Page 54 of Making the Save
“Why the fuck did he say hockey player like that?” Liam asked, standing next to us. “Like being an actor is better than being a hockey player? Fuck that, dude. Bro, let’s find him and mess him up. We’ll show him there are certain advantages to being a hockey player.”
“No beating up my exes,” Sydney said. “Wyatt already agreed.”
“Seriously? Well, I guess that’s what marriage does to you,” Liam lamented. “Makes you soft and want to wear robes and hold hands and shit.”
At his words, I realized I had taken Sydney’s hand while the asshole was talking. She pulled away and I let her go.
“Ironic that John’s the one making the case that our relationship is real,” Sydney said, plopping down on the couch and pulling her knees to her chest. She looked up at Liam. “I’m sorry you got dragged into our drama.”
“I’m not. I fucking love drama,” Liam said, sitting down next to her, with enough space between them that I didn’t have to growl at him. “Plus, it gave me the opportunity to meet you. Now, can we talk about whoFaithlessis really about, if it’s not him?”
Sydney chuckled.
“We’re leaving,” I announced.
“Cool. We going to dinner or something? I can always eat,” Liam said.
“You guys really can,” Syd agreed.
“No, I mean we should leave here,” I told them as the idea took shape in my head. “Leave all this bullshit behind and go somewhere, where we are completely off anyone’s radar. No more fake kissing for the press to prove something. If we’re out of sight, we’re out of mind. Then in ten weeks we announce our separation, and no one will think twice about it.”
Syd bit down on her bottom lip. A sign she was thinking. “This place is more private than my New York apartment, but I suppose we would be more anonymous in a bigger city.”
I shook my head. “No, when I say out of sight, I mean…Out. Of. Sight.”
“Oh, you want to take her to the cabin,” Liam concluded. He lifted an eyebrow as if to say,you sure that’s a good idea?
The idea was a double-edged sword. On the one hand, we didn’t have to showcase our relationship to anyone watching. On the other hand, it would just be the two of us alone for a prolonged period of time.
And I had to keep my hands off of her. Which was going to be one of the hardest things I ever had to do.
Now that I’d had a taste of her, I only wanted more. I just had to channel some mental strength. No big deal. Once, I’d played three periods of professional hockey on a broken foot. I could keep my hands off my hot beautiful sweet wife. Assuming she did the same, we’d be fine.
“There’s not a lot to do up there,” Liam said.
“That’s not true,” I said. I was always busy at the cabin.
“Chores don’t count,” Liam said. “There are no restaurants or theaters. No bars. No clubs. Shitty Wi-Fi. There are chores and Wyatt.”
My brother had a point, I looked over at Syd curled up on the couch.
“Is that going to be a problem for you?” I asked.
“Beatrice wouldn’t come?”
“The cabin is not really built for three people. It’s only got one bedroom and one bathroom.”
“One bedroom!” Sydney’s eyes got wide. “You mean one bed?”
“Oh, yeah.” Liam clapped his hands together. “Now things are getting juicy. Let me get the popcorn.”
“Grow up, you idiot,” I told Liam. To Syd, I said. “There is only one bedroom, which of course would be yours. I can sleep on the couch. If you want Beatrice to come, then you’ll need to share the bedroom with her.”
Another pull on her bottom lip. “I don’t need Beatrice to come. Other than the America’s Choice Award show in a few weeks, I don’t really have anything that needs planning.”
“I love America’s Choice,” Liam said. “I’m presenting best new artist.”
“You’re joking?” I asked. “Since when?”