“Oh, so you two aren’t currently fucking?”
“For your information, no, she and I haven’t been together like that.”
She laughed. “Then how could you possibly know if it’s love?”
Ooh. Good one, Gabriella.
“Because it is love. Just because you don’t understand it—”
“Omigod, spare me! If you say something lame like your love transcends intimacy”—she snorted—“I swear I will brain you with my goddamned hockey stick.”
That one was even better.
“We haven’t been intimate because we knew it would hurt you. This is a screwed-up situation, but the last thing either Dani or I want to do is cause you any pain, Gabi.” A pause. “You introduced us, for god’s sake.”
“This is why I don’t do nice things. They always come back to kick me in the ass,” she retorted.
Another pause.
“Will you knock off the sarcasm for one minute and listen to me?” Tyson asked.
“Fine. Say what you need to.”
“Things haven’t been great between you and me for a while.”
“You aren’t seriously thinking about blaming me for the fact you’re lusting after my little sister, are you?”
“No, but your response to this conversation is proof of why you and I don’t work. After Dani left for Florida to train for the Olympics, you pulled back from her, from me and from your former teammates—teammates who resented the hell out of Dani because she was there instead of you. Dani had no one to talk to but me. So we spent a lot of time together. All of it platonic, all of it that getting-to-know-you stuff that you and I never bothered to learn about each other.”
“So because I have no clue what your favorite color is—”
“Will you stop interjecting your personal regrets into this conversation? Because we both know you preferred hookups to a relationship for this very reason, Gabi.”
Ouch.
He sighed. “Believe it or not, I didn’t come here to fight with you. I came here to break it off in person and to ask you to not be too hard on Dani about this. She worships you. The fact her feelings changed for me has been eating her alive.”
Silence.
“What happens after you leave here, Ty?”
“We both move on.”
She mumbled something I didn’t hear.
Then Tyson stepped back and Gabriella barreled past him. She’d almost reached me lurking in the corner, when Tyson said, “Wait.”
She whirled back around. “What?”
“I wasn’t done talking to you.”
“Tough shit, because I’m done talking to you. I need to finish closing procedures, so feel free to let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.” She threw open the inner rink door with such force it juddered against the concrete and slammed shut.
Tyson ran his hand through his hair and exhaled. He gave the arena door a long look, almost as if he was stupidly considering going after her, before he turned and spotted me.
I spoke first. “Sorry. I stopped to get some paperwork and I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation.”
“Calling it a conversation is putting a positive spin on it,” he muttered. He studied me. “Who are you that you’re stopping by this late for paperwork?”
“I’m Nolan Lund. Jax’s brother.”
“Did Gabi know you were here?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve been on the receiving end of infuriated Gabriella and my first thought was to flee.” I resisted telling him it’d be wise for him to do the same before she stormed back here.
His gaze sharpened. “I take it you two are friends?”
“We’re acquainted. Why?”
“Could you stick around for a little longer and make sure she’s okay?”
Was this dude for real? I scrutinized him and realized he was truly concerned for Gabi’s well-being. Still, he was an asshole for dumping her for her sister. “Sure.”
With a muttered “Thanks” he shot out of there like his ass was on fire.
Not that I blamed him.
I probably should’ve done the same thing—then it was too late. She stomped out of the rink, demanding, “What the hell are you doing here?”
Two
GABI
An awkward moment followed, where neither of us said anything.
Nolan Lund, that good-looking bastard, broke the silence first. “Stopped to get some paperwork and saw a guy rush in here. I figured you were alone, so I thought I’d check and see if everything was okay.”
“I’m peachy keen, jellybean.”
He raised one arrogant eyebrow. “Quoting Rizzo from Grease? I’m shocked.”
I shrugged. “I identify with the mouthy ones.”
His intense blue eyes searched my face. “What happened?”
“Is that why you’re here? Hoping to catch me messing around on your brother’s dime?”
“Jesus. No. And indignant deflection won’t work, Gabriella.”
“I can’t believe you’re surprised I don’t want to talk about my feelings when it comes to my boyfriend. Or should I say ex-boyfriend.”
“Your ex? Since when?”
“Since about two minutes ago.”
“Wait? You broke up with him here? Tonight?”
“Don’t flatter me, slick. We both know you overheard him breaking up with me. And if you stuck around to watch the train wreck, you’ll be sadly disappointed that I’m not about to go off the rails.”
“Your ex might’ve been thinking you’d have a breakdown.”
“Why?”
“He asked me if we were friends.”
“What did you say?”
He bestowed the sexy, smirking grin that had me dreading his answer. “I told him the truth.”
“That we’re enemies?”
“You think we’re enemies?”
“Don’t you?”
“No. Frenemies, maybe.”
My eyebrows rose in surprise.
“I said we knew each other since my brother owns this place. Then he asked me to make sure you were all right.”