"Just checking."
"Well, don't." He pushed off the wall. "Some of us don't need therapy to function."
The words, sharp and bitter, struck like icy daggers. Yet what stood out to me was the weariness etched into his features. His hands shook as he walked past me.
The old me would've taken the bait and turned it into a confrontation.
Dr. Reyes taught me to recognize when people lashed out because they were hurting.
"If you ever want to talk—" I started.
"I don't." Aaron disappeared around the corner without looking back.
I stood there for a moment, then made a mental note to mention it to Coach. Something was off with Aaron, and ignoring it wouldn't make it go away.
I'd learned that the hard way.
I finished dressing and made my way to the administrative wing. Three management executives were waiting: Janet Morrison from PR, Marcus Webb from Legal, and Greg Hartley, the GM.
“Easton, sit.” Greg gestured to a chair across from them.
I sat, keeping my expression neutral.
“Let’s get right to it,” Greg said. “Yesterday’s incident at the veterinary clinic. We’ve reviewed the photos, the video footage circulating online, and the police report. You want to tell us your side?”
“A photographer followed my daughter into the clinic. She was terrified. I removed him from the premises.”
“You ’removed’ him,” Janet repeated, her tone dry. “That’s one way to describe physically grabbing someone and destroying their equipment.”
“He was chasing a six-year-old. What was I supposed to do?”
“Not assault someone on camera,” Marcus interjected. “Do you have any idea of the liability issues this creates?”
My jaw clenched. “He was harassing my daughter.”
“We understand that,” Greg said, his tone more measured. “But Easton, you’re not just a hockey player. You’re the captain of this team. You represent the Shadow Wolves organization. And right now, you’re representing us by getting into physical altercations with photographers.”
“So I’m supposed to let them terrorize my family?”
“You’re supposed to call security. Or the police. Or literally any option that doesn’t involve you putting hands on someone.” Janet leaned forward. “The photographer is considering pressing charges, by the way. And even if he doesn’t, the optics are terrible.”
I felt my control slipping. “The optics of protecting my daughter?”
“The optics of a professional athlete using physical force against a civilian,” Marcus corrected. “It doesn’t matter what your intentions were. It matters how it looks.”
“And it looks bad,” Greg added. “Especially on top of the paternity revelation. The secret-daughter angle was already generating negative attention. Now we’ve got you in a physical confrontation, and the internet is divided between people who think you’re a protective father and people who think you’re a violent thug with anger issues.”
“I don’t have anger issues.”
The three of them exchanged glances.
I wanted to argue, to defend myself, but the truth was staring me in the face. Dr. Reyes had been working with me on this formonths. My anger was a problem. I just hadn’t wanted to admit it extended beyond the ice.
“What happens now?” I asked, my voice tight.
Greg sighed. “Effective immediately, we’re suspending your captaincy.”
The words hit like a physical blow. “What?”
