Page 56 of Temptation On Ice

Sebastian is frozen, looking around at the group of people converging on us with a ton of intrusive questions about his sexuality, his kid, and what people think of us. My heart sinks. For all his talk of claiming me publicly and wanting to be with me, he’s having a hard time putting those words into practice now. He’s not even touching me after being unable to keep his hands off since we woke up.

My shoulders slump as reality sets in. I should have known it was all too good to be true. My stupid, soft whore heart decided to believe another straight man with pretty words despite every former experience. I had plenty of proof of what would inevitably happen in the light of day, after the high of getting his dick sucked and a great fuck wore off, when real life set in. This is par for the course. My heart races as I realize that I’ve put my partnership with the Hydras on the line to be with him, and he’s not even man enough to stand close enough to touch me now.

I’m not losing everything for a man who won’t even stand up for me when it counts.

I swallow down the bile rising in my throat, knowing what I have to do. Time for damage control, so I can start picking up the pieces of my life and maybe salvage what’s left of the Hydras partnership and my reputation in order to not lose my business along with it.

I step in front of Sebastian, blocking him from the prying eyes of the strangers on my property who want some kind of statement. I turn to him and speak quietly. “Get back in the car. Just go. I’ll handle this since you don't want to.” I turn back to the crowd. “We’re just friends, and he was kind enough to help me out when I was having a bad night. That’s all there is to it. Now leave before the Sheriff escorts you off my property.” I look down the lane at the cruiser making its way toward us.

Cami must have called Dwight down at the station to clear out the assholes who are giving us more trouble than we know what to do with. About time she did, too. I don't think these people were satisfied with my answer.

“Tucker, what the hell?” Sebastian says quietly at my side.

Sheriff Cooper gets out of his car and lumbers toward us. The crowd begins to slowly disperse with uneasy grumblings in the presence of law enforcement.

“Don't, Sebastian. You’ve said enough by not saying anything at all. I have shit to deal with now, and you have to get to practice. You should just leave.” My tone is gruff and even despite the earthquake taking place in my soul as my heart riots against my rational brain. I know I’m doing the right thing in protecting myself, or what’s left to protect at this point, after letting my guard down and giving him everything. I can't believe I fell for his pretty words like a fucking chump.

Stupid Tucker and his whore heart love a straight man who wants to experiment but doesn't actually want to be seen with him in public, as usual.

“It’s not like that,” he says, following me as I walk toward the Sheriff.

“You're going to be late if you stay. I’m sure that’ll go over well with your coach. Best be on your way and not let me fuck up your life any more than I already have,” I mumble, hating every word coming out of my mouth.

“Why are you being like this?” he snaps, pulling on my arm to stop me.

I spin on him. “Why am I being like this? How about asking yourself why you couldn't answer those people with any of the pretty lines you fed me last night. Of claiming me to everyone, of wanting to be mine. Then maybe you’ll know why I’m being like this. Every word out of your mouth was bullshit, and I don't know why I even believed a minute of it when I told you I’ve been through this and know how it ends. You just proved me right, and I fucking hate it. I wanted to be wrong so fucking bad.” My voice betrays me by breaking, and I have to look away. “Why couldn't you have been different?”

I shake my head when he stands there gaping at me, unable to answer for his crimes, knowing he fucked up and there’s no going back now to redo it.

“This isn’t done, Tucker,” Sebastian says, a furious undercurrent in the quiet words.

“Oh, I’m pretty sure it is. There’s not much left for us now if you can’t man up when it counts.”

I turn with determination and continue walking toward Sheriff Cooper, even though a part of me wants to stay rooted in place next to Sebastian. I hear Sebastian’s steps crunching on the gravel as he turns the other way and goes back to his car. Each step is a grenade blowing up the foundation of our relationship, if you can call it that. Every quiet moment we spent together obliterated by the space stretching between us.

“I appreciate you taking the time to come out this morning, Sheriff,” I say, all business despite the polite words. My mind is split, half-focused on the man retreating behind me that’s taking my heart with him, the other trying to clean up the mess that came with catching feelings for him.

“It’s been a while, Tucker. Your sister said there’s a crowd causing some trouble? What are we dealing with?” the Sheriff asks.

“Just some trespassers from the media who thought that they could come onto my property because I do business here,” I say, thumbing over my shoulder toward the cars and group of people. “I got caught up in some social media thing by accident, and they came out here looking for a story they’re not gonna get.”

I hear Sebastian’s car start, and my gut churns. I told him to leave. I shouldn't care.

But I do.

When he drives by, I try not to look to see if he’s looking at me, but my traitorous heart does it for me, scanning his windows and catching the tight set of his shoulders, hands strangling the steering wheel as he stares straight ahead, face an inscrutable mask.

“Whelp, let’s get these people off your property,” Sheriff Cooper says, his Southern twang thick as he tucks his thumbs in his gun belt and rocks back on his heels. “Kinda thought a big officer of the Atlanta Police Department like yourself could handle a few trespassers on his own, but I guess you city departments aren’t always better than us county folks, eh?”

“Former officer,” I correct him. I feel even less like a police officer now than I ever did. I don't have the edge, the steel spine required to do the job anymore. I’m too fragile, ready to break over the slightest embarrassment, now. Like watching my boyfriend freeze when asked about our brand-new relationship, and realizing he didn't mean any of the lies he’d fed me. “I just train dogs now.”

Twenty-three

Sebastian

“Montenegro, where’s your fucking head?” Coach Kennedy yells from the bench. “You missed another pass. This isn’t the Peewees, so stop acting like a kid not paying attention. I’ll bench you if you don't get your head adjusted before the game tomorrow. Now, all of you, get off my ice. I’m sick of looking at your faces.”

One glance at Coach Kennedy’s red face and I realize I’ve fucked up again. He’s not known for swearing at us, but I’ve been out of it the entire practice, and he’s rightly pissed at me. I should be setting the standard for the boys, getting them focused and ready for our first road trip to Chicago, but instead, I’m over here replaying Tucker’s disappointed look and cold denial about being with me.