What I care more about is getting justice for Kailyn, Hannah, and all of the other people that Eric has managed to hurt while getting away with it. I hate that he made her feel scared and like her body was being violated. That even after all of this, he can still be let off the hook and she has to work with him every day. I’m also enraged that Hannah’s had to do this alone for months because she didn’t have anyone to trust or tell until Kailyn.
It should never have happened, and I’ll make sure that they both get justice.
“Hey, I’m right here.” She must sense my nerves getting the better of me as she slows our pace and squeezes my hand that she hasn’t let go of once. “I know this is scary, but we’re in this together.”
I lean down to kiss the top of her head just as we stop in front of the door. “I don’t care about me, I care about what you went through. The fact that he can walk around like that, and you have to be in fear makes me so damn angry. If they don’t listen to you…”
“Jake.” She turns me to face her, her hands coming to cup my face and bring it down so our foreheads are pressed together. “I’m just as scared as you are. There’s a small part of me that thinks that the GM will wash this all under the rug, but I’m choosing to have faith. I’ve been running for so long, lost and alone, but I don’t want to do that anymore. I’m going to fight for myself, for Hannah, and forevery other person that he’s hurt, and if they don’t listen, we’ll make them. This is my home, you are my home, and everyone around us.” She pulls back slightly to look at everyone. “They’re my family,ourfamily. And I’m not afraid of that.” Her words hit me right where they need to, reminding me that whatever happens, my family, the people that care about and love me are standing right here.
I pull her in by the waist and kiss her softly. “I love you, Kailyn. Thank you for being my rock. Thank you for coming back into my life, choosing me again, and fighting for us.”
“Thank you for not hating me and pushing me away, even when I deserved it.” Tears are pooling in her eyes, dripping down her cheeks, and I wipe them away gently with my thumbs. “I love you, Jake, and I’m so grateful you’ve given me a second chance to hold your heart. I’ll never break it again.”
“It was always yours to hold.”
With one more kiss, she lets go of my face, stepping back to wipe her eyes on my jacket she borrowed, before straightening and turning back to the door. “You ready?”
Reaching up, I knock on the door with one hand as I grab hers with my other one, ready to face whatever happens with her by my side.
Chapter 38
Kailyn
Coach opens the door, his expression giving nothing away. “Come on in guys. Have a seat.”
We all file into the office as Coach walks to the front of the room and takes a seat at the head of the table. It’s only when we’ve made it through the door that I notice the other people in the room. Standing at the front with Coach is our GM Thomas Preston. He’s wearing a business suit sans jacket and tie. His white button up is pristine and his black slacks are pressed, not a wrinkle to be seen.
I’d had a few phone calls with him when the Blaze offered me the position with the team, but I’ve only met him one other time when I was signing my contracts. He was kind to me, friendly and not uptight like you’d expect a big wig like him to be. I’m hoping that the kind and welcoming demeanor he had then is who he really is and not just a show that he puts on.
As I make my way to one of the seats, I’m able to make the other person out, noticing Eric sitting toward the front with a smug grin plastered on his face. Just the sight ofhim has goosebumps rising along my spine. The way he’s looking at me right now brings back the memories of his hands on me and the way it felt when he squeezed my wrist so tight that it left bruises. I grab my wrist, thankfully hidden by the jacket I took from Jake's closet, and hold it against my chest as if to shield myself from the images.
Knowing that she needs it, too, I take a small step toward Hannah who has visibly tensed and is hugging herself as if to confirm he doesn’t have his hands on her. Her eyes are glassy and she has a far away look in them. Walking next to her, I make sure she sees me before I grab her hand gently and guide her to the seat next to me as we sit, and twine our fingers together under the table. She squeezes my hand back and I turn to see a grateful look on her face as we all settle in for this meeting.
“I figured you would come along Kailyn, but I wasn’t expecting the rest of you to show up as well.” Coach starts.
“That’s what family does, sir. This team has each other's back and when one or more of our members needs us, we show up,” Connor says, and just in those words it shows exactly why he was made team captain. He always has these guys’ backs and is there for them when they need someone.
Coach gives him a nod, a grateful smile on his face and I can see his posture start to relax. I wonder what’s going through his head right now. If he has any tricks up his sleeve or if he’s as in the dark about what’s going to happen as we are.
“That’s the kind of mentality I want to foster on this team,” Mr. Preston states as he looks each one of us in the eye. “The Blaze aren’t just a team, they’re meant to be a family, and I want to make sure that the people here, playersand staff alike, are happy, treated well, and love what they do.”
He pauses as he walks from the front windows toward the head of the table and stands next to Coach Davenport.
They both share a look and nod, before Mr. Preston continues. “First, let’s address what happened last night.”
Jake stiffens a fraction next to me and rests my hand on his knee for comfort. He reaches under the table and settles his hand on mine, absentmindedly drawing circles and patterns on the back of my hand.
“Jake, I’d like to get your side of things from last night. I haven’t been around as much as I should be, and that’s on me, but I like to think from what I’ve seen and what Coach tells me about the players, I have a pretty good sense of them. It seems out of character for someone who doesn’t normally get into fights to all of a sudden lose his cool and almost get into an all out fist fight, especially with a fellow staff member. So I’d like to hear from you what happened and have a conversion with you before anything.”
“You’re right. I’m not normally one to get into fights or cause a big scene like that.” He looks over at me and smiles, then turns back to them. “All I can tell you is that the second I saw Eric put his hands on Kailyn after everything that’s already happened, all I saw was red. Knowing what he’s capable of and the terrified look on her face, I had to intervene.” I squeeze his knee in encouragement, silently letting him know that he’s got this. “Could I have done it differently? Maybe. But would I change what I did? I’m sorry, but I would make the same choice every single time, regardless of the consequences or fallout. I’m sure you’re aware of my relationship with Kailyn,” He pauses to smile at me, “I can’t lie and say it didn’t play a part in my actions, but if I saw the same thing happeningto Hannah or Emilia or any other person on the team or staff, I would’ve done the exact same thing.” Jake straightens in his chair, leaning slightly forward to look directly at the GM. “Like you said before, this is supposed to be a family, and that’s exactly what the people in this room are to me.” He catches his breath for a moment. “Sir, the people sitting behind me, who came here with me are exactly that, a family, and I would do anything for them. I won’t apologize for that ever, and if that means that I have to suffer the consequences, then so be it. I will, because I won’t just sit here, while people like Eric walk around as if the rules don’t apply to them, harassing and disrespecting those around them and making this an unsafe place to work or be.”
Flipping my hand over, I squeeze his hand, so that he knows how proud I am of him. I don’t think I could’ve said it better myself.
Mr. Preston looks at Jake then around the room before looking at Coach. His expression is carefully blank, so I’m not sure what he’s thinking right now. “Coach, I think based on what you and I discussed earlier, plus what Jake just said, I think a one game suspension for misconduct is an acceptable punishment. Do you agree?”
“I agree.” Turning to Jake, Coach lets a small smile show across his face. “Jake, given the circumstances of your actions, we’re not going to reprimand you or punish you for why you did what you did. We do, however, have to punish you for violating your contract for conduct unbecoming of a player. So, Tom and I have agreed that a one game suspension will suffice to be served at the next game. After that, you are free to return back to practice.”
“Thank you, sir. Both of you. I understand that I have to face the consequences of my actions,” he says pointedly, allthe while his eyes never leave Eric whose entire smug expression has fallen.
