Page 86 of Wild Devotion
I brushed a stray curl from her face and took her hand. “Sean Brennan. I know who he is, Zadie.”
Her brow furrowed. “He played in the NHL. Everyone knows?—”
“Ask yourself how I know Sean Brennan is your Sean. You never told me his last name.”
The color drained from her face.
“I know him, Zadie. My whole family knows him. He was at our house for Christmas a couple of years ago. I’ve known him since I was a kid.”
“But—”
“Chantel dated him. For years.”
Her grip on my hand turned crushing. “How could she… Why wouldn’t she tell me?”
“I don’t know.” And that was the truth. “But it’s all tied to Dylan. Sean was a cover. She’s been in love with Dylan for at least as long as she dated Sean. Probably longer.”
“There’s got to be more.” Her voice shook. “She wouldn’t keep this from me just to hide a relationship with Jamie’s ex. I don’t even know them. Why would it matter?”
“I’m sure she had reasons and there’s more to it than I know.” I pulled her back against me, wrapping her up tight. “I won’t pretend to understand all of it. But I won’t let them hurt you.”
“It’s too late for that.” Her voice was hollow. “She hurt me the day she started lying. She’s been hurting me for months. Longer. I just didn’t know it.”
“Zadie, I’m—” I caught myself before the word sorry could land. She didn’t need my pity. She needed me to be steady. “I’d offer to take on Sean, but the guy’s got at least fifty pounds on me. Plus, he’s already in the hospital.”
A ghost of a smile crossed her lips. “You’re not seriously comparing yourself to Sean right now.”
“I just found out your ex is a former professional athlete built like a truck. Give me a minute to process.”
“Take all the time you need.” Her hand found my chest, pressing flat over my heart. “But for the record, you’ve already won.”
“Zadie, I need you to get dressed before I change my mind about leaving this house.”
She lifted on her toes, kissed the corner of my mouth, and turned toward the hallway. I watched her walk away, my T-shirt skimming the backs of her thighs, her messy hair sweeping her shoulders.
My fists clenched at my sides. My mind was already racing ahead to the hospital and the wreckage waiting for us there.
Chantel had a lot to answer for. Sean was a problem I hadn’t seen coming. And Zadie was about to walk into a minefield with no map.
But she wouldn’t walk it alone.
That much I could guarantee.
Chapter Thirty
Zadie
Hospitals had never bothered me. I’d always thought of them as places of healing and comfort. But as Caleb held my hand through the cold, sterile hallway of Copper Ridge Regional, all I could feel was anxiety and grief.
Anxiety because I didn’t know what I’d be walking into with Sean. And grief because it felt like I’d already lost my best friend.
Caleb had called ahead for Sean’s room number. He’d tried Chantel, but Dylan had answered. Just another reminder of how little I truly knew about the woman I’d trusted with everything. She’d had a secret man this entire time, and I’d been completely blind.
When we reached the waiting area, Dylan was reclined in a plastic chair with his head against the wall and his eyes closed. The hard edges of his personality seemed permanently fixed to his face, even in sleep. For someone so intense, he had a remarkable ability to relax under pressure.
Then again, this situation wasn’t nearly as stressful for him. He was in the loop. Unlike me, he had the full story.
“Do you want me to wait here?” Caleb asked, his hand warm in mine.
