He finally emerges from the locker room ten minutes later, but Caroline is right beside him. They’re leaning close to each other, clearly having a conversation not meant for anyone else.
An arrow of jealousy shoots through my chest. It’s not rational. Caroline seems like a nice woman, and I have no claim on Noel. She’s much closer to his age than I am, and it makes sense that the team’s coach and doctor would spend time together and get close.
How close, though? He doesn’t even see me standing here. He doesn’t see anyone but her. They stay in their little huddle as they continue down the tunnel, shutting out the world. He doesn’t act this way around male colleagues.
I hide my disappointment, putting away my phone and following the assistant coach, Shawn, down the tunnel toward the exit.
Once again, I set myself up to be disappointed by a man. I never seem to truly learn.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Noel
We were fucked before,so I guess now we’re super fucked.
Not only is our captain and best forward out injured, but Lucien will get suspended over that fight. It’s only a question of how many games he’ll be out for.
“You gonna make any comment?” Shawn asks me from his seat beside mine on the plane.
“No.”
Our team owner, Hudson McClain, and our PR director, Deb, have been blowing up my phone since the fight happened a few hours ago. We’re in the air on our way to Boston now, and I asked McClain to put the whole organization under a gag order. No one says a word to anyone about the fight or anything else. We need some time.
We found out from a post on Vancouver’s socials that Lucien broke Kyle’s jaw. No one knows, or will know, that Kyle was just waiting for his moment to beat Kyle’s ass harder than usual. Because Audra told Talia this afternoon—or I guess, yesterday afternoon, I don’t even know what day it is anymore—that sheleft because Kyle shoved her to the ground while they were fighting.
I was livid when Talia told me. Any man who puts his hands on a woman is a piece of shit. And even though Audra’s judgment hasn’t always been the best, she’s my daughter and I love her. Lucien saw how upset Talia was, and the only thing he could do about it was make Kyle pay. I’d have done the same thing to him—and worse—if I could’ve.
I had no part in Kyle cheating on Talia with Audra and eventually breaking up with Talia and marrying Audra. I did have a small part in Talia getting hired by my team, and I could have forbidden her and Lucien from getting involved, but I didn’t.
And now my family drama is affecting my team. I’ve always been a professional, from the first time I signed a pro contract. I represent my team at all times, and that matters. Not once have I cheated in a relationship or behaved like an idiot in public.
Still, drama’s been following me around like a lost fucking dog lately.
“Deb is saying we have to make a comment,” Shawn says, his expression worried.
“It can wait,” I snap. “Just because reporters are demanding something now, that doesn’t mean they’re getting it.”
“Sure. But she’s asking you to look at a draft of a statement, even if it doesn’t get released right now.”
I rub my temples, a headache threatening to set in. I responded to Hudson with a text, but I didn’t respond to Deb, and it’s clearly driving her crazy. Must be fucking nice to be sitting at home in her pajamas thinking about nothing but a statement. I’m still traveling with the team, and there’s work to be done for our game tomorrow.
We have to watch film and pivot our plays to compensate for the loss of Lucien. Silas tweaked his ankle during the game,and he’s questionable for tomorrow. As much as Deb and the media think the fight between Lucien and Kyle should be at the forefront of my mind, it’s not.
I told Audra to check into a hotel under a false name, and for once, she listened. At least I know Kyle can’t get to her for now. It’s hard to see past my rage toward Kyle, but I have to put it aside.
What I wouldn’t give to be beside Jules at that bar again. It was just over twenty-four hours ago when I had nothing on my mind but how good she smelled and how much I wanted her. I was relaxed, and my phone was quiet.
“Tell Deb it’s not happening tonight,” I tell Shawn. “We’re focused on the next game. And when we do make a statement, it’ll be short and to the point. We wish him well in his recovery.”
“Got it.” He opens his mouth to speak, then closes it again.
“What?” I ask.
“Do you want me to leave you alone? Are you going to try to rest?”
“It would take a tranquilizer dart to knock me out right now. I’m going to watch film.”
He starts to stand up. “I’ll leave you to?—”
