Chase focused his attention on our intertwined hands and shrugged. “Yes and no. I mean, yes. But that wasn’t the main problem. I was trying to protect you.”

My stomach rolled over as a flood of conflicting feelings surged within me. In all of this, he was trying to protect me? Why? And why didn’t he talk to me?

“From what?”

“From me and my dumbass decision,” he muttered.

“By breaking my heart?”

His expression crumpled, and he buried his face in his palm. “No. By distancing you from this clusterfuck so you don’t get dragged down with me.”

“You’re calling the shots without me again, Carter.” The words were harsh, but my tone wasn’t.

“Look…” He trailed off. “Did you watch the video?”

“No,” I said. Queasiness swirled in my stomach at the very thought. “God, no. I don’t plan to.”

“You might feel differently once you know what’s in it.”

* * *

CHASE

James beside me, holding my hand. I didn’t deserve it, not one bit, but I was so fucking thankful she was here with me.

For now, at least.

“I doubt it.” Bailey’s brows knit together, her hazel eyes soft. “When did this happen, exactly?”

“Last April.” Not even a year ago, though it felt like a lifetime ago. Or another lifetime completely. Like someone else’s life. I wished it was.

“That was way before I met you.”

“Yeah.” I gritted my teeth, searching for the courage to spill the ugly details, but the words stuck in my throat. Would this change the way she saw me forever?

Her expression turned thoughtful. “The Sideline had a blind item a while ago about a hockey sex tape, but they said it was someone at Callingwood.” Bailey grabbed her phone and navigated to the website. She scanned the screen, her mouth twisting into a frown. “They claimed it was a girl from Callingwood. Didn’t say anything about who the other person was, I guess.”

“I knew about that, but I wasn’t sure if you did.” I rubbed her thigh with my free hand, savoring the contact I’d missed so damn much.

She kept her gaze fixed on her phone instead of meeting my eyes when she responded. “I didn’t want to bring it up because I was worried it was something Luke did without my knowledge.”

My hand froze on her leg. “Oh my god, that would be the end of his sorry life.” The very idea made me homicidal. It would have had me taking Vincent up on that hitjob immediately. Or doing it myself.

“Do you think they meant—” Bailey faltered.

Me.

“Maybe,” I said. “One of the girls goes to Callingwood.”

Her phone slipped out of her hand and landed on the cushion beside her. “One of them?” She blinked slowly, shaking her head. “Sorry. I don’t mean to sound—to judge—I’m just confused.”