Page 86 of Game Misconduct

Bex opens her mouth, but he shakes his head, continuing before she can get a word in edgewise.

“—but I don’t need one. As long as he makes you happy, I’m happy, too. That’s all I want for you. Even if it means being stuck with this asshole.”

“You were already stuck with me,” I point out. “Me and Elsy are a package deal. Just like you and Bex are.”

He grunts.

“Thanks for not punching me in the face,” I joke.

“Hey, still reserving that right for when you inevitably fuck up.” His glare turns flinty, much like his sister’s. “So don’t fuck things up, asshole.”

“I don’t intend to.” That, I’m sure of.

Bex leans toward me, and mindful of our audience, I don’t take her mouth the way I want to. We meet in the middle, and I kiss her softly. Gently.

“I promise,” I whisper to her and her alone. “I won’t hurt you.”

“I know.” She cups my cheek, her thumb tracing over the rough stubble. “Same for me. Always.”

Across the table, Whitney grimaces. “I guess family holidays just got that much bigger.”

Pulling back, she settles in her seat and crosses her arms over her chest. “Yeah, about that…”

“Haven’t told Mom and Dad yet?” He arches an eyebrow. “What are you waiting for?”

“I don’t want to deal with her commentary. She’s going to have an opinion and I’m not going to like it.”

My hand falls to her thigh, and I squeeze reassuringly. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“No, but I still have to hear her voice in the back of my head, spewing poison.”

She sounds so defeated. Like there’s no way her mother would ever support her. It makes me miss my mom, gone too soon. I wonder what she’d think of Bex. Would she approve?

I think she’d love her.

Her mother’s done a number on her, Elsy once said. We’ve talked a little about their fractious relationship, but every time I ask questions, she changes the subject.

“Or you can just block her,” her brother suggests. “I’m so much happier since going no contact.”

That reminds me, I should probably block Fred, too. He hasn’t shown up at the rink again, but there’s no way of knowing when he’ll accost me next. It’s only a matter of time.

Fuck, I want a drink. All the more reason not to have one. I reach for my water glass, wetting my parched lips.

Bex’s weary sigh tugs at my heartstrings. “Yeah, maybe.”

She hasn’t opened up to me about her mom, but I haven’t told her about my dad, either. I need to lay it out for her. Before he approaches her. Or worse, before he does something to detonate us.

Whitney picks up his menu again. “You wanted cheese fries? I haven’t seen you eat those in years.”

Bex glances at me, her brown eyes bright with warmth. “I love cheese fries.”

“Me too,” I murmur, squeezing her leg. “Me too.”