BLANK SPACE
“I told you this wasn’t a fucking vacation,” I growl, propping myself up against the wall in the owner’s suite at the arena.
I’m shocked that Paul actually had the balls to pick up the phone. Then again, he’s sporting an extra pair these days now that he has his boyfriend by his side. What the fuck?
“Listen, Dad, I know you don’t like the media circus, but I’m happy. Why can’t you just be happy for me?”
Closing my eyes and letting out a breath, I drop my head back against the wall. What the fuck am I supposed to say to that? I could give two fucks who my son dates. And of course I want him to be happy. But what he’s doing is cruel. Parading around and flaunting his new relationship after cheating on Lake. Knowing she’ll see it all. My anger has nothing to do with who he’s dating and everything to do with how he’s gone about this entire thing.
“How are you paying for a vacation in Bali?”
Paul practically chokes on his words. “My credit card, obviously.”
Flames erupt inside me.
Obviously. This fucking kid.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You don’t have a job, Paul. And you don’t understand the first thing about responsibility. You fucked up, and rather than owning it and doing what I asked so that you wouldn’t hurt Lake even more than you already have, you’re fucking gallivanting around on my dime. It ends now. I’m shutting off your card access. Hope it was worth it.”
Without waiting for a response, I tap End and throw my phone onto the couch.
“How can we help?” Gavin asks, hauling himself up from one of the seats behind the glass. The private show for the players is set to begin in thirty minutes, and I can’t imagine what’s going through Lake’s mind.
“He was supposed to go to my cabin in the mountains. Lay low for a few weeks. Let the girl lick her wounds. He couldn’t even give her that.” I shake my head. He’s so fucking clueless.
Beckett pulls on his neck. “She seemed okay when she walked off.”
I roll my eyes. He has no idea what a woman needs. The man still can’t admit to himself that he’s obsessed with his head of PR. And she’s completely unavailable. It’s ridiculous.
So excuse me for not taking his word for it. I need to make sure Lake’s fine myself. With a huff, I pocket my phone and turn on my heel.
Gavin grabs for me as I head toward the door. “Give her some space. She mentioned revenge. Sounds to me like she needs to find a guy to fuck. Ya know, move on from the humiliation and feel wanted again.”
The fire inside me flashes hotter at the image of Lake wrapped around a faceless man. “That’s the last thing she needs,” I grit out through clenched teeth.
“Respectfully,” Gavin holds up a hand, “it’s not up to you to figure out what she needs. She’s your son’s ex.”
Both brothers blink at me like I’ve lost my damn mind. Maybe I have, because I stopped thinking of Lake as my son’s anything the moment she looked at me like she wanted me to kiss her. And if I’m honest, I probably haven’t considered her his for a lot longer than that.
But because she is, in fact, his ex, I stalk to the bar rather than the door, and pour myself a ginormous glass of whiskey.
