Page 140 of Puck My Life

“What are they doing?”

“I have no idea,” Jansen says sarcastically.

I glower at them and then dart down the stairs, moving closer to the ice.

“The thing is, what you don’t know about us is that Mal, Raynor, and I were all raised in the same foster home. Our parents and social workers dropped us off and left us at this house, with this woman who wasn’t warm and loving, but she was good. But in that house was another child, a little girl. She looked after us and became our best friend.”

Deacon shakes his head and laughs ruefully. “The only reason I’m on the ice today is because she believed in me, made me practice, and helped me when I pushed my body too hard.”

“Same. She’s given up everything for us,” Mal adds.

“We treated her terribly, and by the time we realised that Vae was the one, our scent match…well, I’m sure you’ve all seen the live. But we’re here because we made a mistake. We didn’t tell her, talk to her. We decided for her. This incredible, fierce omega who has handled not just her life but ours, who is more capable than any woman we’ve ever met, sorry, Marilyn. We took her choices, and we hurt her badly.”

Deacon struggles, so Raynor takes the mic from him. “We’re asking that you not go after Vae. Don’t give her your hate. Don’t talk about her like she’s another girl who stole a life you thought was yours. We’re asking the press to leave her alone. In exchange, Deacon and Mal will provide feature-length, in-depth interviews.”

I gape at the screen. They’ve always refused.

“The coach of our beloved team is aware of the situation, and Vae has the full support of the Scorpions with whatever she chooses to do.”

Chooses to do? What does that mean?

“Thank you for being supportive. Thank you for your love,” Mal says. “We love you guys. And…” he pauses, his face crumpling in despair that I want to wipe off his face, “Vae, we are truly sorry, and we love you.”

I whip around, glaring at Jansen. I storm up the steps to him and sit down so I’m facing him.

“They didn’t know I was going to be here?”

“They have no idea that you are here. In fact, they might think you are on a very expensive date on the other side of town, but a little birdie called me and told me to get our asses down here for the show,” he drawls. “You’re welcome.”

I huff and look down at my hands.

“Okay, talk to me. I’ll play fairy godmother one more time.”

“It felt like they broke me, like I was going to die-”

“Nope. Stop right there.”

“What?”

“Vae McMillan, I love you like you are the cousin I never wanted, so listen to me right now, and hear me. I don’t care how hard you fall in love with someone in your life, I don’t care how much it feels like your soul’s been shredded andyour heart splintered. You are too strong a person to die from the pain that someone else inflicts on you.”

I stare at him.

“You survived this heartbreak, and it was awful, but you survived, and if you took a chance, and they hurt you again, Vae, darling stubborn, pigheaded Vae, you would survive the pain again.”

“But-”

“No buts. You are the reason they are alive, the reason they thrived, the reason they attained their dreams. You went through all those years of unrequited love, watching as they grew into their stupid selves, and it didn’t kill you.”

I want to argue, but I’m stunned. I’ve never once thought of it this way.

“Vae, you came out brokenhearted and started a thriving company. You love them, and you can love them, but that’s not all that you are. You are a businesswoman, a friend, an intelligent, humorous individual who is far too kind with the biggest heart, and I, your friend, am telling you that there is nothing those three idiots could do to you that could break you completely. Vae, you are too strong.”

“Jansen.”

He shakes his head. “I’m privileged to be able to watch from the outside to see everything.”

“So, what are you saying?”