CHAPTER 25

SCOTT

When Ashley wraps her fingers around my arm, it takes nearly every ounce of strength I possess to keep a smile on my face. My first instinct is to rip her hands away and ask what the fuck she’s doing, but then I think better of it, because that probably wouldn’t look very professional. The last thing I want to do is draw bad publicity before my season with the Devils even begins. So, I do my best to maintain a smile while answering question after question about my connection to Josh, but it’s hard as fuck. Now that Skylar and I have been intimate, another woman’s touch is unwelcome and feels downright wrong. No matter how familiar it is. I wait for the press to turn their attention to Coach Bishop before I quietly pull Ashley down the hall and out of sight.

“You mind explaining what the fuck that was about?” I hiss through clenched teeth.

She peers up at me, innocently batting her lashes as a sinister smile appears. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Can a girl just be proud of her man?”

Her man?

“I’m not your fucking man!” I snarl. “What the hell do I need to do to make you understand it’s over between us? It’s been over since December.”

“I know you keep saying that, but that’s not what you were saying two weeks ago in the bathroom.” She tries running a hand over my chest, but I grab her wrist and shut her down.

“That never should have happened. I was drunk and obviously not using my head,” I scowl. “There is no way in hell we’re ever getting back together, for sex or otherwise. I don’t want to have this conversation with you ever again.”

Anger flashes in her eyes and the corners of her mouth turn down. “It’s because of her, isn’t it? Don’t bother denying it. I saw the two of you on your Insta. She’s why you don’t love me anymore.”

“Leave her out of this,” I threaten before my eyes search the area for any sign of Skylar.

“Oh, my God. You actually have feelings for her, don’t you? How do you go from someone like me to someone like… Her?” she asks with disgust.

Her question hangs ugly in the air, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. This is the same kind of bullshit Sky’s had to put up with her entire life. From bitchy high school girls to asshole jocks who cared about only one thing. Hell, her own mother had been guilty of it. All of them made it their goal in life to treat the Skylars of this world as if they aren’t worthy. As if they are somehow less than them.

I’m through allowing it to happen.

“Shut up, Ashley.” I get right up in her face so she’ll get a good look at my eyes when she hears my next words. “I could never be with someone like you again. When we were together, all you ever did was manipulate me and want me to change into something you approved of. Christ, that’s not love, Ashley. I’ll never allow myself to be treated that way again. I don’t need to pretend to be anyone else. Skylar accepts me for who I am, and that’s why I love her.”

“She’s not enough woman for you,” she says desperately.

“Not only is she enough, she’s the only woman for me. Good-bye, Ashley.” I turn away and fall in step with the passing crowd. As I’m walking, I pull out my phone to call Skylar, but she doesn’t answer. I shoot her a text before heading inside the locker room to shower and change. By the time I’m finished, she still hasn’t responded and the possessive side of me starts to worry; soon, that worry turns into confusion. I’m afraid to leave the arena, because I don’t know if she’s here looking for me and maybe her phone died and she has no way of getting in touch with me.

I manage to get in touch with Cassie and Laney, and they both tell me Skylar was fine while they were all watching the game. Cassie mentions that Skylar was pretty choked up during the presentation, but that still doesn’t explain why she wouldn’t have just come to me where I could have held her and tried to make her smile. Why would she up and disappear?

While I’m on the phone with Cassie, I miss a text from Skylar. I have to look twice to make sure I’m reading it correctly.

I think we need some time apart.

What the actual fuck? Her words confuse me, because they come out of nowhere. Last night, we shared an amazing night together. Hell, the last two weeks have been nothing short of amazing. I know she’s heading back to Atlanta tomorrow, but that doesn’t explain her sudden need to bolt. To make matters worse, she doesn’t answer her phone and I haven’t a fucking clue why she ran off or where she even is. I keep telling myself if she’s back at the apartment, I’ll be able to get to the bottom of her disappearance.

I hightail it out to the parking lot and put the Charger in gear, breaking a few laws to make it home in record time. When I pull into the lot, I see Skylar’s rental still parked where it usually sits. I race into the stairwell and use every ounce of strength I have remaining, which isn’t a whole lot considering I’ve just finished crouching on the ice for damn near two hours. But right now, it seems as if I’m running on pure adrenaline and fear. I’m heading straight for Skylar’s door when I notice a small box resting against the foot of mine. I reach down to pick it up and notice a folded-up piece of paper is tucked behind it. Stuffing them both under my arm, I look over at her door, knowing deep down if I were to knock, she’d no longer be waiting behind it to greet me. She’s already gone.

Scott,

I don’t really know where to begin. These last two weeks have been some of the best days of my life. You’ve reminded me of what it was like to feel beautiful and desired. Something I haven’t allowed myself to feel in a long time. For that, I thank you.

I wanted to believe we could make this work, but then I saw you tonight with your ex, and it brought back a flood of memories that continue to haunt me. I realized there will always be an Ashley or Rachel for me to deal with. Girls will always be throwing themselves at your feet, and I can’t compete with them. Furthermore, I’m tired of wanting to.

Maybe it would be best to look at our time together as a chance for closure. I hate that word, but maybe I hate it because it feels so final, and final is not a word I associate with you. These last two weeks have proven that I never really got over you. Truth be told, I probably never will. I want you to know I don’t regret what we shared, and I hope in some way you never get over me, either. I know I’ll never be able to look at a pair of rubber boots the same way again.

Forever and always,

Sky

I carefully fold the note and take a seat in the closest chair before attempting to open the box. Common sense tells me what I find inside is probably going to gut me. I lift the lid and remove the piece of cotton hiding what’s beneath it. One hand goes to my mouth as I reach inside to slip a finger through the silver ring and watch mesmerized as the little boot dangles in the air.

I’m at a loss. I feel helpless, yet the compulsion to chase after her is so strong it’s all I can do to remain seated. She’s asked for time, and I need to honor that, but I feel we’ve been given a second chance, and there’s no way in hell I’m waiting another four years for our paths to cross again.

***

“Why would she leave without saying good-bye? What the fuck did you do?” Davis demands, looking to Cage before turning his attention back to me. “This happened four days ago. Why didn’t you call us?”

“Man, why do you think I didn’t call? I needed some time to myself. I had a lot of shit to figure out.”

Cage turns in the seat next to mine and offers a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “Have you spoken to her since she left?”

I shake my head and motion for Melissa to bring me another beer. The Hideout is busy tonight, but it’s not long before she slides another in front of me, narrowing her gaze as she clears away the pile of empties. “What the hell’s going on with you, Scott? You look like someone took a shit in your sandbox.”

“His woman dumped him,” Davis pipes up. “Clearly, he’s not taking it well,” he says, hooking a thumb at the stack of empty bottles in her hands.

She looks over her shoulder while dumping the empties in a bin. “Is this the same girl you were in here with last week? The cute blonde from Atlanta?”

“That’d be the one.” Cage tips his beer at Melissa.

“Damn. That’s a shame. I liked her. I was kinda hoping she’d stick around,” she says while wiping down the bar. “You two looked good together, too.” She grimaces right away. “Shit. Sorry, Scott. I probably shouldn’t have said that out loud.”

“It’s okay.” I wave it off before tipping back the rest of my beer. I momentarily consider ordering another but decide against it. I don’t want to feel like shit in the morning. I look back at Melissa to find she’s staring at me with one hand propped on her hip. When our eyes connect, she raises one perfectly arched brow, and I respond by doing the same.

“Well?” A second hand shoots to her other hip.

“Well, what?”

“What are you going to do to win her back? Smart guy like you, surely, you must have a plan?” By now, she’s moved on to drying a rack of glasses, stacking them behind the bar as she goes. When I don’t answer, she stops what she’s doing and comes over to me. “Let me ask you something. Do you miss her?”

By now, Cage and Davis have gone silent, because they’ve probably been asking themselves the same question since I broke the news to them earlier.

“Of course, I do,” I answer without hesitation.

“So? What are you waiting for? Go after her. I’m not sure what went down between you two, but I’m sure it’s something that can be fixed. She seemed like a smart girl to me. Good head on her shoulders.”

“She won’t talk to me, and I believe it’s all because of a big misunderstanding.”

“What do you think happened?” Cage questions.

“Based on the note she left, I’m pretty sure it has something to do with Ashley. After the ceremony, there were a bunch of reporters in the tunnel, and they were asking a shitload of questions. Ashley came up to me and put her hands all over me. I think Skylar may have seen that going on and took it the wrong way,” I answer with a groan.

“What the fuck was that bitch even doing there, and why the hell did you let her touch you? Seriously, Scott. That girl is like a disease, and you need to sever all ties to her. Permanently,” Cage grumbles.

“No shit. You think I don’t already know that? I didn’t want her touching me, but what could I do? We were surrounded by reporters and cameras, and I didn’t want to make a scene. I guess I figured I’d endure it for five minutes and then come clean about it to Skylar so she wouldn’t be pissed at me.”

“Looks like that plan backfired on you,” Davis quips.

“Do you want her back?” Cage asks sincerely.

“More than anything, but I’m not sure how to make that happen when she won’t answer her fucking phone.”

“Seriously? Are men always this fucking stupid? Women are not as complicated as you make us out to be,” Melissa announces, pouring vodka and cranberry juice into a shaker and snapping on the lid before she begins shaking it. “Look, whether you intended to or not, you’ve hurt her, and words alone aren’t going to fix this mess. She needs action.” She pours the concoction in a martini glass and garnishes it with a wedge of lime before delivering it to the woman sitting on the other side of Cage.

Davis’ forehead crinkles in confusion. “By action, do you mean sex?”

“No, asshole,” Cage growls. “She means that he needs to do something to show Skylar that she’s the only girl for him.”

“Another grand gesture.” Davis shakes his head. “Here we go again. Okay, let’s think of what you should do.”

“I’m going to Atlanta,” I announce before pulling out my phone to check outgoing flights. “I have a lot to say, and I need to be there to see her face when I finally say it.”

“Yes! This is good,” Melissa cheers. “How are you going to convince her?”

“I haven’t figured it all out yet, but I think I know a way to get her attention. All I need to do is convince her best friend that I’m worthy of her.” I place a twenty on the bar and lean over to drop a kiss on her cheek. “Thanks for the kick in the ass.”

“Go and get her!!” she calls after me as I hightail it out of the bar.

On the walk back to my apartment, I fire up my phone and locate the number Skylar gave me in case I ever needed to get in touch with her and she wasn’t answering. He answers on the second ring, and after I’m convinced he’s alone, I tell him my plan. It takes some convincing, but he finally agrees and tells me that she’s been miserable without me. That makes two of us. I’m going to need his help if I hope to pull this off. What I have in mind is crazy and could backfire big time if I’m not careful, but I know in my heart it’s what I want. I can only hope it’s what her heart still wants as well.