Page 74 of How We End

“Does she know?”Emily asked.

“There is nothing to know.”

“Yes, there is.You left me when I needed you the most.Bloody and broken.How could you do that, Julian?You knew how much that baby meant to me.”

I backed away from her.“No.I will not let you put this on me.”

“Why?Because you don’t want to face the truth.”She stepped closer.“I know I’ve made some mistakes.But you’ve no idea how hard it is to be married to you.All the games.The travel.There were weeks I only saw you for a few hours.And don’t get me started on what happened when you had a shitty game.I was supposed to tiptoe around you.And god forbid I needed something during the playoffs.You treated me like?—”

“Like what?”I grunted past the pain from any slight movement.“You married a hockey player.What the hell did you think it would be like?”

“Not like this.”She looked me up and down.“You didn’t even try to make this easier on me.You had more concern for your fucking stick than your wife when she called you from the ER.You left me alone.I called?—”

“The wrong person.You called the wrong person.I want you to leave and to stay the fuck away from me,” I shouted.I knew she was cheating on me before February.Teigen had seen her having lunch with Payton.I didn’t want to believe that it was anything more than what Emily said.They were friends.But in February the proof was there.I couldn’t deny it anymore.

“Why do you keep throwing that in my face?I said I was sorry!And I calledyoubecause you are my husband.I thought you would do the right thing.To be a fucking man for once.I gave up everything for you.I always put you first, and it cost me the family I always dreamed of.And now I’m here, begging for you to save this marriage, and all you can do is throw my mistakes in my face.You’re not perfect either, Julian.You’re a selfish fucking asshole.”

“I know.”I didn’t know any other way.My father told me to be good, really good, I would have to sacrifice everything.Leave it all on the ice because you never know which game will be your last.Hudson hadn’t.He wouldn’t play through the injury, and he lost the game.

“You’re worthless as a husband and a man.I don’t know what I ever saw in you,” Emily whispered.

I closed my eyes for a moment, suddenly tired of fighting her, my body, this fucking sport.I pressed the heel of my hand to my head; she was right.

“Then why are you here?”

I opened my eyes to see Wyatt standing in the doorway, Teigen behind her.

“Excuse me?”Emily turned to face Wyatt.

“I asked why you were here.If he is all those things, why are you here?”Wyatt stepped into the room.She was taller than Emily, and even dressed in dark leggings and a sweater, Wyatt outshone Emily.I knew Wyatt was beautiful, but seeing her in the harsh fluorescent light standing near two women who others would say were pretty, Wyatt was stunning.

“There must be some reason.”Wyatt cocked her head, and her blue eyes flashed.“Otherwise, you seem desperate.And that’s not a good look for a woman of your age.”

“So this is her.”Emily mocked me.“This is what you’re into?”

Teigen stepped in front of Wyatt.“You should go before I call security, Emily.You’re not supposed to be back here.”

Emily turned to me.“I can see right through this.I know what she is, and it will not work.I know my value.”She turned on her heels and stopped in front of Wyatt.

“Emily,” I warned.

“What?Your new little toy can’t handle herself?She can’t handle the truth?”She looked Wyatt up and down.“You think you’re better than me?”

“I know I am.”Wyatt looked bored.

A smug smile crossed Emily’s red lips.“You realize I had him first, right?”

Wyatt caught my eye before she took a step closer to Emily, looking her up and down.“That’s what makes this so much better.Because you know what it’s like to be with him and you know how good he is at fucking, and you walked away.So I guess I should thank you for being so fucking stupid.Now go before you make a bigger ass of yourself.”

Teigen snorted out a laugh, and my world tilted back in place.

“You will not win,” Emily said.

“I already have.”Wyatt smiled.

“Emily, go,” Teigen said.“Now.”

“Fine.But sweetheart, take a piece of advice from hiswife.You’ll never be more important than this stupid game.”Emily brushed by Wyatt on her way out.