Page 51 of Wild Card 13

The way she said it made something hot flare inside my chest.

Like I was the unreasonable one.

Like I was standing in her office throwing a tantrum because she wouldn't acknowledge our tragic teenage romance.

“You looked me straight in the eye yesterday.”

“I did.”

“And acted like we'd never met.”

“Because that's what needed to happen.”

“No.” I shook my head. “No. That's what you decided needed to happen.”

Lucy pushed back from her desk just enough that I knew I'd finally gotten under her skin.

“Do you honestly think this is fun for me?”

I laughed. “That's a hell of a question coming from the woman who wrote me up before saying hello.”

Her jaw tightened. “There it is.”

“What?”

“The real problem.”

“My real problem is that my ex-girlfriend showed up in Hockey Operations without warning me.”

“No.” Lucy pointed at me. “Your real problem is that somebody finally held you accountable.”

I stared at her. Then barked out another laugh. “Seriously?”

“You were late.”

“It was one?—”

“You were late, Ty.”

The use of my name hit harder than it should have. For one stupid second, I wasn't standing in her office anymore.

I was hearing her call me out for forgetting an assignment. For skipping studying. For being an idiot.

“You don't get it,” I said quietly.

Her expression hardened. “Then explain it.”

I opened my mouth. And immediately realized I had no idea how. Because how was I supposed to explain this?

How was I supposed to explain that seeing her sitting across that conference room table had felt like getting hit by a truck?

How was I supposed to explain that I'd spent eight years trying not to think about her and suddenly she was everywhere?

Instead I said the worst possible thing. “You made me feel stupid.”

The words hung between us.

Lucy's face went completely still. “Excuse me?”