Page 4 of Revenge Puck

Declan grimaces. “Dude. Could you give us a second to put some clothes on so we can explain?”

Explain?

Is he fucking for real?

I laugh. “I’ve seen your dick before—and we all know I’ve seenhernaked. No need to be shy.”

“Don’t be a prick,” she snaps.

“You know, Bailey.” My smile is sardonic. “You could have broken up with me and spared us all this scene. Been a fucking adult about it.”

I glance around the room again, more critically this time.

Clothes scattered like they came off in a hurry. An open bottle of wine on the nightstand. Bra. Boxer shorts. Shades half drawn. The air thick with betrayal.

What Bailey and I had was comfortable. Easy.

Convenient.

We didn’t see each other constantly—we’re both busy—but she loved sitting in the stands at my games. Loved sitting with the WAGs. Liked the attention. Liked slipping into my bed on the nights our schedules aligned, having sex, falling asleep beside me.

So what if things have gotten dull and boring? That’s no reason to cheat. Clearly, she doesn’t love me. Did she ever?

Love isn’t lies and secrets and sneaking around.

“How long?” I ask him.

He swallows hard. “It—it wasn’t like that.”

“Funny,” I snort. “It looksexactlylike that.”

He runs a hand through his hair, panic bleeding through his words. “I never meant to hurt you, Bishop.”

Too late.

Bailey couldn’t have chosen a worse guy to fuck. I mean, Christ. If she doesn’t love me—fine.It hurts, but I can survive.

Him on the other hand? You don’t accidentally fuck your friend’s girlfriend.

That part guts me.

I swallow hard, chest tight, heart doing a slow, painful collapse.

“Have you been fucking her behind my back this entire goddamn time?” I ask Declan. “While I was running drills next to you at practice and calling youbrother?”

I deserve better than this and they both know it.

“Dude, I?—”

“Piss off.” I cut him off, disgusted. “I don’t want an apology.” I look at Bailey. “You know what the irony of this is, Bay? I knewwe weren’t going to last forever, but Itrustedyou. I thought you had enough decency not to fucking cheat on me.”

Bailey is crying now, loud tears tracking down her cheeks as she sobs dramatically. “Aaron, we were going to tell you?—”

I shake my head. “No. You weren’t.”

She chokes down more tears, mascara streaking down her face. “You don’t understand—you’ve been busy, you’re always gone! I felt invisible and?—”

“Stop,” I tell her coldly. “You don’t get to turn this into something tragic. You cheated with my best friend.”