Page 99 of Golden Goal

I gasp, dropping the letter. A shudder rolls through me as I sit in my car.

Is Kat watching me now?

Because I know without a shadow of a doubt that she’s behind this.

I scan the parking looking for the infamous silver sedan. Thankfully there’s no sign of it. Doesn’t mean that Kat isn’t still creeping around here.

Her showing up after the game in Vancouver is all because of me. The pictures she’s referring to have to be the ones on the team’s social media of me holding Hazel at the game. She saw it and realized he’s moved on. I drop my head into my hands.

This can’t be happening.

I can’t go through this again. Seeing someone I love get hurt because of me, because of my actions. Images of my dad after his accident, when he was in a wheelchair for weeks and could barely stand, flash through my head.

Holt may not have been physically hurt when Kat showed up after the game, but it definitely took a toll on him mentally—and it’s all my fault.

I should have trusted my instincts when I first took this job and kept everyone at arm’s length. I most certainly should not have allowed myself to fall in love with the grumpy goalie who happens to be a single dad.

I inhale a few shaky breaths, wiping away the few tears that have fallen, climb out of my car, and head back into the apartment building. The doorman gives me a strange look as I walk by, probably wondering why I’m coming back so quickly, but I give him what I hope is a reassuring smile and a wave before getting on the elevator.

I have to break up with Holt.

The realization has me crying again, and this time, I can barely contain the sobs.

But it’s the only way to keep him and Hazel safe.

After it’s done, I’ll ask Sutton to have the social media team make a post on the team’s account about all the single players and include Holt in there, so Kat knows we’re not together anymore. Maybe that will get her to back off and leave him alone.

I let myself back into my apartment and drop my purse and the photos onto the kitchen table before making my way into my room. I fall onto the bed, sobbing. What I thought might be my happily ever after can’t actually be.

Chapter thirty-seven

Holt

I huff out a breath, setting my phone onto the counter with more force than is probably necessary.

“Everything okay?” Hadley asks. Her brows knit together as she glances between me and my phone.

“No. I didn’t realize my phone was dead last night. Becca left me a voicemail and texted, asking me to call her. She sounded upset. I haven’t been able to get a hold of her today.” I rake a hand through my hair.

“I know it’s the All-Star break, but does the staff have it off too? Or do they have to work?” Hadley takes a sip of her coffee.

“They’re off too. At least I think so,” I say after a few seconds.

“I’m sure she’ll call you back when she’s not busy. Stop worrying.” She spears a piece of scrambled egg with her fork and pops it into her mouth.

Hazel cries out, and Hadley moves to get out of her chair.

“Stay. Finish your breakfast. I got her,” I tell her.

Hadley’s right. Becca’s probably busy. She’ll call me when she can. I left her a voicemail. She knows I called.

I take the stairs two at a time up to my daughter’s new room, push open the door, and walk around all the boxes to her crib. The guys helped me finish bringing over everything yesterday and even helped put together a few pieces of the furniture, including Hazel’s crib and changing table before they left. But most of her other stuff is still in boxes. The same way most of my stuff is still packed. I plan to tackle unpacking over the next few days before the break is over. Hopefully I can power through and get a lot, if not all of it, done.

I’m finishing changing Hazel when Hadley comes flying into the room, holding her phone out to me.

“What’s going on? Where’s the fire?” I ask, noting the concerned look on her face.

“I think you should see this.” She thrusts the phone at me before scooping Hazel off the changing table.