Page 60 of Arresting the Hockey Player

“You look like you’re running on fumes.”

“Is it that obvious?” I ask. I run my fingers through my hair, trying to maintain some semblance of control. “It was a long night.”

Malone nods. “I’ll say. I’ve got six different reporters asking for a story on your arrest. It’s all over the news that you allegedly assaulted your son. I didn’t even know you had a kid!”

I grimace. I suppose I’ve been keeping a few things from Coach. “It’s all pretty new. I only learned about Zayn recently, and the paternity test came back as a match last week.”

He stares at me. “That’s what you and the boys were going on about the other day,” he says as if it suddenly clicks for him.

“Next time, you come to me,” Malone says. “Let me deal with the boys, the media, all of it. You’ve made a mess of things, kid.”

I refrain from telling him I’m not a kid but bite my tongue instead. Coach Malone always means well. He’s a good guy and tries to look out for the team as much as he can, but sometimes his hands are tied.

“Yes, sir,” I say, giving him the respect that he’s undoubtedly looking for from me.

“I assume this abuse scandal is just that, a scandal,” Malone says, staring at me pointedly.

“I swear to you that I never hit Zayn. Jasmine showed up at my door, both of them with a black eye.”

He purses his lips, and his gaze tightens. “And your girlfriend’s allegations?”

“She didn’t see anything. She showed up and saw a kid with a black eye crying. And for the record, sir, she’s not my girlfriend,” I say, quick to end that title before it gets out in the news. She’s nothing to me.

“Ex-girlfriend,” Malone says and clears his throat, correcting himself. “Good. So, I can assume that she won’t continue to be a problem.”

FIFTEEN

Charlotte

I royally screwed up. After what happened the night of the arrest, Noah won’t take my calls or answer my texts.

I got a new phone, the same phone number, so he knows who it is. And I’ve apologized repeatedly via voice mail and text. I can only assume he’s blocked me by now.

I sent him an apology card. It came back returned to sender. He didn’t even bother opening it.

Sure, if the situation were reversed, I would not want to forgive him, either, but I made a mistake.

I’m not sure what else to do.

Move on?

Easier said than done.

“You’re coming out with me tonight,” Amber says. “I’m tired of all this moping around, and we didn’t celebrate my birthday together.”

“I’m pretty sure I was uninvited to your birthday party,” I say, staring at her.

Amber grimaces. “Noah did ask you not to come, and I couldn’t not invite my boyfriend and sister. I’m sorry. Am I a terrible friend?”

I shake my head. I can’t stay mad at Amber. I could have gone out, just the two of us, to celebrate, but our schedules have been crazy the past few weeks. “No, I did this to myself.”

Plus, it’s not as though I can hang out at her place. She lives with Jasper, and I feel uninvited by their crowd. Not that he’s said anything outright. I feel guilty about what I did to Noah, even though it was unintended. I hate knowing I hurt him.

The only thing worse than hurting him is that I handed over his son to a child abuser.

“Come on, we’ll go out tonight. Have fun. Forget all the craziness that’s happened lately. You might even find a hot guy to hook up with if you’re lucky.”

“I am not interested in hookups right now.”