I scowl at her. “To hang out with Laurent Duval, one of Arizona’s wingmen. And I promise you, I didn’t get him pregnant!” I snap. “We became friends at the All-Star Games after being forced to share a room. But again, I’m going to point out that it’s not even possible to get him pregnant. I didn’t do this. I don’t know her. It’s a lie. How did you even know I left the hotel in Arizona?”
God, I think I said far too much just now. They’re going to know!
“I was out front when you walked by,” Coach Elvyra explains. “You walked right by me when you climbed into the car.”
I wince. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
She chuckles. “It’s fine, Caulder. I know you’d have said hi had you seen me. You’re a very polite man.”
I try to give her a polite smile since I know she’s trying to… make me feel better, I guess.
“The team accounts are being tagged all over the place as she continually puts out a cry to get in touch with you,” Robert says. “We haven’t responded and we’ve been removing tags all over the place. It’s becoming a full-time job.”
I hang my head, pressing it into my palms. I’m going to be sick. “I didn’t touch her,” I insist. “She’s lying.”
“I don’t mean this to sound disbelieving, but she’s very clearly pregnant,” Robert points out.
“I don’t mean this to sound like an asshole, but it could very well have been you since you also have the means to knock a girl up,” I hiss.“I. Wasn’t. There.”
Robert presses his lips together and I can’t help but wonder—does this fall under ‘all attention is good attention,’ the shit he usually spews? I can’t imagine it is since he just said they’ve been untagging the team.
“I suggest calling your agent and considering getting a lawyer. Especially if this isn’t yours,” Robert says.
I glare at Robert, remembering the shit he tried to pull with Creed, Ethan, and Jakub when that whole shit went down. It’s clear he doesn’t believe me. I hate him.
“Keep your head down until we have a plan of action,” Coach says more calmly. He gives Robert a hard look. “Do not disappear; that’s not what I’m suggesting. But now that this has gotten the attention this girl is looking for, I imagine paparazzi will show up soon.”
I want to cry. Instead, I nod numbly.
“You have our support,” Coach Elvyra promises. “I didn’t believe for a second this was true. It’s not your character.”
Coach Melvin nods, offering me a smile. “Get in touch with your agent. He’s expecting your call. We’ll come up with a plan.”
I step into the hall and lean against the cold, concrete block wall. A shudder runs through my entire body. This is what I get for literally doingnothing.I’ve lived my entire life in a careful fucking bubble andstillI get this shit.
Picking up my bag and slinging it over my shoulder, I call my agent.
“Caulder,” Rigo answers.
“It wasn’t me,” I say in greeting. “I swear to you, Rigo, I didn’t touch her. She’s lying. I never even left the hotel.”
“I know.”
I pause. Even my feet stop moving. “You do?”
He chuckles. “I’ve known you for seven years, Caulder. I’ve watched you longer while I was considering you for Pride Sports. I still have eyes on you because you’re my client. This isn’t something you’d do.”
Relief washes through me to have his unwavering belief. “What do I do?”
“Unfortunately, there isn’t anything we can truly do until the child is born and a paternity test is performed.”
The relief is short lived, apparently. “When is that?”
“Summer.”
I wince. “I can’t live the next three months with this hanging over my head!”
“Five months,” Rigo corrects. “She’s due in August.”
