Page 88 of Slapshot Obsession
For a second, with my three guys around me, I feel like nothing can hurt me. Nothing but the truth.
I knew this moment would come sooner or later. But now that it’s here, I’m terrified that the truth will destroy us.
Tears well in my eyes, and I inhale sharply to keep them from falling.
“Baby,” Tucker fusses over me. “If you don’t like peppermint, I have a secret stash of hot chocolate. Or I can see if Talia has regular black tea.”
“It’s not…” I shake my head because I don’t even know where to start.
Nash tucks a strand of my damp hair behind my ear. “If you’re worried about getting a new phone, we can help you.”
I close my eyes. They’re being so nice, and I can’t take it. “For once in my life, I bought the insurance plan the last time I upgraded my phone. I’ll just have tofind time to go into town and get a new one. It covers accidental damage, so I’m good.”
“Then don’t cry, Trouble.” His voice is so soft that it makes my heart hurt even more. “Don’t be scared. You know we would never let anything happen to you, right? Tucker, Colsen, and I will keep you safe.”
Colsen gives my feet a comforting squeeze. “He’s right, pretty girl. We’ll take care of your car and get you a new phone tomorrow. And you should consider calling the cops.”
The words tumble out of my mouth before I can think about the consequences. “Yeah, that’s something I’d rather not do. But you might disagree with me once you know what’s going on.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CONFESSIONS
TARYN
“Why do you say that?” Nash asks. “Someone has been stalking you and you were attacked. The police will find that fucker, lock him up and throw away the key.”
This is the moment I’ve been fearing the most; probably even more than coming face to face with my stalker. I knew that I would have to tell the guys everything, eventually. But with every passing day, as our relationship grew and became more important than anything else, I’ve been burying my head in the sand. It was easier and easier to find one excuse after another to postpone this moment, but I can see the questions in their eyes. They have the right to know. Even if that might change their minds about being with me and about protecting me.
I shake my head. “That’s if they don’t do that to me first.”
“Baby, I don’t understand. You’re the victim in this situation. Why would the police want to blame it on you?”
My fingers close around the warm mug of tea, as if the warmth could give me the courage I need. Spoiler alert, itdoesn’t. But it helps to hide the trembling of my hands, at least partially.
“Nash, do you remember when we saw each other, and you said you saw me at the Gamma house party on the last night of finals?”
Nash nods. “Yeah. But you said it was impossible, and you got pretty upset about it.”
“I got upset because you were right. I was there that night, and I went up to Tim’s room. I was going to hook up with him.”
He blinks a couple of times, trying to make sense of my words. “You did? Then why?—”
“Because I was the last person who saw Tim alive. Or maybe I was. I’m not sure. I know we hooked up even though I can’t remember anything about it. I woke up the morning after in his bed, and he was…”
I’m shaking so much that I spill the tea in the mug I’m holding. Thank God it isn’t that hot anymore.
“Baby, give me that.” Tucker takes the mug from me. “You’re gonna burn yourself.”
Nash is looking at me as if he had seen a ghost. I cover my mouth with my hands. I don’t know if I can take this. But now it’s too late to turn around.
“I’m sorry,” Colsen intervenes. “I don’t understand. You hooked up with someone Nash knew?”
I nod.
“Why are you so upset, pretty girl?” His hazel eyes darken with fury when he begins putting at least some of the pieces together. “Did your hookup force you to do anything? Wait, you just said you can’t remember anything. Did that motherfucker drug you? If he did, he’s fucking dead.”
If I weren’t afraid of the heartbreak that is about to come and for my own freedom, I would laugh at the irony.
