Page 199 of Secret Obsession
“All of it?”
“I’d love a list.” I face him and plant my hands on my hips. “Go on.”
He runs his hand down his face. He’s still bleeding, the asshole. It comes away on his hand from his nose and a split lip. Defending his fallen brother, the goalie.
No one touches the goalie.
“First, I should’ve just left you to my brother.”
I wave him off, old guilt rising and forming a lump in my throat. “He told me he was in love with someone, so I pounced on you. That’s more on me than anything else.”
He grunts. “Well, it shouldn’t have continued on as long as it did.”
“Agreed,” I mutter.
“And I’m sorry for… putting you in danger. With the guy’s brother. And also for causing your downward spiral. And for breaking up with you so publicly—”
“Okay, okay.” I grimace. “Jesus. You really are an asshole, you know?”
“Yeah. It’s what makes me a good hockey player.”
“But not a good person,” I reply.
He shrugs.
Do I want to forgive him? Even two months ago, I would’ve said absolutely not. The wound seemed to be rotting inside me. Thus, alcohol. But then Miles came in and cleared out the dead stuff, replacing it with…himself. And he made me better.
There’s no more room for hatred.
“Fine,” I reply. “I forgive you.”
He jumps up, cup of water forgotten. It goes everywhere as he grabs me, and I’m crushed into his chest. His arms wrap around me, and his chin rests on top of my head.
“You’re the best, babe.”
My nose wrinkles. He smells like sweat and blood. I shove him away.
“Don’t mention it.”
“No, I will mention it to everyone. Willow Reed is the best. She’s forgiven me for my deepest sins. She’s going to tell my brother to forgive me—”
“Ah, no.” I frown. “While I get what you did on some twisted level, I don’t think he’ll understand it.”
Knox scowls. He takes a seat again, dropping down like I freaking popped his balloon. “Well, one day, Miles will pay me back in revenge, and we’ll be even.”
Hmm.
“You’d have to fall in love first,” I point out.
He offers me a quick smile. But it’s to hide something else. A flash of pain, maybe? Or just discomfort? “Who says I’m ever going to fall in love?”
I slowly sit back down beside him. “Well, that’s true. You could be impervious.”
“I could be,” he agrees.
Somehow, though, I fucking doubt it. Someone’s going to slip under his guard one day—and when she does, I hope she ruins him.
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