Page 148 of Unraveling Rain
“For loving me the way you do. For coming all the way here when I could’ve just driven to meet you. I love you, Xander González.”
His arm tightens behind my neck, pulling me in.
“You don’t need to thank me. You’re everything to me. You know that, right?”
“Ditto.”
He exhales—slow, deep. I feel the tension gathering in his chest.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, tracing lazy shapes over his skin.
“Yes. It’s just… something happened after the game in Boston. I need to tell you.”
I sit up fast, instinct flaring.
He mirrors me, then starts.
“After the interview, this guy comes up to me and says he’s a big fan. But he’s wearing a Boston jacket, and something feels off. Then he says he knows my girlfriend and he needed a favor. Wanted to talk to you.”
My blood turns cold. One person comes to mind.
Xander holds my hands. I hadn’t noticed I was trembling.
“Yeah,” he says. “When I asked his name and he said Dennis, I lost it.”
My heart hammers. What the fuck did Dennis do to him?
“I held him by the lapels. Said some things I won’t repeat. All I wanted to do was beat him to a pulp.”
Tears fill my eyes as I take in the anger carved into Xander’s face. I can only imagine the repercussions this would have on his career.
“Matt showed up right then. Pulled me back, told me he wasn’t worth it. And he was right, but I couldn’t let that asshole just walk away. He hurt you, Rain. I couldn’t.”
I start to cry, and he wipes my cheeks immediately.
If Xander loses everything because of my past, I’ll never forgive myself.
“Mom, Dad, and Gramps were nearby. When Dad saw what was happening—and I said he’d hurt you—that was all he needed. He handled that sleazy bastardfor me.”
I let out a shaky breath. Relief. Shame, Rage.
All of it crashes in at once. Now Matt and his dad know.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” I whisper.
He lifts my chin, dark brown eyes steady and shining.
“You don’t need to apologize, my sweet Cherry. That asshole clearly can’t take a hint. I’m just glad my dad was there, because if he wasn’t, I would’ve taken care of him myself. Consequences be damned.”
I shake my head. Something inside me clicks into place.
“I’ve let this go on too long. He touched you. He tried to mess with you. I don’t know if his goal was to get you in trouble or not, but I honestly don’t care. I’m done playing nice.”
My voice is steady. My heart is certain.
“He had a deal with River, and he broke it. It’s time I take matters into my own hands.”
“What do you want to do?” he asks gently.
