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CHAPTER FOUR

KENDRA

O f course he’s here.

Even if I wasn’t aware that tonight was a tradition for the Blades or he hadn’t been texting me nonstop, I’d still know exactly where to find him.

As his teammates move aside, I take a seat next to Tyler. I can barely look at him.

When he started blowing up my phone, I was all for leaving him on Read, but Jenna suggested I come here and show him what he’d missed out on last night. And that sounded like the best idea she’d had all season because, yeah, I’m pissed.

I know he hates the dress I have on purely because other men love it, but he can fuck right off if he thinks he gets to call the shots on what I wear. He’s called enough of them during our relationship.

My eyes are still glued to the black table in front of us when Tyler’s hand reaches behind my back and palms my ass. This is his way of saying sorry since he’s never been able to say it out loud, but unfortunately for him, I’m not in the mood to accept any kind of apology right now .

“Do you, um … want a drink?”

My gaze tracks the voice and lands on Jack Thompson. Well, Jack Morgan now. I saw him the second I walked into the bar and couldn’t help but steal a quick glance his way when I was talking to Tyler.

He’s hot. I’m not single, but I do have eyes, and, holy moly, he just went and got a whole lot hotter these past twelve months. His shoulders are way broader than they were, and his eyes somehow look much bluer than I remember. He’s also let his brown hair grow out, and it flops forward, kind of like how his stepdad wears his.

Though it’s not his appearance or white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows that has my full attention.

“Wait. You’re British.” Jenna speaks first, his accent clearly making the same impression it did on me.

I was kind of pissed that Jack and Tyler didn’t get along in college because, man, oh man, could I listen to him all day.

Jack smiles in response, popping his cute dimple, but he doesn’t look at Jenna. He keeps his attention straight on me.

“I’ll get the drinks,” Tyler interjects, leaning down to kiss my bare shoulder.

I snap my eyes away from Jack and look at my boyfriend. “No. I’m good, thanks. I can buy my own drinks.” I turn to Jenna. “Wanna help?”

Tyler doesn’t argue, and I stand, pushing my way out of the booth past him and his teammates.

The second I reach the bar and set my purse on the counter, Jenna’s hand lands on top of mine.

“Okay, hold up on ordering drinks because I’m going to need a minute. That’s Jon Morgan’s son, right? You never told me he was into you.”

I drop my head forward and giggle. “Um, what? I’ve never said anything because he’s not.”

Her brows knit together in confusion. “Kend, you have got to be kidding me. ”

Cautiously, I tip my head over my shoulder to see Jack joking around with Sawyer Bryce and Archer Moore.

“I think you’re going a little crazy.” I tap my pointer finger against my temple. “I’ve known Jack since the beginning of college, when he started playing with Tyler, and back then, I didn’t pick up any vibes either. Other than his hatred of my boyfriend.”

“Hmm …” Jenna responds. “Well, he had me with the British accent, and now I might be certifiably in love with him. He can obviously tell a dickhead when he sees one.”

I’d like to have the luxury of arguing with her and defending the guy I’m supposed to be head over heels for, but honestly, other than being in complete agreement with her, I don’t know what else I am right now. I definitely don’t know if I’m in love with Tyler anymore, and my stomach bottoms out at the thought.

“Talk to me, babe,” Jenna says, taking a seat at the bar. She looks down at the stool next to hers, asking me to join her. “You can barely look at the guy. This isn’t right anymore, is it?”

I blow into my cheeks and point at a random cocktail on the menu when the bartender approaches us. I’ve no idea what I selected, but if it has alcohol, then that’s all that matters right now.

“I don’t know what to say. I came to this city because this is where Tyler got drafted before college. In reality, I should probably be in London, playing in Premier League stadiums. I think that was my chance, you know? And I turned it down for a guy who …” I look over my shoulder to find Tyler with his head thrown back, laughter spilling out of him. The only person looking my way is Jack, and I offer him a small smile. “I guess he just isn’t that concerned about us. I’m tired of doing the chasing and hanging on to something that doesn’t seem worth the effort anymore.”

The bartender sets a blue cocktail down in front of me, and I sniffle, my senses tingling with sadness. “You were right about time. It shouldn’t matter how long you’ve been dating. It should still be exciting, but we’ve lost that, and he doesn’t want to make the effort to get it back.”

Jenna nods and sips her drink. “So, what are you going to do about it?”

“Talk to him, I guess. Tell him I’m unhappy, if he hasn’t already worked that one out.” I run a finger around the rim of my glass as it shines beneath the bar lighting.

“You okay?” A tall shadow looms over me, blocking the shine on my glass.

God, that British accent.

As he motions to the bartender, Jack turns to face me, leaning against the bar.

I shrug. “Yeah, I’m good.”

“You sure about that?” he replies.

“I-I’m just going to use the restroom,” Jenna announces, pushing off her stool and grabbing her bag. “Be back in a sec!” she sings.

I fight the urge to roll my eyes, knowing full well she doesn’t need to pee. She just went when we left my apartment twenty minutes ago.

“Yep. Just had a tough game today, and I’m tired,” I reply, still staring down into my cocktail since there’s no way I can look at him with glassy eyes.

He’s still standing to the side of me when he leans back further, attempting to capture my attention, and when he succeeds, the smile on his face causes my lips to tip up. Jack was always known around college as the nice guy. He spent nearly all his time at the rink or library, but for a short while, he dated a girl who was in the same English Lit course as me. She never said why they’d split, but she did say she was gutted. Although I never really got to know or see that side of him much since whenever I was around, so was Tyler.

“Is that a smile I see? ”

“Nope,” I reply, my smile growing all the while. “Too damn moody for that.”

He blows out a breath and hands the bartender a twenty-dollar bill. “Have these two drinks been settled?”

“Nah, on a tab for Tyler,” the bartender responds.

I reach into my purse to pay.

“I got them,” Jack replies to the bartender before looking at me. “If that’s okay with you?”

This time, when I look at him, I feel heat flush my cheeks. “You don’t have to.”

“I know. But what if I want to?” His voice is slightly flirtatious, or maybe that’s just my imagination after what Jenna said.

“Kend, the bartender knows to put your drinks on my tab, we take it in turns to pay and it’s my night.”

Jack’s lips morph from a smile to a scowl when Tyler sidles up beside me, taking Jenna’s stool.

“You buying my girl drinks, Morgan?” Tyler pins him with a glare, but I’m about ready to explode.

“ Your girl?” I look at Tyler and point at my chest. “First, I’m not some kind of possession you can claim, and second, so what if he was?”

Tyler rears back at the way I snapped at him, almost like he wasn’t expecting me to go off, but genuinely, I’ve had enough.

“Let’s be honest,” I continue. “It’s not like you were bothered when I came to sit over here a second ago or even when you stood me up last night.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Jack shift from one foot to the other.

“I’ll be right over there if you need me,” he says, gesturing toward the booth.

“Why would she need you?” Tyler scoffs. “I’ve got her handled.”

“ The fuck ?!” I announce. “I’m sorry, you’ve got me what now?”

Tyler’s face pales when he sees mine .

I snatch up my bag and slide off the stool, spinning around to face my boyfriend for what I know is the final time. My rage is at an all-time high, and humiliation flows through me. “Got me handled? Who the fuck do you think you are? You …” I bite down on my lip, attempting to steady my emotions. “You’re acting like a complete asshole!”

“Babe, are you okay?” Jenna asks as she approaches us, her head turning as Jack makes his way back to the booth.

“I want to leave,” I say, not taking my eyes off Tyler.

“Baby, don’t be like this.”

He reaches for my hand, but I snatch it away quickly.

“Don’t,” I bite out.

“Let me get my jacket,” Jenna says, grabbing it from the back of Tyler’s stool.

Tyler throws his arms up. “So, what? That’s it? You’re just going to bail on me?”

I choke out a laugh and throw an arm out behind me, gesturing toward the booth. I know people are watching our fight, but at this point, I couldn’t care less. “Why are you so upset, Tyler? You’re practically in a relationship with everyone but me anyway.”

He scratches at the back of his neck, guilt all over his face. I’m pointing at his teammates, but we both know there’s a fair chance he hasn’t always been faithful. I’ve never had hard proof, but I have seen questionable photos from away series and heard the rumors, all of which he straight-up denied when I asked him about them.

So, why have I never believed him?

Running a rough hand across his mouth, Tyler drops it to his thigh with a slap. “Let me come back to your place later, and we can talk about this. You know, rather than make a fucking scene in public. You might fly under the radar, but I’m famous, and people take pictures.”

I shake my head with a sarcastic laugh. “Yeah, you’re right. I am under the radar, aren’t I, Tyler? In fact, I barely register anymore. Well, let me make this real easy for you.” I step toward him, feeling more relieved than upset at what I’m about to say. “Don’t bother coming over tonight. In fact, don’t bother at all. We’re done.”