“Maybe, but is your job worth it?”
Hockey is everything to me. It always has been.
There is only one answer.
“Yes.”
She smirks as if she’s just won something. “As I thought.”
“So, what are you proposing here exactly?” I ask.
Exhaustion tugs at me, and my eyes burn from lack of sleep. All I want to do is go home and crawl into bed, but something tells me I’m not going to be allowed to do that for some time yet.
“We need to clean you up. No more bad press involving bunnies and fights and all the other bullshit that’s crossed my desk in the last few months.
“By the time the new season starts, you’re going to be a whole new Everett Donnelly who is fully focused on the game and living a calm, under-the-radar life.”
My brows lift.
“And you really expect me to be able to do that?”
“If you want to remain a Viper, I’m not sure you have much choice.”
My teeth grind.
“So no more parties or enjoying myself. You think that’s enough?”
She shakes her head, answering me the exact way I predicted. “We need to show you as a more rounded person. Give you something outside of hockey and hooking up with bunnies.”
“Right…”
My stomach knots when she doesn’t continue straight away.
“Beatrice Walsh,” she starts.
“Who?”
“For fuck’s sake, Rett. Beatrice. Bea. The woman who sat in that chair last night and informed you that she’s pregnant with your baby.”
My head begins spinning at the mention of the exact thing I’m trying not to think about.
“Oh, yeah. Her.”
“Yes. Her.”
“I’m not doing anything with that until I have proof.”
“You’re well within your rights to request a DNA test. But I’m confident you won’t need one.”
“What has she got over you that makes you so sure about this woman?”
“Nothing,” Hailee answers a little too quickly. “I just…woman’s intuition.”
“Well, excuse me for not relying on your intuition with this. But I want medical proof.”
“And you can get it. When you are at your ultrasound appointment next week, you can both take a test. It’ll determine if you are indeed the father of Beatrice’s baby.”
I narrow my eyes at her.
