“Doesn’t matter,” Owen adds quietly. “People are going to connect whatever dots they want.”
A few stalls down, someone clears their throat. No one says Coach’s name out loud. Not like it needs to be said to know what everyone’s thinking.
“So what?” Kade asks. “We’re just gonna let him walk around like nothing happened and not make him own up to it while this all hangs over us again?”
“He’s got a point.” Owen motions to Talon. “He isn’t even acknowledging it.”
“Why would he?” Talon adds. “If he brings it up, he gives it credibility. He just wants to bury it as quickly as possible.”
I glance toward the doorway, like he’s going to appear at any second.
Kade huffs. “It’s not gonna blow over this time.”
Owen nods.
“Let’s just focus on the game,” Talon says finally. “That’s what they want, right? People stirring this up—a distraction. If we win, it gets buried under the highlights.”
“And if we lose?” Owen challenges.
No one entertains that one with an answer.
I roll my shoulders, finally starting to feel like myself again. Sitting out has helped, so the tension and soreness aren’t as bad.
“I’m not gonna let anyone drag her through this,” I say, keeping my voice low. “We all know he didn’t want this to get out, and I’m not gonna let Brinley think hockey is more important than her.”
Owen looks at me then and nods.
Across the room, Coach opens the door. Any conversation in the room dies instantly as heads turn.
“Rowden, can I have a word?”
A couple of the guys glance at me. I stand and follow him out, the door clicking shut behind us.
Commissioner Davisson stands at the end of the hall. His gaze flicks between us before he gives Coach a tight nod, then disappears around the corner like he wasn’t there at all.
What the hell is he doing here?
“How’s the shoulder?” Coach asks.
“As good as new.”
“We’re going to hold you out again tonight,” he says.
I stare at him. “Why?”
“Precaution.”
“I’m fine.” I rotate my shoulder as if to prove there’s nothing wrong with it.
“We’re not taking any chances this close to the playoffs.”
The article dropped last night. His name in bold linked to a daughter no one knew about. The media has speculated that she was from a one-night stand during his glory days in the league, aligning the dates with when he was rumored to be out with his now-wife.
And that daughter is rumored to be dating me.
Like the guys said earlier, the media is already connecting the dots.
“You realize sitting me out again only makes this look worse for you, right?” I say quietly. “People already think you’re doing this because I’m dating Brinley. They think I leaked the story—which I sure as hell didn’t. You haven’t exactly been Father of the Year. Benching me doesn’t clean that up.”
