Page 99 of How We End

“I’m not threatening anyone.I’m simply pointing out the facts.”

“And what facts are those?”

“That you are giving this all up for some washed-up hockey player.”

My laughter echoed in the covered space.“Give up what, being your whore?Oh, please don’t take that away from me.”A cold wind whipped around the trash caught under the carport.I pulled my coat tighter around my neck.

“Oh, you find that funny, do you?”He grabbed my arm.“What is so special about him?Hmm?I have more money and power than he does.I will be around long after his name is forgotten.”

“I doubt that.And I don’t need your money.”I tried to tug my arm out of his grip.

“Tell me.”

“I don’t share my personal life with clients.Now let go of me,” I said between clenched teeth.There would’ve been a time losing Maverick scared me.But losing Julian scared me more.

“Is that all I am to you?A client?”He shoved me away.“Was I just a client when you called me in LA?When you had nothing?”His voice was low.“I’ve been the only one who has ever been here for you.Who made sure you were okay.And when he leaves you, it will be me who picks up the pieces.”

“And what the fuck has being with you gotten me?You have a life with Dana.You have birthdays and anniversaries.Holidays and all the things in between.I have nothing but the few moments when you want to get your cock wet.Is that all you think I deserve?Your leftovers?”

“And what do you think he will give you?Do you think Julian Silver is going to put his career on the line for a whore?”He stepped closer.“He’s not going to give you all those things.The birthdays and the anniversaries, all the moments in between, because you aren’t worth them.”

It felt like he had slapped me.“Careful, Maverick, you sound like a jealous housewife.”I turned from him, trying to rub the warmth back into my arms.

“And you sound like a stupid whore.”

“Oh, was that supposed to hurt?”I was done with this entire conversation.

“Sometimes the truth does.You still haven’t answered me.What can he give you that I can’t?You want a fucking birthday party?Fine, you can have one.Should I rent out Chuck E.Cheese?Or see if U2 will sing you happy birthday?”

Under the warm lights of the casino, he almost looked scared.It wasn’t because he cared about me.It was because he had lost.Once, I had wanted Maverick to love me.I even confessed that to him.He told me to grow up.So I did.“He will give me the one thing you wouldn’t.The one thing you can’t even give Dana.”

“There is nothing I can’t give you.”

I laughed, blinking back the tears.I might hate this man at this very moment, but we had been together for sixteen years.He had been the one constant in my life.“Love.That’s the one thing you would never give me.”

“You think he loves you?”Maverick laughed.“My god, you can’t be that stupid.Was he not a pity fuck?”

I stepped closer to Maverick.I thought the gilded cage he put me in was how you showed someone you loved them.But now I knew what real love looked like.“He’s the first man in sixteen years to make me come.”I watched my words find their target.“Can you give me that?”

Maverick’s car pulled up.

“Is he really worth losing everything I have given you?Your home, the security of this life?Everything I have done for you?It will all be gone if you don’t get in this car,” he said, opening my door for me.I stared at the open door, the soft leather and silence inside daring me to give in.It would be so much easier if I agreed with him.To let him win.But for Maverick to win, Julian would have to lose.

I would have to lose.

Las Vegas was the city of dreams.Whose dream was yet to be seen?

CHAPTERFORTY-SIX

JULIAN

February 3

“You gonna do your job and call that?”I yelled at the ref that skated around.He said nothing, just motioned for the trainers to tend to Anders.“Get some fucking glasses and use them to read the rule book.That was fucking boarding.”

“Settle the fuck down, Silver.It was a good hit.If he can’t handle a little hit like that, maybe he should pick up knitting,” Jensen chirped as he started skating back to the bench.

“Did you hear that, guys?We got a fucking comedian here on the ice.At least you found something you’re good at because it ain’t hockey,” I called to Jensen.