She nods against my bare chest.
“Good. I also have my agent working with her PR firm to create a plan in case we need one. Hopefully, we don’t, but I’d rather be prepared.”
“Thanks.”
I hate how defeated she sounds.
“Fuck. I wish I didn’t have to leave in an hour. This is the worst timing.”
“I know. It’s okay. I’m used to this kind of thing.”
“You shouldn’t have to be used to this.”
“Comes with the territory when your parents are movie stars.” The humorless little laugh that forces its way out of her throat has me tightening my arms around her even more.
If she’s going to break, I’ll hold her pieces together. Always. I couldn’t for the last ten years, but we’re together again. I won’t let her down.
“I’m going to make us some breakfast and coffee. This will all feel less overwhelming on a full stomach.”
Indie sighs when I press a kiss to her temple and let her go. I immediately feel cold and have to fight the urge to pull her back against me. But I don’t have much time before I need to get to the airfield, and I need to make sure she’s fed.
“Eggs and bacon okay?”
She nods.
“Good. Come on, sweetheart. You make the coffee, I’ll make the food.”
My head iswith Indie as I gear up for the game. I need to focus on my mental prep for tonight, but in the time it took us to fly from Minneapolis to Edmonton, things have blown up even more. It’s no longer contained to a local story. My relationship with Indie has become national news.
“You good, man?” Maddox sits next to me, his brown eyes focused on me, his features tight.
“I don’t know.”
He nods. None of my teammates have completely escaped public scrutiny of their relationships, but only Ryder and Lexi had to endure this level, since their story became national news because of Lexi’s dad. He was our head coach, and when he found out his daughter was dating Ryder, he flew off the handle in a very public way, which led to him losing his job mid-season.
“I know it feels counterintuitive, but the best thing you can do right now is focus on winning the game. If you’re distracted,they’re going to blame her. It’s bullshit, and we all know it, but it’s the truth. And you don’t want that for her.”
I shake my head. “Of course, I don’t.”
He’s right. If I fuck up tonight and I’m not in perfect control, the commentary about her will turn vicious all too quickly. These are the conference finals. The last series before the Cup. We’re too close for me to lose my head now, and not only will I let myself and my team down if I do, but I’ll let Indie down too.
“I’ll be okay. I know what I need to do.”
“I know you do.” Maddox lays a hand on my shoulder and squeezes tight. “Let’s win this. For her. For all of us. And then if someone tries to call your relationship into question, we can tell them to shut the fuck up.”
I nod. With Maddox’s hand still squeezing my shoulder, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, holding it for a count of ten before slowly releasing it. After a few repetitions, my heart rate slows and I don’t feel like I’m about to erupt from my skin.
I’m in control. I’m focused. I won’t let anyone I love down.
“Let’s do this.”
thirty-eight
INDIGO
It was toomuch to hope that news of my relationship with Bash would stay local. Or even that only hockey fans would take an interest. Within less than forty-eight hours, the news has reached my parents.
“Hey, honey.”