My pops walks over to me. He puts his hands on my shoulders and looks me square in the eye. “Something big happened. I don’t know what, the news isn’t saying. All I know is the team made a statement this morning that Olson’s been cut. He’s done. And his publicist followed the statement up with this.”
My dad puts on his glasses and reads from his phone: “Levi Olson has officially terminated his position on the Cleveland Cyclones. This separation is mutual and was made with the understanding that Levi could return to play in the league and on the team at any point in the future if an agreement were to be reached. There are allegations that may be made in the media, and we urge the fans not to be distracted by unsubstantiated rumors. Levi consulted with the coaching staff, his teammates, and league officials prior to reaching this life-changing decision. His personal health and well-being come first, and he will spend the next few months away from the field to focus on himself. We’d ask that the privacy of Levi and his family be respected during this time.”
I’m shocked, and it must show on my face. “What the fuck happened?” I ask.
My dad shrugs. “I’ve been searching every news feed I can find. I don’t know what he did, but it had to be bad. The league wouldn’t cut him loose mid-season unless it was a conduct violation. That or maybe drugs?”
This isn’t great news for him. Whatever it is, something like that could end his career. While I should be dancing on cloud nine and popping champagne, this doesn’t feel like cause to celebrate.
Someone else’s downfall doesn’t make me feel better about myself. I was probably just another casualty of a man whose life was already showing signs of falling apart. I wouldn’t have known that, of course, until it was too late.
“Well, I’m not happy for him. Even if karma did come calling quick. Shitty situation. Thanks for telling me, though, Dad.”
“Gracie,” he says. “There’s one more thing. There’re a few stories reporting that the asshat’s coming back to Star Falls. Tail between his legs kind of shit.”
“What? Why the hell would he come back here?” I knew he had family here, but…a guy with his money and connections, shouldn’t he go to rehab out in Malibu or disappear abroad for a couple months?
Pops shrugs. “All I know is if I run into him, I’ll take a mallet to his knees, Gracie. So help me God, I will.”
I pull my pops into a hug. “Thank you,” I murmur. “But, Pops. You didn’t work at the steel mill for all those years to spend your retirement behind bars.”
“I’m an old man. How long they going to give me?” he asks. “Ten years? I’d do ten years for you, Gracie. I’d do a lifetime if it meant getting even with the shit-stain that hurt my little girl.”
I chuckle at that. “It looks like karma took care of the shit-stain for us, Dad.” I kiss him on the cheek and check the time. “I got to roll. Thanks for letting me know. Does Ma know?”
He nods. “I had her run into town to set up a bail fund.”
I give him a single-brow scolding, and he laughs. “Kidding. I texted her the story. She told me to tell you before you heard it on the news.”
I doubt that’s the kind of news that would ever reach me in my day-to-day life, but I appreciate their looking out for me. I kiss my dad goodbye and head to work, ready to put Levi Olson and the shame of my past in the grave forever.
* * *
Well,if I’d thought I could live in Star Falls even five minutes without the whole town buzzing about it, I was seriously mistaken.
The second I unlock the door to The Body Shop, Toni is coming in on my heels. “Bitch, did you hear about that hottie you inked last year?” She’s wearing the most obscenely tight leopard-print leggings with a hot-pink top and an armload of jelly bracelets. She’s wearing sunglasses, but the second she takes them off, she starts eyeballing me with this curious look on her face. “You know who I’m talking about, right?”
I glare at her. “No,” I say.
This is exactly why I didn’t tell anyone when it happened.
“We never hooked up,” I lie to her, confirming the story I told everyone last year. “We had drinks, traded a few texts, and he was back to his real life.”
“Maybe he wants another tattoo,” she says. “If he comes back in, he fair game?”
I grimace, not entirely sure what she means. “Like, you want him as a client? Go for it. I could not care less.”
I turn away from her and greet Echo, who pushes through the door looking rather plain. She’s wearing a long-sleeved black shirt, a pair of black pants, and her face is free of makeup.
“What happened to you?” Toni demands, leaning on the counter while Echo punches into the app on the tablet. “You look like normal.”
Echo rolls her eyes. “Job interview,” she says, sounding incredibly grumpy about it.
“What?” I ask. “Why?”
Echo grabs a giant purse shaped like an old-school metal lunch box, complete with metal clasp and plastic handle. “I’m looking for something else part time. Wish me luck finding anything where I can dress the way I want.”
She storms to the back, where I assume she plans to change her clothes, leaving Toni and me behind.
