me again, before dramatically turning to the waiting journalists.
“I hope you enjoyed me landing on my ass,” he says. “But if you want to see something better, just Google Mackenzie Gauthier. She’s standing right there.” He points at me, and everybody turns to stare. “There’s a hilarious video of her baring everything on the ice. Check it out, I think you’ll love it.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
ELI
Mackenzie’s face falls. The journalists start doing exactly what Hart told them to, googling her name.
Brian turns to look at her with a frown and she nods. There are tears in her eyes and I’m going to kill Danny Hart.
If I can find him.
