Page 169 of Over the Line

“It’s not your fault,” I said numbly. I could believe that much—Marcus was a decent human being who understood and respected boundaries. He’d had every reason to believe that article was real and that he wasn’t asking me about something that wasn’t already wildly public.

But the cat was out of the bag.

And I had to do damage control fast.

So, skates still on, I hurried out of the locker room after Chris.

CHAPTER 40

GARRETT

I had never made it from the owner’s box down to ice level that fast. Stomach roiling with too many emotions to count, I damn near ran the whole way down, beating the rest of the family members there by a mile.

I was just coming around the last corner before the locker room when the doors flew open. Liam stepped out, still in his sweaty gear and skates. I didn’t even have time to think about how much I loved seeing him like that—I was way too freaked out.

I was just about to call out his name when he turned panicked eyes on me.

“I swear to God,” he said as I closed the distance, “that video is fake.”

I skidded to a halt. “It’s… what?”

“It’s fake.” Liam’s pads creaked as his shoulders fell, and he raked a hand through his sweaty, disheveled hair. “I have no idea—okay, no, I’m pretty sure I know where it came from.” He glared toward the locker room door for a heartbeat, then looked at me again. “But I don’t know how anyone found out.”

“You know who did it, though?”

“Same asshole who’s posted AI fakes before,” Liam gritted out. “Can’t imagine it’s anyone else.”

Fucking hell. I didn’t even have to ask, did I?

I gestured toward the locker room. “Has Chris seen it?”

The dip of Liam’s shoulders answered well enough.

So did the rapid, angry clomping on the concrete behind me. The equipment managers would probably be apoplectic about what Chris was doing to his skate blades, but when I saw him coming toward us, I didn’t imagine he gave a shit about any of his equipment, never mind anyone’s opinion about it.

“What the fuck, Dad?” Chris’s voice echoed off the cinderblock walls. “You guys are really…” He gestured sharply at both of us. “Seriously? And you’re telling fans you’re with him but not bothering to tell me?”

“We didn’t tell the fans,” Liam said evenly. “The video—it’s an AI fake. It’s⁠—”

“But you aren’t denying screwing my dad,” Chris snapped.

I swallowed. “Chris, we’re⁠—”

“No. I don’t want to hear it.” He whirled on me. In his skates, he towered over me, and his fury seemed to give him a couple of extra inches. “I don’t fucking care that you’re dating Saints,” he snarled. “Date whoever the hell you want. I don’t give a shit.” His voice wavered slightly. “I care that you lied. Again.”

“Chris, I’m sorry. We⁠—”

“You told me to my face you just weren’t ready to introduce me to your new boyfriend,” he ground out. “Don’t you think that’s different when I already fucking know him?” He flailed a hand at Liam, nearly smacking his chest protector. “I thought you weren’t going to hide things anymore. You weren’t going to fucking lie anymore. But now you’re—” He whipped his furious glare toward Liam and pointed sharply at me. “Did he tell you he cheated on my mom? Did he? Huh?”

“Chris,” I pleaded. “I told⁠—”

“Did he?” Chris demanded. “Because he’ll probably cheat on you too. He’s a fucking liar.”

Liam showed his palms. “Listen, I know about⁠—”

“God, fuck you both.” Chris threw up his hands. “I can’t believe—” He turned hurt, angry eyes on me, and his voice wavered as he said, “You said you weren’t going to lie anymore.”

Before I could respond, he stomped back into the locker room. If he could’ve slammed the door behind him, he probably would have. Probably hard enough to rattle the whole arena.