Page 79 of The King Contract
“We need to make sure it doesn’t backfire with the whole Millie thing,” Mack says, tapping his phone. “Anything that looks like a reunion or a close encounter could create another shitstorm. A maelstrom, if you will.”
“Ah, yes. Tell me what I need to do, and I’ll behave like a good boy on the day.” I head for the door, but Dan shifts to block my path. “Oh, sorry. Should I wait for all of you to chime in to remind me hownotto suck?”
Dan sighs. “King, I don’t want to fight with you.”
“I don’t want to fight with you either,” I retort. “But when my best mate decides to tear me a new asshole without any forewarning, it makes it hard to want to kiss and make up.”
Dan rubs his hand over his short hair. “I’m sorry. I could’ve been more tactful.”
“No, shit.”
The truth is, I’ve had time to process Dan’s words in the past week and no matter which way I come at it, he’s right about almost everything. I’ve hurt women I’ve hooked up with this year. I knew they were into me, and I’d ditched them the minute they got too attached. This year, I’ve been pulled out of hotel rooms drunker than hell, started fights in bars and got myself arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour—and it was Dan who cleaned up my mess without complaint.
“You don’t need to apologise,” I mutter. “You were right.”
“No, I was out of line.” Dan shakes his head. “I didn’t like the idea, but I should’ve supported you.”
“Whydidyou get so pissy about it?” Mack asks, scratching his buzz cut. “Fair enough you’ve adopted the role of babysitter and fixer and everything else?—”
I sigh heavily. “Not helping, Mack.”
“You nearly busted a blood vessel, bro,” Mack continues. “Seemed extreme, and you talked more than your yearly quota in one conversation.” His innocent, wide eyes and baby-like facematch his curious tone. Mack’s the one who can ask the difficult questions and not care about the outcome.
“Ah, fuck.” Dan sighs, rubbing his temple. He looks at the three of us in defeat. “There are rumours from some people in Sarah’s friend circle that she stayed with me for as long as she did to help with her career.”
A stillness settles in the room, with Callum, Mack and me exchanging expressions of alarm and surprise. “What?” Callum finally asks.
I step closer to Dan. “Dude, are you serious?”
Dan twists his lips. “Could never confirm the relationship side of things, but considering she’s working on the Pro Tour now, I’d say it could be true.”
My mouth drops open. “She’sworkingon the Tour? What do you mean?”
“She’s the new rep for Luxe Travel,” Dan grumbles. “She’s looking after VIPs for the whole year. A friend of mine works with Luxe and she told me part of the reason Sarah got shortlisted for an interview was because my name was mentioned in her application. I was basically her foot in the door.”
“She was using you to get a job?” Mack asks in a hushed tone.
Dan goes rigid. “I don’t know. She did care about me at some point, but maybe she stayed with me longer than she wanted to see what doors could open for her.”
I run my hand over my stubble. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Because it’s embarrassing,” Dan spits. “She told me she wanted to travel and not follow the surf with me, and next thing I know she’s got a jobfollowing the surf.” Dan clears his throat and dips his head.
My chest constricts at the pain etched in the lines of Dan’s face. He’s a closed book to most people, even with us a lot of the time. Seeing him vulnerable and hurting affects all three of us.
“The idea of you entering into a fake relationship didn’t sit well with me,” Dan says, finally meeting my gaze. “Obviously, it’s not the same situation here. You and Millie are both aware of what’s going on. But . . .”
“Yours and Sarah’s relationship wasn’t fake,” I assure him. “You were together for nearly ten years. Nobody fakes that.”
Dan shuffles his feet. “Yeah, I guess.”
I take a few steps and clap him on the shoulder. “I meant it when I said you were right.” Dan looks up with his trademark frown and I glance at Callum and Mack. “I’m not exactly a poster boy for how to treat women. Or family. Or friends.”
Callum smiles. “You’re always a good friend to us, mate. You lost your way a little there, but we knew you’d come back to us.”
“Only because you three pulled me out of it.” I rub my hands across my face. “I can’t believe how much of a tool I was this year. I didn’t even enjoy going to those parties that much.”
“You got swept up in it.” Mack shrugs. “You were single for the first time in years and riding the high of surfing fame. It could happen to anyone.”
