“Hey, Logan,” I say timidly.
“Coming to get your things?” he asks.
“Yeah, I just… I haven’t been in here since that night, and… I’m just being dumb,” I say dismissively.
“Not dumb at all,” he says, waving to someone. “I’ll walk with you.”
“Ari!” Tate says as he jogs over and wraps me in a tight hug. I don’t expect it at first, so I freeze for a moment, eventually relaxing.
“Hey, Tate,” I say, quietly.
“I missed you. The new assistant is a bitch,” he says.
“Because they make you follow the rules?” I ask, and he grins.
“Did you find another team? Someone said you got another PA job,” Tate asks.
“Yeah. I am going to Detroit,” I say.
“Oof. The rival? That’s cold,” Logan teases.
“Well, that’s what happens when you fire someone because they were violently raped,” I say with a shrug. “Sorry, I know you don’t want to hear...”
“Don’t apologize. You have every right to say what happened to you,” Logan interrupts. “And when I find out who did it, they are fucking dead.”
“Logan.” I sigh.
“Sorry, Ari. That’s what happens when someone fucks with our girl,” Tate says. “Come on. The others will want to see you, too.”
I look at the front doors and sigh again. “Okay,” I answer timidly. Logan and Tate hook their arms with mine and walk in with me. We go the long way around to the locker rooms, intentionally keeping me away from the rink.
“Lady in the house,” Tate calls out as we walk in. My office was just past the coach’s office before you got into the actual dressing area. When we come around the corner, Beckett leaps over a bench to pick me up in a hug and spin me around.
“Put me down!” I laugh.
“Fuck, I have missed you, girl,” Beckett says as he grabs my face and sloppily kisses my forehead.
“Gross, Beck,” I say as I wipe his slobber off my skin.
“Miss Ari,” Jaxon says with a sweet smile. He is the one I am the closest to. These four really are amazing. I was afraid I’d lose them, or they’d disappear as everyone else did, but they were so fucking patient with me when I said I wasn’t ready to see them in person. I’ve never had a problem with my appearance untilI got my face bashed in and ended up with a nasty scar on my forehead.
“Hey, Jax,” I say, returning his smile. They really do know how to cheer me up, and they don’t even realize how much it means to me.
When Logan shifts over a step, I see them watching me from the bench. Conrad and Ethan have a blank look on their faces, trying to figure out if I remember. They fully intended to kill me that night, so I am sure seeing me standing here feels like I am threatening them.
“How have you been?” Jax asks me.
“Really good,” I say. “I start my new job tonight.”
“See? I told you things would work out,” Jax says.
“Yeah, and if we knew who hurt her, we could make things even better,” Tate growls.
“Detectives still don’t have any leads?” Beckett asks.
“No,” I say, making sure not to look at Conrad or Ethan even for a moment. I don’t want them thinking I remember, or they really will kill me. I know I should speak up, but I am terrified of what might happen. I am honestly surprised I can even be in the same room with them, but I find safety in knowing that these four men would not let anyone hurt me. “I don’t remember everything, and what I do remember is wildly unhelpful.”
“Where is your new job?” Coach Sutter asks from behind us. I roll my eyes before turning to face him.
