“I think…” Cliff paused in thought and dabbed his mouth with a napkin. “No, Iknowtwo truths about hockey players. One, they’re stubborn sons of bitches who work hard to get their way.” He cracked a small grin. “You need that type of persistence to make it in a sport like hockey. And two, they’re the most loyal bunch on the planet.” He tilted his head to the side in thought. “Half the time that loyalty only extends to their teammates, not even their wives or families, and that’s when it becomes a problem. But in Johnny’s case, it’s a good thing. Johnny still thinks of himself as a teammate, just a different type of teammate. That’s why he’s the best at his job. That’s why so many of the guys trust him and work with him.” He nodded. “I bet Johnny has him back here tonight.”
“Tonight?” I asked, feeling a little hope rise in my chest for the first time since JP was taken from me. “You really think that’s possible?”
He nodded. “I’d bet on it.”
___________
A few hours later, Cliff was proven right.
JP climbed into bed with me around 2am.
“Oh my God, is everything okay?” I slurred, still half-asleep.
“It will be.” He pressed a kiss to my temple before curling his body around mine. “We’ll figure it out in the morning. I’m sorry I woke you.”
“I’m happy you’re here,” I said, my voice cracking with emotion.
“Me too. I’m here, and I’m staying here. I promise. You need some rest, baby.”
But when I finally woke in the morning, JP wasn’t behind me anymore. I panicked for a second, thinking I dreamt him up in the middle of the night, until I heard his voice floating in from the hallway. The irony didn’t escape me that in the beginning of our relationship, I panicked that he was in bedwithme, now I panicked over his absence.
Quickly throwing on flannel pants, I tried to listen in on the conversation going on in the hallway. I caught the words “possible restitution” and “restraining order.”
I threw the door open. “What happened?”
JP stepped closer to me. He had his arm back in his sling, and I really hoped yesterday didn’t hurt his progress. “Johnny’s fighting the charges.”
“Charges?” My eyes went from JP to Johnny. “He got charged?”
“It’s all bogus and everyone knows it,” JP answered. “That Spencer asshole is probably behind the whole thing, but it’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. You can’t get it dropped?” I asked desperately.
“Oh don’t worry, I plan on getting it dropped.” Johnny’s eyes dipped to my baby bump and his face faltered. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry? Why are you apologizing?” My eyes went wide. “Sorry is bad! Are things bad?”
“No, they’re not, I didn’t mean…” He shook his head, then looked to JP for help. “I hate disappointing pregnant chicks.”
“Disappointing? Should I be disappointed?” I squeaked.
JP snorted a laugh and pulled me into him for a hug. “Everything’s okay.”
But I knew it wasn’t.
And as the day went on, the bad news kept piling on. The story of JP’s arrest was picked up by a sports blog first, and then it made the rounds to bigger sports outlets.
Kappy called around dinnertime, right before he was about to go on air.
“Dude, just wanted to give you a heads up,” Kappy whispered on the other end of the line. “Make sure you tune in. I'll clear it all up for you.”
JP’s face went slack. “Kappy, what does that mean? No, whatever you’re planning, just don’t. You’ll just make it—”
The line went dead.
“Son of a—” JP cut himself off and clenched his jaw.
“Is that bad?” I asked nervously.
