Page 49 of Playing Dirty
"You can uncover your ears, Sab.” I laugh and pat her forearm. “I'm not going to provide a transcript."
Celeste raises her mug in solidarity. "I'll just say, as a fellow woman in a high-powered job who is making decisions every minute of every day, there’snothinglike a man who takes charge in the bedroom and just manhandles you a bit."
Isabelle nods approvingly, and I let out a small, helpless laugh. She isn't wrong.
"So, setting aside the hockey disaster stuff, what do you actually want to happenwithCillian?" Isabelle tilts her head, studying me. "Because from everything you've told us, it sounds like you want more than a one-night stand."
Suddenly all three of them are watching me expectantly, waiting for a confession I'm not sure I'm ready to make.
"I have absolutely no idea!" I groan, burying my face in my hands. "He clearly wants more, but between his reputation and my own history with athletes, I don't know if it's a good idea.Andnow I'm the reason his career is on fire. As far as the entire hockey world's concerned, I'm the woman who ruined his season, and as much as I try to be evolved, I really do hate it when people don't like me."
Isabelle shifts on the couch. "Okay, first of all, do not make major life decisions based on public opinion. You have to move past that, even if it admittedly sucks. Second, did you guys really not sayanythingafterward?"
"I mean…" I wince, replaying my clumsy exit. "I sort of panicked and justthankedhim for both the sex and punching that creep. Then I mumbled something about talking later and practically sprinted for the exit."
"Oh, Margot." Sabrina looks pained. "Youthankedhim for the railing?"
"I was flustered and the sex was incredible!" I say, my voice defensive. "I mean, it was literally theexactscenario I’d been fantasizing about. It seemed rude not to acknowledge it."
"Sweet, sweet Margot." Sabrina shakes her head slowly. "You’re too sweet for your own good."
I groan again while Celeste loses it beside me, dissolving into laughter.
"It isn't that tragic. He probably found it endearing. I certainly would have!" Isabelle says supportively, reachingfrantically for a cookie. "Here, take this, you look like you need the sugar."
I take it, biting in as if the chocolate could single-handedly fix the wreckage, while the three of them look at me with a mix of amusement and affection.
Sabrina had cancelled her plans with Marco right after I'd debriefed her late last night, and when I'd announced the disaster in our group chat this morning, both Celeste and Isabelle declared they were coming over right away so we could watch the news together.
Making friends has never come naturally to me. Some people seem to gather them without effort, a whole bench of women a phone call away, and I always found it harder than that. Too guarded, too busy, too much in my own head to let many people close. I've always had Sabrina, thank god, and yet here are two more wonderful women in my corner, and I couldn't be more grateful for them.
"I really do appreciate you all dropping everything," I say softly. "I don't think I could have faced the media circus without the support."
Celeste bumps her shoulder into mine, and Isabelle gives me a warm, steadying smile.
"Please,” Sabrina says. “You know the code. Ride or dies forever. We've got you, Margot."
I laugh softly, the crushing weight in my chest finally starting to dissipate. "Well, the office is going to be a real joy today. I can already picture everyone pretending they haven't been scrolling through the headlines all morning."
Isabelle snorts. "You should've just called out and played the trauma card. It reallywaspretty horrifying, Margot. I'm with Cillian on this one—it's a total disgrace that nobody intervened besides a bit of shouting."
I think back to the whole mess of last night. The guy slapping my ass, then grabbing my wrist while he laughed, slurringsome apology with his hand still clamped around me, his friends egging him on and telling me to lighten up, not be so uptight.
By all rights, it should be the memory consuming me this morning, but somehow it isn't. The aftermath has been so deafening that it's managed to drown out the initial trauma entirely.
"Yeah, I actually feel weirdly okay," I say, swirling what's left of my tea. "I filed a report last night, so hopefully that asshole actually faces something for it. And I dunno, after so many years of handling creeps in this job, this kind of thing doesn't knock me sideways the way it used to. Which is its own depressing thought."
“It's vile.” Celeste shakes her head, her expression going dark. "And it says everything about the world we live in that it's even that common."
"Agreed. Personally, I'd love to drop-kick that prick and his sad little friends," Sabrina says, flexing her fingers. Then she tilts her head and smiles. "Okay. Serious question, though. Cillian flying off the ice to defend your honor. Was it maybe alittlebit hot? Watching him punch the guy for putting his hands on you?"
I roll my eyes. "Sabrina. You know I hate violence. And I don't buy into this whole archaic, men-charging-in-like-knights, defending-a-woman's-honor thing. He might've blown up his entire career over it. I'm apparently the lead story on every sports site in the country right now."
She just stares at me, one eyebrow arched.
"Ugh,fine. It was kind of hot, yes," I admit, burying my face in my hands while the three of them dissolve into laughter.
Isabelle dabs at the corners of her eyes, breathless from laughing. "Half the office will be pitying you over the creep, the other half will be just jealous that Cillian O'Rourke himself jumped off the ice for you."
