Chuckles rumble through the room—more snickers and chiding, but all in good fun, as if they’re over it already. But more likely, they want him to know they’re okay with who he is.
Wade lets out a whistle. “Let’s let the past be the past, boys. Right now, we need to ask our man here what he needs to deal with this mess.”
The burn behind my eyes hits me in full force. To watch these guys rally around Payton is one of the most heartening things I’ve ever witnessed. These people are community-bound by so much more than a stick, a puck, and a frozen floor.
Sophie steps up and rests her hand on Payton’s arm. “They’re not going away, so answering their questions will help keep this from ballooning into something bigger. If you’re up for it.”
Coach chimes in. “She’s right. They’re waiting to hear from you, Payton.”
Payton scans the room and then gives a reluctant nod.
Keeping a quick pace, Coach leads us back down the hallway. Multiple footsteps coming from behind stop both Payton and me, causing us to turn around just short of the exit.
Every single member of the team, plus Derek, Sophie, and Mia are staring at us.
Luke lets out a snort. “You didn’t think we’d let you do this by yourself, did you?”
A couple of rogue tears slip down my face before I can stop them. I look up at Payton. “I’ll be right there, making sure they don’t get too close.”
Not that he really needs a five-foot-ten female bodyguard when he has an entire team of muscled hockey players who tower over me.
Payton’s eyes warm as one side of his mouth lifts in a slow smile. He brushes a thumb over my teary cheek. “Sorry to put you through this, luv.”
I give him a watery smile. “Part of the job. But just so we’re clear, this will not be like that movieThe Bodyguard.”
He lets out a soft laugh. “Understood.”
A voice from the back snickers. “Yeah, bodyguard my a?—”
“Stop!” Luke growls.
Coach’s voice breaks the silence. “Ready?”
Payton and I nod, and along with everyone behind us, we step outside in a united front to meet the press.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
PAYTON
Not my wife. She’s my bodyguard.
The words keep playing in my head. That and watching Lily take off my jersey as I said it in front of a dozen or more reporters. I suspect she did that out of professionalism. Or perhaps to demonstrate the truth as we answered a multitude of questions about my cousin Sebastian’s supposed accident, my sister’s insistence that I have a bodyguard, and my knuckle-headed decision to create this entire charade to protect my identity.
Not my best moment, that, but the press seemed to find much of it amusing by the end. Now, everyone will know the truth. Or at least, the hockey world and this quaint beach town called Sarabella that I consider home.
Although, I’m unsure how I’ll feel about staying here if Lily’s on the other side of the pond. That’s what I wanted to talk to her about tonight before the press invaded our little bubble. But after all that went down, I don’t think I’m ready for this conversation.
I must look more exhausted than I feel because Lily insisted on driving us home from the arena. Or she’s stillplaying that game of hers. Time to bloody well clear up that rubbish.
My phone buzzes against my leg—text alerts.
Lily throws a glance my way as she stops at a traffic light. “Hope that’s not more reporters.”
I slip from my pocket and touch the message on the screen. “No, just the lads checking in.”
Luke: You doing okay, Pay?
Payton: If drowning in embarrassment is good, then I’m fine and dandy.
