I swallowed. “And you?” I asked. “What happens to you?”
“I’ll be questioned,” he said, his jaw tightening. “Probably early. And yes — there’s a good chance I’ll be placed on temporary suspension while they investigate.”
My heart lurched. “What? Shane—”
“Hey.” He lifted his hand, brushing his thumb gently along my jaw. “Listen to me. That part isn’t punishment. It’s standard.”
I shook my head. “But you didn’t do anything.”
“I know,” he said softly. “And they know that too. But when someone in leadership is directly involved — when I intervened, when I confronted him — it becomes about optics and due process. They freeze everyone in the immediate orbit until the facts are clear.”
Tears pricked my eyes again. “I hate that this affects you.”
“I don’t,” he said immediately. “If the cost of taking him down and getting you in the process is a few weeks on the sidelines, I’ll pay it every time. Without hesitation.”
“How long does all of this take?” I asked.
“Usually a few weeks. Sometimes longer if it’s complex. But you won’t be left in the dark. They’ll keep you informed. You’ll have support — legal, therapeutic, advocacy. You won’t be doing this alone.”
“And Nathan?” My voice barely held steady. “What happens to him if they… if they believe us?”
“If the investigation substantiates what we’ve reported and what has been accused tonight, he’s done.”
My breath caught. I almost felt bad for how giddy it made me, to know that this could be the end of his reign of terror. I wondered how many other people were caught up in it all, who would be impacted.
“Best-case for him?” Shane continued. “Permanent suspension. Termination for cause. His contract voided. He’ll never work in this league again.”
“And worst-case?”
“If criminal charges are pursued — and they very well could be — then that’s out of the league’s hands. That becomes law enforcement. Court cases. Consequences that follow him for the rest of his life.”
I stared at him, my chest rising and falling fast. “This is kind of wild.”
“I know. I mean, there’s no spinning it where he gets out of the situation without paying a price,” Shane said. “This isn’t something money or charm fixes. He crossed lines that can’t be uncrossed.”
I curled into him again, my forehead resting against his collarbone. “I’m scared,” I admitted. “And I’m so fucking tired of being scared.”
“I know,” he said, holding me tighter. “This part — the waiting — is often the hardest. But you have me. Through every step. Okay?”
He kissed the top of my head.
“And here’s what I want you to remember. Right now, your only job is to take care of yourself. Sleep. Eat when you can. Breathe. Let the professionals handle the process. Let me handle what I can.”
I pulled back just enough to look at him. “You’re really okay with all of this? The suspension and the fallout and…” I waved my hand. “All of it?”
His mouth curved into a small, steady smile.
“I’ve lived with worse consequences for doing nothing,” he said. “This? This is me doing the right thing.”
I leaned into his palm when he touched my face.
“None of this erases your life, either, Ari. This was a dark chapter, but you get to decide what happens next. The pen is back in your hands.”
I nodded slowly, letting his words settle.
“Okay,” I whispered.
He brushed his thumb beneath my eye. “Okay.”
