They didn’t show the six other guys eating wings two feet away from me. And now Kate thinks I lied. She thinks I chose myexover her. My throat’s tight, but I shove everything into motion. I don’t care if camp’s still going. I don’t care about the season, the fines, the media.
I haveonepriority. I need to get to her and make her understand. I booked the jet and, as soon as they release us, I’ll be airborne.
By the time I land, my phone is still silent. Not a single word from her.
But I don’t need her to answer because I already know exactly where she is—her hotel downtown, the one the entire tour booked out for the week.
I walk in through the back, dodging cameras and whispers, head down, hood up, my heart thudding out of my chest with every step closer to her.
Security hesitates, but they recognize me fast enough. Everyone does.
Room 1503. I’m worked up when I reach her door. I barely knock. When the door finally swings open, Kate’s standing there—barefoot, eyes puffy, hair in a messy knot like she hasn’t slept in days.
She freezes when she sees me.
I don’t wait. I can’t see her. Seeing her makes my heart hurt. She’s obviously taking this to heart.
I step inside, shutting the door behind me, my chest burning.
“You don’t get to end this over a headline,” I say, my voice low but sharp. “Not without hearing the damn truth.”
She folds her arms, defensive, but there’s a flicker of hurt in her eyes.
“I saw you with her, Finn.”
“I wasn’t with her,” I bite out. “I was at ateam dinner. Tessa showed up—sat two seats away. I didn’t invite her. I didn’t talk to her. And I sure as hell wasn’t there with her.”
She shakes her head, but her hands are trembling.
“The pictures?—”
“They cropped the fucking photos, Kate,” I snap, pulling out my phone and shoving it toward her. “Here. Look at therealones.”
She hesitates, but she takes the phone. And when she scrolls, her face pales—photo after photo showing the whole table, the rest of my teammates in clear view. And Tessa’s nowhere near me in half of them.
Her lips part, her breath catching.
“You believed them,” I say, softer now, the words hitting me harder than I expected. “You believedherover me. The media manipulated you, Kate.”
Her eyes fill, but she looks away, like she’s too ashamed to meet my gaze.
“I didn’t know what to think,” she whispers. “Everything’s been a mess. The media, the pressure, the headlines… and then I saw that, and I—I panicked.”
I let the silence stretch between us for a minute so we could take a beat.
I step closer, my voice rough.
“I didn’t touch her. I’ve never wanted anyone butyou.”
She finally looks at me, eyes glossy.
“I’m not here to clean up my image, Kate,” I add, my voice breaking just a little. “I’m here because you’re the only woman I want in my life.”
She inhales and for a minute, I think she might pass out… And the next second, she’s in my arms, where she belongs—and I’ll be dammed if she’s going to dump me again.
But I spent the entire night convincing her just how much I’m into her.
32
