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PAIGE

C hristian stalks toward me, his hands outstretched as though he’s ready to wrap them around my throat. A game we used to play until it stopped being fun.

“You’re a goddamn menace, you know that?” he scoffs as he shakes his head.

“ Me ,” I yell. “I haven’t done anything.”

“Just tell me what you know.”

“I told you.” I step forward, getting in his face. “I didn’t see or hear anything.” I’m lying, of course, and he probably knows that, but without proof, he’s got nothing. Like me.

Christian stares, his pupils dilated, as a few seconds tick by. And just when I think I’m going to have to repeat myself, he releases a quick breath. “Either way, we’re done.”

“Fine by me.” A shiver runs down my spine, but I keep my posture straight, confident, refusing to let him see how rattled I am. “Feel free to leave.”

“It’s funny that you think it’s going to be that easy.” He laughs sadistically. “I’m not going until you pose with me. For old times’ sake.”

My skin crawls but I put on a smile. He’s right—we need to do this or we’ll be gossiped about for months. “Where do you want me?”

“Our favorite spot.” He dons a fake smile of his own before stepping out onto my balcony, expecting me to follow without a word. And I do. Because I want this over with just as much as he does.

He perches on the edge of the hot tub, positioning himself with the sparkling New York skyline as his background, beckoning me over. “Come on, baby. Let’s show the world we’re amicable.” He smirks, rolling up his sleeves to show off his arm candy. And God knows, his arms are candy . Everything about this man used to make my mouth water with hunger. Chiseled jaw, peppered with the perfect amount of stubble. Dark piercing eyes. Perfectly plump lips. Abs made of steel. He’s the definition of Adonis.

But he’s a dick and I’m done with his games. And the rest of it.

I’m ready to make my own moves.

I gloss my lips as I walk over and sit beside him, letting the split in my skirt fall open as I angle my legs toward his. A signal of comfort. I’m happy, he’s happy, we’re all goddamn happy. Plastering a signature smile on my face, I lean in and laugh. “Ready when you are, babe . But don’t ever call me ‘baby’ again.”

Christian raises a brow in challenge and I look away. “You love when I call you baby, but”—he grabs my chin as he leans closer, turning me to face him—“consider it retired.”

Dropping his grasp, he reaches for his phone and positions it in front of us, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “Say… best friends.”

“Best friends,” I repeat cheerily, the lie tasting bitter in my mouth.

“Okay. One more now. Three, two, one. Smile .”

Socialite Paige D’Angelo and Billionaire Christian Mikkleson confirm their split after months of speculation. The pair shared the news together on their social media platforms, claiming the split was a mutual decision.

EASTON

I stare at my sister, a rage simmering under the surface of my skin. She’s the messenger. She’s the messenger. She’s the messenger.

“Don’t kill the messenger,” she pleads, raising her hands in the air, alerting me to the fact that maybe my rage isn’t as hidden as I thought.

“How are we only just finding out about this?” I question, working hard not to aim my anger her way.

“They were worried you’d try to shut down the show,” she says, a little defeated because…

“Rightly so. This is bullshit, Keeley. I didn’t sign up for that.”

I didn’t sign up for any of it. During what was the biggest season of our football careers, the Storm owner—or ex-owner now—decided it would be a good idea to welcome the filming of a TV show centered around the team. It was met with backlash from day one, but they persisted, and when episode one aired, after we won the Super Bowl, it quickly soared to the number one spot.

Everyone’s watching it. My mom, my sister, supporters, players from other teams…

And Isaac.

I never imagined showing him would be an issue considering I don’t share anything about my personal life. Or him. But it turns out, someone else did it for me.

“I’m just as pissed as you are, East. But technically they didn’t do anything wrong. It was Zane that brought it up.”

That little fucker. As if it’s not bad enough that my teammate slept with my girlfriend—now ex—the mother of my child, but he has to share the news with the world. Claiming I attacked him unprovoked when he was trying to come clean.

“Is there any way we can convince them to cut that storyline?” I ask since she’s the media liaison for our team and worked closely with the crew.

“I doubt it; it airs next week.”

“Next week ? They never even asked me to comment.”

“Actually they did.” She cringes. “You refused.”

My mind drifts back to the filming. They asked me for a lot of things and I pretty much denied them all. Toward the end, I didn’t even listen to what they were saying.

“Fuuuck.”

“Yep.”

“Can Amelia do anything?”

“Unlikely. She doesn’t work there anymore, remember?”

Amelia was the director of the show, and while I barely knew her, I trusted her to keep my personal business out of the spotlight. Hell, I even trusted the director that took over when she left to have a baby with my teammate Luke. But the producers… I didn’t trust them for a second and I was right.

“Fuckers.”

Keeley frowns sympathetically. “I wish I had better news. But I did tell you—”

“I know.” I cut her off, not wanting to hear how she told me I should cooperate. Again. It doesn’t change anything now.

How the fuck am I supposed to shield Isaac from the shit show between his parents if it’s forever immortalized on a TV show starring his dad? What the hell was Macy thinking? Of all the guys she could have chosen, she had to go for Zane. The only guy who cares more about his cock than his teammates.

“I need to get away. If I’m here when that episode airs, they’ll be all over me. I can’t do that to Isaac.”

I should be riding the high of my first ever Super Bowl win. I should be feeling on top of the world. Unstoppable. Instead, I’ve been forced into the shadows. Again . The first time being when my separation from Macy leaked. And now this.

Fuck my life.

I suck in a deep breath as Keeley shakes her head. “You can’t leave Isaac with Macy.”

My jaw drops and the panic in Keeley’s voice has my anger growing. “Do you think I’m stupid? He’s been begging me to spend more time with Mom. I’m sure she’d love a week with him. And no one knows where she lives.”

Keeley grimaces. “Sorry. You know I don’t think you’re stupid, but I wasn’t sure what the two of you had decided. For custody and all that.”

Custody… I’d love it if we were discussing that. Then maybe I’d believe Macy actually cared. But she doesn’t.

“She’ll be fine with Isaac staying at Mom’s.” She’ll welcome it. She doesn’t want the responsibility.

“Good. Because you’re right; Mom will love it. Where do you think you’ll go?”

For the first time since I opened my door to Keeley, I smile. I know exactly where I need to be. But I’d prefer to keep it to myself.

“All you need to know is that it’s far away from here.”

It's the perfect place and I’m ready to cause absolute destruction.

The San Francisco Storm controversy continues in the latest episode of STORM CHASER. The episode highlights the tension between star wide receiver Easton Wilder and his rookie teammate Zane Fitzpatrick. We revealed last month that Easton split from his long-term girlfriend and mother of his child, and now we know why.