Page 48 of Heartless Game

“An apology,” he said, that same calm patience in his voice. “I think you owe my brilliant girlfriend an apology for starting rumors about her and Toby and then repeating them to me—because you were hoping that it might impact our relationship.”

“I’m sorry,” she muttered, eyes flashing.

Judah put a hand to his ear. “What? I couldn’t hear you.”

“Say it with meaning,” Levi suggested.

I covered my mouth with a hand to hide my laughter. I felt like a bitch for enjoying this, but Veronica had been causing me issues for months now, and it felt good to get mine back—and to be supported this way by the hockey team. By Isaac, especially.

“I’msorry,” Veronica said, louder this time, her face pale with rage.

“I’m sorry, Tovah,” Isaac prompted.

“I’m sorry, Tovah,” Veronica spat, and finally, Isaac released her hand.

She moved away from him, her eyes trailed on the ground.

Turning to Toby, he said, “You clearly went along with it, which is a dick move, but I’ll make you a deal. You set the record straight that Tovah got the senior sports editor position because she’s a talented journalist and manager, and never say a word about her again—or I will happily defenestrate you.”

Toby gaped at him. “Defenes?—”

“It means toss you out the fucking window,” Isaac added helpfully. He smiled at Toby, his dimples fully on display. He’d never looked so terrifying—or so sexy.

“I—” Toby swallowed. “I don’t?—”

“You will,” Isaac told him. “Or I will.” To me, he said, “Ready?”

I grabbed my bag, ready to be done with this place—and this day.

“Ready.”

But as we left together with the entire newspaper staff watching us, my shoulders drew back and my head felt higher than it had in a while, like a whole weight had been lifted—and Isaac was carrying it for me now.

19

Isaac

Anger usually wasn’t an issue for me. Part of being Isaac Jones meant not letting irrational feelings likeangerorjealousyget in the way of being a chill, pleasant guy. But as I followed Tovah out ofTheDaily Queenoffices and into the parking lot where my car waited, I had to work really, really fucking hard not to give into my anger, storm back inside and up the stairs, and toss the sniveling little editor-in-chief out the window like I’d threatened.

“Keep it together,” Levi murmured to me. “There’s a time for rage and retaliation, and that time isn’t now.”

“Eh, rage and retaliation are fun,” Judah argued from behind us, slamming his hand into his fist. “Let’s break some editor faces!”

“Shut up.” Levi rolled his eyes.

Leaving him behind to deal with his twin, I caught up with Tovah in the middle of the parking lot.

She spun around, pink hair flying, as she pointed a finger at my chest.

“Why did you do that?” she cried.

“Do what? Stand up for you? Tell that envious bitch and your pathetic excuse for a boss to stop picking on you?”

“Yeah. That.Why?”

I opened my mouth, then shut it, because I didn’t know how to answer her. WhyhadI done it? There was no need for me to support her or protect her; it didn’t make it easier to keep her from exposing my team, and it’s not like I actually cared. So then why did I kick in a door and threaten two strangers who’d never done anything to me personally?

You were jealous, my brain offered.That’s why the door.

---