According to the caption and a quote from the woman, Jeanine Sheridan, she and Alex were a serious item and she’d been helping him through the tough loss in game seven of the semifinals. She’d even alluded to the fact there might be wedding bells in their future.
Charley’s blood turned to ice water.
For days, she’d been a powder keg of emotion, throwing off serious sparks.
Now, she felt nothing.
She was numb.
“Sounds like he’s been seeing her a while,” Ben said, as she handed the phone back. “I’m really sorry, Charley. When I saw that, I realized cheating was a shitty thing to do to someone you loved and I—”
“Get your stuff,” she said, wanting him to get the fuck out of the apartment.
He didn’t belong here, and if he said too much more, she wouldn’t be able to keep from slugging the asshole.
It was funny to her how a week ago, she couldn’t walk around the place without remembering Ben.
Now, as she looked around, every memory was of Alex.
“Marry me,” Ben said. “We can book flights to Vegas tonight and elope. Just like you always wanted to.”
It was too much.
It was all too fucking much.
She laughed.
Loudly.
Huge, gasping-for-breath, belly laughs, peppered with huge snorts.
Tears streamed down her face, but she couldn’t hold back the laughter, couldn’t reclaim control.
Jesus.
Ben looked at her like she’d grown a second head. “Charley? Are you okay?”
“I’m not marrying you, Ben. Today or ever.”
He frowned, then glanced at the PBR on the counter behind her. “Are you drunk?”
Charley rolled her eyes. “Don’t be a tool. I’m sober as a stone, so this rejection is real.”
He scowled. “Fine. I can see I made a mistake in coming here.” Ben returned to the living room, and he managed to get the rest of his shit out in two trips.
She basically held her breath until he was gone and then she sank down on the couch. With Ben out of the apartment, she’d expected the numbness to fade, the tears to start falling.
But nope.
Nothing.
She felt like a zombie.
A zombie who knew what to do.
Grabbing her phone, she texted Alex.
Not going to make it at all.
His response came back in less than five seconds.
Why not?
She didn’t need to explain herself.
Something came up.
Something with bleach-blonde hair and fake tits.
This time, it took him a lot longer to reply.
When he did…
I rebooked your flight. You’re getting in early Saturday afternoon. Check your email for the ticket info.
Charley read his response three times, then went to her email. Sure enough, there was an e-ticket there.
I just said I wasn’t coming.
She could imagine his arrogant tone when she read his reply.
And I just said you were.
What the hell was wrong with him?
Are you insane?
Alex ignored her question.
There will be a car at the airport to pick you up to bring you straight to the game. I’ve booked a hotel room for us at the gala venue. You can change into your fancy dress after the game. Wear that green dress from the wedding. You look hot in that.
Her head was seriously about to explode.
Are you listening to me????? I’m not coming!!!! Take Jeanine.
There, she thought. That should take care of it.
Who?
His response took her aback, but before she could text back, he beat her to the punch.
If you don’t show up, I’ll announce our marriage to the press right after the game.
Charley reared back on the couch. Then she actually checked her contacts to make sure she was really texting Alex.
None of what he was saying made sense.
Why did her appearance there matter if he was dating someone else?
You won’t do that. Our parents don’t even know.
Alex didn’t miss a beat.
They’ll read about it in the paper.
Charley was pretty sure—sixty percent sure—he was bluffing about telling the press about their marriage.
Maybe fifty percent.
Why are you doing this?
Try as she may, she couldn’t wrap her head around his persistence.
Because you agreed to go to the game and gala with me.
All she could figure was Alex Stone, stud of the century, was pissed about her trying to stand him up. Poor rich gorgeous sex god had probably never been rejected.
It was the only thing that made sense.
And yet, it didn’t.
None of it did.
She kept flashing back to her week with Alex.
Every single second of it had been perfect.
He’d been perfect.
He had given her a week she would never forget. He’d helped soothe her wounded pride and shown her that love wasn’t impossible, even for a gangly, inexperienced, rough-around-the-edges tomboy.
For the first time since he’d returned to Baltimore, she smiled—really smiled. If all he wanted was one last hurrah, then she was in. She’d show up for the game and soak up every bit of the night. She’d live in the moment with Alex for just one last night.
It wasn’t like the fallout from it could be any worse than this.
So on Saturday, they’d steal another night.
They’d drink, dance, fuck…and sign the annulment papers.
End it the way it began.
With a bang.
She took a deep breath, then texted him back.
Fine. I’ll be there.
Her heart ached when his reply returned quickly.
See you Saturday, sweetheart.
Dammit.
She’d been one cool cucumber up until that second.
Right until he called her sweetheart.
Then she fell completely apart.
Chapter Fourteen
Charley cheered as Alex sunk a goal—his second—into the net. Time was winding down on the third period.
According to the Jumbotron, immediately following the game, there would be a special presentation, where she assumed they’d announce how much money they’d raised for their cause.
A huge part of her couldn’t believe she’d almost missed this trip. The entire day had been like something out of a dream.
Alex had booked her a first-class ticket to Baltimore, then she’d been greeted at the airport by a limo driver, who’d brought her straight to the rink, where she’d been escorted to the owner’s box.
She was on her second margarita, surrounded by the wives and girlfriends of the other players, all of whom were super nice. Like her, they were dressed casually in jeans and Baltimore attire.
Charley was sporting her Alex Stone jersey.
They’d welcomed and included her in their conversations. A couple had even brought their daughters’ copies of Tomboy Tess for her to sign, which surprised her. Obviously, Alex had told his teammates that she was coming. She hadn’t really expected that.
Even the owner of the team and his wife had introduced themselves and said they were glad she could attend the gala tonight.
The exhibition game featured current and former Baltimore players going up against a college hockey team. It was a friendly game, and she could see how much fun it was for the younger guys to play against their idols.