With an eyebrow raised, Maddox said, “You seriously expect me to believe you had no idea who I was last night?”
His words implied that I was just another bimbo offered a sports job to hit a quota, and it cut deep to my core. It was precisely why I had turned down offers in broadcast journalism. Being behind a computer offered less bias and certainly less leering.
So, feeling backed into a corner, I lashed out. “Look, you watched me down at least two whiskeys last night before I took you home.”
He bristled. “Are you accusing me of taking advantage of you?”
“No. But I am saying I was feeling good in the moment, and the lights were dimmed. And there’s a possibility that my mind didn’t want to recognize you because I can assure you that Iamgood at my job and Idoknow this sport inside and out, which is why I came up here to talk to you. I need to make sure that we’re on the same page.”
“And what page is that, Miss Cooper?”
I sighed. “It’s Bristol, please. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you call the other reporters by their first names.” When he didn’t offer to correct how he addressed me, I answered his question. “We need to forget that last night ever happened. If anyone finds out. . . Let’s just say you’ll be touted as a hero who banged the hot young redhead, and I’ll be dragged through the mud as the reporter who sleeps around to get ahead. It won’t matter that we hooked up before the season began. My career will be ruined. Ineedthis fresh start.“ I swallowed and blinked back the tears, my voice weakening as I said one final word, “Please.”
Maddox dragged a hand down his face, rubbing along his jaw. He’d looked sexy with a beard last night, but damn if he wasn’t hotter than hell clean-shaven. When he simply stared at me, l panicked that he wouldn’t grant my request. That I was sunk, and I’d blown up my life twice in a matter of months.
Turning on my heel, I bolted for the door.
As a single tear escaped, I heard him call out my name for the first time. “Bristol!”
And I promptly began to sob as I ran as fast and as far as my legs would carry me.
Pushing through the door to the ladies’ room I barely saw through watery eyes, I locked the main door behind me as soon as I confirmed I was alone inside. Collapsing against the closest wall, I slid to the floor, not caring that it was likely covered in countless germs.
Digging my phone out of my purse, I dialed the only person I could after this nightmare of a morning.
As the receiver rang in my ear, I chanted under my breath, “Pick up. Pick up. Pick up.”
The line connected, and Dakota’s voice teased, “What’s wrong, sweetie? Forget to take your lunch on the first day? Mom’s kinda busy, but if you ask nicely, I can drop it off.”
The reminder that my first day could very well be my last had me bursting into loud, messy tears all over again.
“Bristol? What’s wrong?” Concern laced Dakota’s words.
Sniffling, I calmed down enough to force out through hiccups, “I really messed up this time.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. Finally, my best friend said, “Oh God. Bristol, honey, I say this with all the love in the world, but please tell me you’re not pregnant.”
“No!” I screamed, wincing at the volume with the headache threatening behind my eyes.
Leave it to Dakota to point out the only silver lining in this whole mess. It could always be worse. If, at some point in the last three years, Nix had knocked me up, I would’ve been done for. He wouldn’t have stepped up. No, he’d have tried to make the whole thing disappear. I would have beenforced to choose between him and a piece of myself. What’s worse was that in the frame of mind I’d been in back then, I might have chosen him. I shuddered at the thought.
I had been confident that getting away from him would allow me to regain my strength, but here I was again, my fate resting in the hands of a man.
Same Bristol, different day.
Jesus, I was getting whiplash with how quickly my life had turned on a dime.
Last night had been so incredible. I’d woken with a smile on my face, even as Maddox—fuck, I still can’t believe I didn’t recognize him—was getting dressed, preparing to leave me. Now, I was facing career suicide. I couldn’t catch a break.
But was I really surprised? I’d let my pussy call the shots last night, and she hadn’t gotten the memo that we were off hockey boys. Sure, Maddox wasn’t technically a player anymore, but it wasn’t like there was a switch that flipped off once his career ended—he was just as smooth as the rest, knowing how to play a woman. And God, how he’d played my body.
I guess if I were going down, it would be with one hell of a bang.
“Bristol, tell me what happened.” Dakota’s voice in my ear reminded me of where I was and why I’d called.
Squeezing my eyes shut, even though she couldn’t see me, I said the words out loud. “I slept with Maddox Sterling last night.”
“WHAT?!” The screech on the other end of the line had me hanging my head in shame.
