Page 48 of This Wild Heart

“I was here before six o’clock,” I told her easily.

Her severe features were unimpressed. “So was I.” She opened up her phone and flipped it around as she handed it to me. “Thankfully, Max Bridges’s little tantrum hasn’t blown up, but the sports world is quiet this week, so I don’t want to risk it. So far, everything else is overwhelmingly positive. On paper, Anya is a PR dream, so you’re lucky there.”

The headline had me rolling my eyes.

Wilder’s new wife marrying up for his bigger paycheck? Her ex speaks out.

With an unconcerned shrug, I handed her the phone. “It’ll blow over in a week when someone else does something stupid.”

Milicent was in her mid-forties, and in truth, she terrified everyone on the team. I’d rather face down fifteen linemen than have her mad at me. Thankfully, she was the one tasked with keeping us looking good for the rest of the world, so her scariness ended up being a phenomenal asset to the Voyagers.

“We’re going to throw something together today,” she announced. “It doesn’t matter whether it’ll blow over or not. If you and Anya continue to hide, it’ll just give credibility to what Bridges is saying, even if he’s a pencil dick with a big mouth.” She eyed me. “He certainly doesn’t like you.”

I smiled. “I’m sure I’ll cry myself to sleep about that later.” Absently, I scratched the edge of my jaw. “I don’t know if Anya and I are ready to go public to this extent.”

“Yes, you are,” she answered.

“Fascinating. How did you come to this conclusion?”

She didn’t like my tone, but she answered anyway. “Because the internet is notoriously hard on the woman in any given situation. It doesn’t matter if he’s the one who fucked up. It doesn’t matter if you’re the one with an impulsive self-destructive streak that is finally getting under control.” I wanted to roll my eyes, but hell, if she wasn’t right. “Anya will bear the brunt of the internet’s ire if the two of you don’t present a romantic, sexy, gorgeous united front. The longer you’re silent, the more shit will pop up.Oh, I heard she’s unbearable, so it’s no wonder Max cheated. Parker’s been single for years, andnowhe gets married? I bet she blackmailed him.”

My jaw tightened dangerously. “Fine. What do you want us to do?”

“I want you to be yourselves. We’re simply going to give them a glimpse so they feel like they’re a part of it. He broke her heart in a horrible, embarrassing way, and now she gets to reclaim a big piece of that. It’s important to let her.” Milicent turned her wrist to study her expensive-looking watch. “You done here?”

“I was just going to?—”

“Great. Is Anya home?”

I blinked. “Uhh. Yeah.”

“We’ll be there in about two hours.” Her eyes were terrifyingly direct. “Does that give you both enough time to change and look nice?”

“What?”

Milicent gave one of those small eye rolls, the kind you could hardly see. My sisters were so good at those, but I’d never quite mastered it. “Shower, put on some nice clothes that don’t look sloppy, but for God’s sake, you don’t need to be in a suit and tie. It’ll look like you’re trying too hard. Neutrals on you. If Anya has anything in Portland colors, she’d make my fucking day. We’re going to put out a social media blitz. Hit all the channels with some QA with the happy new couple, some behind the scenes footage while we show the two of you settling in at your house. Show off the new royal couple of Portland.”

Anya was going to kick my ass. Properly this time. I swiped a hand over my mouth and stared down at Milicent. If only I had the slightest chance to intimidate her. She was approximately five foot two, and that woman crossed her arms over her chest and stared right back up at me.

“Do we have a choice?”

Then she smiled, and I felt a chill run down my spine. “Of course,” she said sweetly.

I exhaled heavily. “Good.”

Milicent’s smile dropped. “I can give you three hours instead of two.The choiceis up to you.”

With a military sharp pivot, Milicent turned and marched back down the hall.

“Two hours,” I called to her back. “Let’s just get this done.”

She held up a hand, not even slightly breaking stride. “Smart man. See you in two hours.”

My cheeks puffed out as I blew out a hard puff of air. “Smart man, my ass,” I muttered.

I pulled out my phone and called Anya.

“Hey, what’s up?”

---