Page 65 of How We End

“It’s not Emily, it’s Wyatt.”Wyatt’s name slipped so easily from my mouth.I couldn’t even think of her as Cassidy anymore.

“You can’t go back…” Anders paused.“Wyatt?As in the Wyatt I may or may not know?”

“You know a lot of women named Wyatt?”

“I know one.”

“Then we know the same one.”I hit play on the game.There, it was done.I told him, and now we could move on.Next I’d tell the team.Going public with Emily had been easy.She was in the same circle.Most of the girlfriends and wives were familiar with the sport.Friends of a friend.That was what Emily had been.Wyatt was an outsider.

“Wow, okay.”Anders took another sip of his beer.“I didn’t realize it was that serious.”

“We’re not talking marriage yet.Hulton likes to shoot from the left circle, you see that?”So had my father.People loved comparing Payton Hulton to my father.The little shit even said he idolized my father.He could fucking have him.

Anders choked on his beer.“Yet.Bro, you’re not even divorced from the first one.Pump the breaks.And I’m not sure you’re ‘dating’ someone if you are paying them.”

“Seriously?Fuck off, Andy.”It would be easier if Wyatt and I kept to ourselves.The season was almost over.There were only fifty-two games left in the regular season.Fuck.

“What do you want me to say?I feel like I don’t even know you.You’re never around anymore.You weren’t at cards last night.You’ve been late for the gym every day.You skipped it yesterday.It’s like you’ve found someone… oh, you have.”

People often teased Anders for his blondish hair.He wasn’t dumb, but he didn’t always connect all the dots in life.He, like most players, never went to college.There was no need.The NHL came calling, and we went running.“Stop being so dramatic.What the fuck did you think I was doing?”

“I don’t know, therapy or AA or something?”

“AA?I’m not a drunk.”I looked at the one beer I was still nursing.“At least not anymore.”Last summer had been rough.It was easier to be drunk when I was around the players who had witnessed Emily and me break.

“Okay, but you’re still an asshole.”Anders winked over his beer bottle.

“What are you talking about?”My phone vibrated.It was Mason confirming numbers for Christmas.

“What are you talking about?Oh shit, did you see that?Host took out Manny.”Anders was watching the TV.“Fuck, he is going to feel that.”

“Host likes those dirty hits.”

“You can’t let him bait you, Jules.Any more time in the penalty box, and Coach is going to need to go to AA.”

“Why would he go to AA?”My phone buzzed again.Walker, another teammate, had chimed in about Reno.

“Is that Wyatt?”Anders asked, not looking away from the TV.

“No, Trembles and Walker asking about Reno.”

“You’re not thinking about asking Wyatt, are you?”Anders didn’t look at me.

I hadn’t really thought about it.It would be a soft launch.The guys who went were the ones I could trust.They’d treat Wyatt with respect.“You don’t think I should?”

Anders paused the TV and stared at the frozen picture.I had known Anders since he was eight.His family was my billet when I played for the Knights.I spent more time with his father than my own.“You don’t think that’s a good idea?”

“You know she’s an escort, right?And that she?—”

“Yeah, I know.What’s your point?”It always came back to what she did.Like I needed a daily reminder.“I thought you liked her?”I picked at the label on the bottle.

“I do.”

I could hear the hesitation in his voice.“But?”

Anders sat back and let out a breath.“I’ve known you most of my life.I’ve watched or been part of every game you’ve ever played.And I’ve never seen you as shaken as you were after what Emily did.I was worried she was going to be the reason we lost you as a player.”He looked over at me.“Wyatt is great.She’s smart, and from what I’ve seen, she’s done wonders for your game.But man, how can you be okay with what Wyatt does but let what Emily said destroy you?”

There were parts of my relationship with Emily people didn’t see.Emily wanted to be in the spotlight.She wanted to be Mrs.Julian Silver because at the time, my name was in those bright lights.When it wasn’t, she found someone whose name was.As much as I hated to admit it, Payton Hulton was and would continue to be a great player.They’d talk about him as a player for a long time.I’d be the son of Quinton Silver.The player who could’ve been something.