I’ve discovered all kinds of useful things. His father was also a hockey player—a really good one, if what I’ve read can be believed. He’s now retired, and his parents are travelling the world. I’ve found their Instagram account. His sister’s, too, who also works for the Vipers. She’s in a relationship with Lincoln Storm, Everett’s teammate and childhood best friend.
I could reach out to any of them. Maybe I’d get a response, or maybe they’d also ignore me, assuming I’m a bunny after money and fame.
But I don’t want either of those. I just want my child to have a family.
I go to more home games, not that I can really afford the expense, both with and without Sienna. But I don’t ever see him, other than on the ice. I never get an opportunity to get close tohim, to talk to him. And it soon becomes obvious that there’s only one way I’m going to make that happen.
So, feeling desperate, I pull on a dress and a pair of heels. I do my hair and makeup, and I head out with Sienna as my wing woman in the hope of stealing the hockey player’s attention for a second time in as many months.
11
BEATRICE
“Are you sure about this?” Sienna asks me as we stand in line to get into the club that the bunny sites confirm the team currently is.
“No. But do you have any other options that don’t involve a lawyer who’ll charge me an eyewatering hourly rate to do my dirty work?”
Sienna lifts a brow, her silent suggestion loud and clear.
“No, absolutely not. I am not doing that,” I state before shuffling a little closer to the front of the line.
“I’m sorry. I just…they’d help you out, you know they would.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m not asking. I walked away and started my own life, and that’s how I’d like it to stay.”
“Okay. So…what’s the plan once we get in there? Whack all the bunnies out of the way with our purses and pounce on him when he’s least expecting it?”
“No pouncing. That’s how I ended up in this situation in the first place,” I deadpan, making Sienna giggle. “I don’t have a plan. For all we know, they’ve already moved on.”
“Nope,” Sienna says, showing me her cell.
“Fucking hell,” I groan when an image of Everett appears in front of me with a girl on his lap, her lips attached to his neck.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Sienna asks hesitantly.
“No, this is a terrible idea, but I don’t have anything better, so suck it up, buttercup.”
Sienna laughs. “You got it, sunflower.”
I roll my eyes at her ridiculousness, but I can’t help but smile.
This whole thing might be insane, but Sienna is standing here right beside me. I could not be more grateful for her and her unwavering support.
It feels like forever before we get to the front of the line. My feet are already hurting, and I’m hungry and tired. It’s not a great way to enter a club.
But I figure we don’t have to stay long. If we’re lucky, we’ll find him and…
Shit.
Fear rocks through me.
If we find him, then I’m going to have to talk to him and…what the hell am I going to say?
The messages I’ve sent are cringy enough. Saying anything similar out loud…fuck, I already want the ground to swallow me up.
“Are you okay?” Sienna asks once we’ve been ushered inside, the beat of the music getting louder.
“I…I don’t know,” I confess honestly.
