What’s going on, Aiden?
Are you okay?
TWELVE
AIDEN
No. No, I wasn’t okay. Not even close to okay.
I’d slept with my coach.
The coach who I didn’t want to know who I was because I didn’t want special treatment.
The coach, who was friends with my parents. Who had also played hockey with my dad.
No one would believe I didn’t do it maliciously and with forethought. Everyone would think I slept with the coach for playing time, for my position, for… everything.
I looked up from my phone, tears blurring my vision to see Alex… no, not Alex… Sasha… The Storm… weaving his way through the crowded patio toward the French doors that stood open between the kitchen and backyard.
I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t see him or talk to him or let him get close to me because what little control I had over my emotions would be gone.
I spun on my heel and took off through the house, doing my best not to break anything. I couldn’t be here. I slammed into the big guy who tended bar the night before. He wasn’t much taller than me, but he was broad and thick.
“Whoa, there, kid. You okay?”
“No. I’ve… I’ve gotta go. I can’t be here.”
If I could hear the panic in my voice, then he must have, too, because he wrapped an arm around me, ushering me away from everyone and out of the house.
“I’ve got you. Let’s just get you outside so you can calm down.”
“I’ve gotta leave. I can’t be here. I really can’t.”
Sunlight blinded me as we stepped out into the morning sun, where it peeked through the trees.
“Did someone hurt you?”
My throat closed up.
“Where’s the guy from last night?”
My chin wobbled as I shook my head.
“Kiddo, I’m gonna need more than that. I need some words. As an owner, the club and all our members are my responsibility, so if someone hurt you, I need to know so I can…”
“No. He didn’t hurt me, I just can’t…” I gasped, dashing tears from my face as they poured from my eyes without permission. I only registered their existence as my hands touched them. “I got some bad news, and I need to leave. That’s all. No one hurt me.”
“If I let you leave by yourself, are you going to be okay to drive?”
“I’ll be fine. I promise. I just can’t stay here. I’ve gotta get back to my place and make some phone calls. That’s all. Please. I really need to go.”
“Okay. I’ll agree to let you go if you promise to call me.”
He pulled out his wallet and handed me a business card. I glanced down at it, before snatching from him and taking off toward my Jeep.
“I promise…” I said, calling over my shoulder.
The big guy followed after me, grabbing hold of my door as I opened it.
