Page 106 of Revenge Puck

And, well, I got angry and lost it on Riley twice before I even knew Elle because I was angry at him for getting Maya pregnant. Yes, working with her to make him jealous kept me level-headed for the first four games, but it was never Elle’s responsibility to control my temper.

That shit is on me. Nobody else. I’m the only one to blame.

Just like how deep down I still blame myself for thinking that Maya and Riley dating was a good idea. My best friendand little sister together seemed like a great idea at the time. I thought if anyone could get the playboy to settle down, it was my sister. The way he looked at her, there was no doubt in my mind at the time that he adored her. Which made me think he would treat her like a queen. And I was dead wrong about that.

Me.

I had lived with him and played with Riley for years, watching him go from one woman to the next. It was stupid to think Maya would be any different.

I’m the one responsible for putting my sister in the position that got her pregnant. That’s why I’ve done nothing but help support her with raising Finley since she decided to have him.

And I’m also the one responsible for hurting Elle tonight because I was angry at myself for losing my temper. She came down to the locker room to check on me, to try to calm me down because she cared, and I was an asshole who lashed out at her.

I ended things with Elle because I was upset and scared to tell her I was moving, hurting her before she could hurt me back by calling it quits rather than have a long-distance relationship with me. That’s why I put off telling her. I didn’t want to leave her, didn’t want what we have to ever end because I love her so damn much. So why the hell did I tell her we were over?

“Oh god. I’ve made a huge fucking mistake,” I mutter aloud.

“Yes, yes, you have. So go fix it!”

“I can’t go to Greensboro now. We have a game here in D.C. in two days.”

“The chance Elle will forgive you dwindles every second since the one where you broke her heart, Preston. The sooner you show up at her door begging her to take you back, the better your chance of getting her to forgive you.”

She says that like she’s experienced something similar. No. No way. Still, I have to ask. “Is that…are you still waiting for Riley to show up on your doorstep and beg for another chance?”

Maya shakes her head. “No. I gave up on Christian four years ago.”

“After Finley was born?”

She nods. “Then later, I thought he would find out I had a baby, that he was a father, and he would come running…”

She waited for him. Even after Finley was born. She wanted him to figure out he was a father, to have him beg her to take him back. All because she loved him.

I don’t think Riley felt the same or would’ve stepped up if he knew he was a dad, but what if I’m wrong?

What if I’ve been so angry at him, at myself, that I’ve been wrong for five years?

“Shit, Maya. I think I may have made a huge mistake with you too,” I admit to her with a wince.

“What do you mean?”

“I sort of kept Christian away.”

“What?”

“He asked about you. Several times. And instead of telling him you were going to keep the baby, I would just get into fights with him.”

“When? When did he ask about me?”

“Pretty much every day of practice after you found out until he left for Greensboro. He still asked, even though he knew I would kick his ass for saying your name.”

“Wow. So, for months you kept us apart?”

“I didn’t think you wanted anything to do with him after he ruined your life!”

“He didn’t ruin my life, Preston! Christian and I got pregnanttogether. It was on both of us for not being smart. The pullout method is not a real method.”

“I’m sorry,” I tell her, and to keep her from giving me any more details. “You have no idea how sorry I am for introducingthe two of you and for interfering afterward. I shouldn’t have trusted him alone with you.”

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