“Well, I need you to manage Steele. He’s out of control again. The plane’s taking off in an hour.”
I bite at my lip and stare out the window at the limestone buildings, hot anger churning in my empty stomach.
“I’m staying here, Daddy.”
“What? No. I need you in Florida.”
I sit up, planting my feet firmly on the floor. “No. I have to be here, managing the fund. Bennett has an entire team around him. He doesn’t need me.” My voice catches and I hate myself a little more.
“Tori—”
“I’m sorry, Daddy. But I need to stay.”
Without waiting for his response, I disconnect.
CHAPTER 36
BENNETT
The loss against the Sounders hits hard.
The New York crowd’s ruthless, booing us as we leave the ice. Calling us traitors, saying we earned the ‘L.’
The press is worse.
Weston fields one asshole comment after another until Harbor finally steps in and shuts down the post-game interview.
Keller’s reaction is icy-cold silence. No “we’ll get ‘em next time” or “you boys played hard.”
Not here.
He gathers us all together in the locker room, shakes his head in bitter disappointment, and walks out without a word.
Fuck.
I’ve lost plenty of games in my career, but this one feels the worst.
Because you let Tori down.
She warned me about staying in control. And I still went out there and got reckless.
We lost the game because of me. I had a chance to make the shot and I choked. I’ll be lucky if I’m still top line by the time we get back to Florida.
I have a helluva lot to prove next practice.
The bus ride back to the hotel is silent. No one dares to talk and add fuel to Keller’s quiet fury. The familiar Manhattan landscape zips by in a flashy blur until we finally roll up to the hotel.
“Lights out by eleven. The plane leaves tomorrow at 9 AM sharp.” Keller makes the announcement, then steps off the bus without a second glance.
We all file out behind him, a few guys brave enough to murmur to one another. I head straight up to my room, turning down Morrison’s invite to hit the bar.
I don’t expect to see Tori tonight.
Not after she left the arena mid-game.
Doesn’t stop me from checking my phone every two minutes, like a fucking obsessed teenager.
The silence is louder than anything she could say.
