Page 94 of Hot Ice, Tennessee

My gaze landed on the young guy, on the way he was looking at Elliot, with a slightly shy impatience in his expression.

At the way he was tugging on his arm.

When I looked back at Elliot, he had a look of fury in his eyes.

“Don’t fucking say shit, Sanocki.”

“Holy shit,” I said breathlessly, shaking my head. “You’re taking him out on a camping trip.”

“Shut your mouth—”

“You’re fucking another guy, now, too?”

The words spilled out of my mouth before I could give a damn what Elliot might think. The younger guy looked between me and Elliot with confusion in his eyes.

It was plain to see. This guy was Elliot’s new secret, and he was too innocent to realize that he was being used.

Just like I had been.

“Ignore what this guy is saying,” Elliot told his new guy. “He’s on my hockey team, and he’s fucking crazy.”

I looked at the guy, point blank. “He is using you,” I said. “Just know that. A woman ispregnant with his child—”

“Absolutely crazy,” Elliot said, grabbing the guy and walking off with him down the street.

I shook my head, watching as they walked off.

And no matter how pissed I was at Elliot, the only true emotion I felt was sorrow. I felt sorry for that other guy. Sorry for anyone who would get caught in the toxic trap I’d been in.

And sorry that I’d wasted my time with him.

The front door of the Hard Spot swung open a moment later, and Mason found me as I leaned back again on the cool brick of the building.

A sight for fuckin’ sore eyes.

My head was spinning as Mason came up beside me. He leaned on the wall, too, looking out at the street the same wayI was, his gaze dancing over the trees that were lit by twinkly lights strung throughout the branches.

My heart pounded like a drum. There was so much I wanted to say to Mason, but I hesitated, knowing that my words might come out like a demand. I didn’t want to pressure him.

All I wanted was to live intruth.

To feel free.

To actually know what it was like to date somebody and not have it be a secret.

“You, uh, doing okay?” Mason asked gingerly. “I don’t know why I’m asking, because I’m pretty sure you’renot, but I’m really worried I said something wrong.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong. Of course not, Mason.”

I let out a long breath and then turned toward him. I reached out, just barely brushing the back of my hand against the side of his jaw.

“Didn’t seem like you enjoyed trying to act like we werejust friendsin front of Kane,” he said. His blue eyes had never looked more raw and soulful, and it felt like it was cracking my heart into pieces.

“It’s okay. It’s my fault. A few minutes into my own little plan and I wanted to crawl out of my skin. But… I can handle it.”

Mason caught my gaze for a moment, the glow of a street lamp reflecting in his eyes. “Then let’s tell him.”

God, you are too good to me.

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