Page 117 of How We End

“Just a game?”Hannah shouted.“When’s your wedding?When’s the last time you spent a holiday with your family?It’s our life.”

I could see Teigen struggling with the truth Hannah spoke.“Julian would never give you up.”She turned to Hannah.“And neither would Mason.”

“Because I wouldn’t let it get to that point,” Hannah shouted.“If AJ came to me and said it was me or Mason’s career, I’d leave.”

“That’s because you’re a fucking freak.You need a fucking hobby that isn’t Mason and the team,” Teigen yelled.“Don’t listen to her, Wyatt.”

“No!This is their last chance,” Hannah pled with me.“This team will never play together again.Come June they will scatter, and for a lot of them, they will never get this chance again.Mason was so excited to be playing with Julian.He believed if anyone was going to give him a cup, it was him.And I know it’s not fair, but I want this so bad for Mason.I want him to hoist that cup and want it to be with Anders and Julian.Even Tyler.I’m sorry, Wyatt.I am, but I can’t let you destroy Mason.I love him too much.”

“Hannah, that’s not fair.You can’t put Mason’s career on her,” Teigen shot back.

“No, she’s right.Julian has worked too hard for this.It’s my mistake.I have to pay the price.”I forced a smile.“I should go.Thank you both for being so kind to me.”

“Keep in touch.”Hannah sadly smiled.

Outside, the sky was heavy with the threat of rain.

“Wyatt, wait.”Teigen chased after me.

I paused at my car.

“Don’t listen to her.I think Hannah wishes she were Mason.”She turned back to me.“Have you talked to Julian about any of this?”

“No.AJ thinks it would be best if I didn’t.”I wouldn’t lie to him, but I wouldn’t tell him the whole truth.“I’m sorry.You were a friend to me, and I betrayed all of you.”

“No, you didn’t.It’s sex, not murder.And we all have skeletons in our closet.I worked at a topless bar.”She squinted against the bright grayness.“It was before I met Anders.I needed the money.No one but Anders and Julian know.And now you.Anders always said it wouldn’t bother him if it got out.But I think it would.”

“This is far worse than a titty bar.Hannah is right.Julian has given up so much.They all have.”My father used to say a lie was easy to sell until the truth paid the bill.As a kid, it made no sense.But now it did.I sold myself the lie that none of this would matter.But now everyone around me would have to pay the price.“I think it’s best if I go.”

“For who?Julian?”Teigen stood next to me and toed at the grass in the cracks of the sidewalk.“People underestimate what he can handle.”She leaned against the car.“They sucked last season, not because of Julian.He had some bad games, but they all did.Walker was injured, and so was Anders.They didn’t lose because of Julian.It was a team effort.”She smiled.“I’m not saying Julian was in a good place.Because mentally he wasn’t.But that didn’t stop him from playing.And this won’t either.”

“And me?This will destroy my life.My family’s, yours, everyone I have known.”

“And that I understand.I love Anders, but I would never let his career destroy me.”Teigen watched a car pull up.Raylee got out.“Make sure he knows that’s the reason why.”

“Please watch out for him, okay?”I walked around to the driver’s side.

“Wyatt,” Teigen called.

I waited for her to say more, but there was nothing she could say that would change this.The truth had been spoken.“It’s okay.”

“When are you going to tell him?”

“Soon.”I got into the car and made it to the end of the block before I broke down.I’d give myself this moment.Just this one, then like all the other times in my life, I’d pick up the pieces and start again.

Regret was a bitter pill, and swallowing it was impossible.

CHAPTERFIFTY-SIX

WYATT

I didn’t want this moment to end.I inhaled it deeply as if I could keep it close to my heart.I memorized the way Julian felt next to me.The sound of his breathing and the weight of his hand on my back.We’d had dinner at a small restaurant, away from prying eyes.We had a room at the Oasis.

Everything would have been perfect if it weren’t the end.I felt bad that Julian didn’t know.He wouldn’t have the chance to take it all in like me because he thought there would be more moments like this.That we were just beginning.

“I have something to tell you,” I whispered.

“Hmm.”Julian was half asleep.