Page 37 of Breakout (Walker University #3)

twenty-eight

T he inside of my cheek is raw from where I keep chewing on it. Tonight’s the night. The last four years have all boiled down to this moment for Clay and Beckett. Tonight, they will find out if the years of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears paid off.

Will they be drafted or won’t they?

I don’t know if Beckett remembers the conversation that we overheard when we were having sex at the Williamson, but I do. I have a gut feeling that Clayton James will be drafted to the Boston Foxes, and while I couldn’t be more excited for my friend, I’m fucking petrified for my husband.

He’s been playing it cool, but we all know he wants this just as bad as Clay. The only question is, will it happen?

Dear fucking God, please don’t let his father fuck this opportunity up for him.

“Dude, I’m fucking nervous, and I’m not even eligible,” Calvin, the team rookie, mutters, making the rest of us laugh.

“Imagine how we feel, kid,” Beckett tells him.

“Your phones are charged, right? Ringers on?” Brett frets.

“Yes, Dad,” Clay quips.

“You only wish your dad was as cool as me,” Brett throws back.

“I mean, if you were my dad, at least you’d be present.” Clay smirks as everyone ohs.

“That’s fucked,” Brett tells him.

“It’s still cool you stayed here, Clay,” Cora tells him.

“As if I would want to be there with those suits instead of surrounded by my family.” He hugs his mom, sitting at his side.

It’s true. They offered to fly him out since he is likely to go in the first round, but he declined. Instead, we have a camera crew waiting to catch his reaction when he gets drafted.

We all turn our attention to the television as the breaking news banner blinks across.

“Breaking news, Chuck. It looks like tonight is even more exciting for Beckett Hayes than we thought,” the reporter says to another.

“Why’s that, Vega?” the reporter asks.

“It’s just been confirmed Beckett Hayes tied the knot with his college girlfriend, Peyton Anderson.” Vega turns toward the camera. “Let us be the first to tell you, congratulations on your marriage.”

My heart pounds so hard in my chest I can hear it in my ears.

Oh. My. God.

This cannot be happening.

This has to be a bad dream.

How in the fuck did they find out?

“Is it true?” Grace asks, cutting through the fog.

I look over at my friend and see the devastation on her face.

I did that. My secrets finally caught up to me and ruined one of the best things in my life. How will she ever trust me again?

Beckett pulls me into his side. “It’s true, although we have been married for a while.”

I look up at my husband and see that he’s smiling proudly.

How can he be so happy right now? We just devastated our friends. They are going to hate us both.

This isn’t a good thing.

I don’t know why, but his calmness pisses me off.

“When?” Brett asks.

“Months ago,” Beckett tells him.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Clay asks.

I hop off the couch and head into the kitchen. I know I should stick around and help Beckett field their questions, but I can’t. Especially not with the cameraman right there recording.

It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. If and when we told them, it was supposed to happen on our time. Not because someone forced our hand.

I pull out my phone and open social media.

Instantly I see that we are trending. Somehow these assholes got photos of us from our private socials and are spreading them far and wide.

Browneyedbeauty: He married her? Really?

PuckBunni23: They claim the second wife is the best wife. Call me when your divorce is going through, Hayes!

PuckMaster: I’d do her with the lights off.

HatTrick69: His focus should be on hockey, not chicks. Clearly his priorities are skewed.

LilRoxy: This is a joke, right?

My stomach drops as I read comment after comment about how they don’t think I’m good enough and how we were too young to be married.

The worst part is, they aren’t wrong.

Beckett Hayes deserves the very fucking best, and that’s not me.

For crying out loud, I’ve made him hide our relationship for over a year. Who does that?

Each comment is like a knife, cutting me deeper and deeper.

God, this is a nightmare.

“Peyton,” Cora snaps, getting my attention.

I look over at her and Grace as they stand side by side. Cora’s arms are crossed over her chest as she frowns, and Grace looks two seconds away from crying.

“Is it true, or is this some kind of joke?” Cora questions.

“It’s true,” I rasp.

Grace slaps her hand over her mouth. “Oh my god, your offhand comment about you two being married at the last game, you were serious.”

“I was.”

“And we laughed it off like it was a joke.” Cora cringes.

“It’s fine. You two didn’t know.”

“Why didn’t you correct us?” Grace questions.

“Because it didn’t matter. I didn’t mean to tell you then, it just kind of slipped out,” I confess.

“Tell us what the hell is going on,” Cora demands.

I inch toward the living room to see the camera still on Beckett as he talks with his friends.

Everything spills out after months of bottling it all up. I tell them about the inheritance and how I needed to be married to get it. How he convinced me to marry him, his dad’s threats, and the impending court case ruling.

With every word, their disbelief grows.

“That’s insane,” Cora says when I finish.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Grace questions.

“Because it was a mistake!” I yell, tossing my hands up. “I treated Beckett like a dirty little secret, then married him for some fucking money of all things, and now I might not even get it because my cousin is a goddamn psychopath. Then, as the cherry on top, I messed up our group dynamic.”

“Wait, why do you think you messed up the group dynamic?” Cora asks.

“Because we lied. We kept all this shit from you guys, and now you’ll never be able to trust us. I wish none of this ever happened. I wish I never married him,” I sob.

“Is that how you really feel?” Beckett rasps as he steps into the room.

Tears flow down my face as I nod. Shame settles over me as I watch his face fall. He opens his mouth, but no words come out.

Speechless, I’ve struck him speechless.

“Beck…” I step forward, and he shakes his head.

I watch as he turns on his heel and walks out of the house, slamming the door behind him.

God dammit, if only he would let me explain that I don’t regret marrying him, but I regret what marrying him has done.

Now he’s gone, and he doesn’t even know if he’s going to be drafted.

I cover my mouth as I sob.

I did that.

I ruined everything.

I feel so lost without Peyton. I haven’t spoken with her since I left her at the house last night. I wanted to go back to her, but I made myself keep driving.

I love the woman to death, but I wasn’t sure my heart could handle any more. How many times can your heart get stomped on before it eventually turns black and dies?

I hope it can endure more than this because I have a feeling I’m nowhere near done getting stepped on.

Pulling up to the courthouse, I straighten my tie in the mirror. I don’t even know if she wants me here. She made it pretty clear last night that being with me isn’t what she wants.

Still, I showed up. I always show up.

I always will.

Getting out of my car, I head up the steps. I go through the metal detectors and find my way to the courtroom. When I see her pacing outside of it all alone, I frown. I had hoped that she would tell the girls everything and bring them with her.

Yet here she is. Always alone.

Making my way over to her, I step in her path. She startles, looking up at me.

“You came,” she whispers.

“Always,” I tell her, taking her hand in mine.

“Let’s head inside. They are ready for us,” Mr. Piper says.

Without another word, we head into the courtroom, taking the defense table.

Janis walks in moments later, sneering in our direction. When I go to face the front, I catch another familiar face. I frown when I recognize Gabe. He’s sitting in the back on Janis’s side. It makes me wonder what he is doing here.

I turn forward once more, knowing I will have to deal with that after. The judge comes in, making us stand before we take our seat again.

“It is with a heavy heart that I am here today. I thought this would be a routine inheritance claim. I deal with them all the time where the family members are able to come to an amicable resolution. This is no ordinary case. As I poured through the evidence provided by both sides, I was able to see how one side is truly more deserving of this inheritance. I have never been more disgusted with some of the things I read in these files.” The judge looks up at Janis.

“Ms. Anderson, it has been brought to my attention in these files that you have stolen from your grandfather many times. That you have sold the items, priceless heirlooms, in order to fund your habit. Tell me, Ms. Anderson, what is your drug of choice?”

Janis sputters. “Why are you talking to me? I don’t do drugs. I’m rich, why would I do drugs?”

“Trust me, Ms. Anderson. You don’t want to lie to the court.

I’ll save you, though. It seems meth is your drug of choice.

According to several witness statements, you have been seen on many occasions smoking it.

It surely would explain your poor behavior.

With that being said, your grandfather didn’t want to cut you out of the will completely.

He’s given you one last option. It’s clear as day, and I will be honoring it.

If you complete a two-year inpatient detox program with therapy to help change your thinking, he has set aside money for you.

If you choosenot to take this option or leave early, the money will be donated to charity. What will it be?”

“What? He can’t do that. I am owed this money. It should be mine. I am the sole Anderson heir. The only living member left.”

The judge shakes her head. “I’ll give you thirty days to consider the offer.

If I do not get written proof of your enrollment into the program, we will donate the money.

As for the rest of the items outlined in this dispute, it is this court’s belief that Matthias Anderson was of sound mind when he made the decision to leave all of these assets to Peyton Anderson-Hayes.

Effective immediately, possession of these items will revert to Mrs. Anderson-Hayes.

No further disputes will be heard on this matter.

It has been closed indefinitely. Ms. Anderson, I expect you to respect Mrs. Anderson-Hayes’s privacy.

At her lawyer’s request, we have granted a permanent protection order against you.

If you approach her, call her, or attempt to visit any property that she owns, you will be arrested on sight. Understood.”

Janis looks flabbergasted. “What? You can’t do that.”

The judge bangs the gavel. “Court is adjourned. Bailiffs, escort Ms. Anderson from the room.”

Janis is cussing as she is escorted outside.

Peyton turns to Mr. Piper. “Is that it? No one else will come forward?”

He looks sad. “Your Aunt Gloria died many years ago. Your uncle hasn’t been seen for decades. Even if he comes out of the woodwork, he has no claim to it. The Anderson estate and fortune are officially yours.”

Peyton gapes. “I can’t believe it.”

He smiles. “You’ll get used to it. I have another appointment, so I have to go. Sorry to run, but we should get lunch sometime. I would love to tell you stories about your grandfather.”

Peyton smiles warmly at him. “I would love that.”

He hurries out of the courtroom as we take our time. When we step outside, I see Gabe waiting.

“We can get a protection order against you too, you know,” I call out to him, making Peyton turn his way.

“Gabe? What are you doing here?”

He looks down at his feet. “I came to apologize. Janis told me that he was hurting you. She said I needed to save you from him. I can see now that she was manipulating me.”

“How do you even know her?” Peyton asks.

“She approached me after class one day. Said that she was your cousin and concerned about you. I really did like you, but it was her idea to ask you out. She gave me the push I needed to do it. What I told you about my sister was real. I never lied, but I feel like I was a little too pushy now knowing what the truth is.”

“Why are you here right now?” I ask.

“Janis called me ranting about ruining everything and calling me incompetent. She mentioned the court date, so I came. I had to see for myself.”

Peyton shakes her head. “Respectfully, Gabe. I don’t ever want to speak to you again. I hope you get the help you need to move past whatever happened to your sister, but you tried to ruin what I have with Beck. I can’t forgive that no matter what the reason is. I’m sorry.”

He nods. “I know. I am too.”

He turns and leaves. Grabbing Peyton’s hand, we follow him down the steps, stopping at the bottom.

Turning toward Peyton, I kiss the back of her hand. The last time we were here, we had gotten married. Now I have no idea where we stand.

“Are you okay?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “I won, but I don’t feel like a winner.”

I nod, unsure of what else to say to her.

“Beck, are we okay?”

“I want to say yes. Go back and pretend everything that happened hasn’t happened, but I can’t.”

She nods. “I understand. I knew it was a risk doing all of this, but I hoped it wouldn’t end this way. I guess we can get a divorce whenever you are ready. I know it might not be right away. I don’t want to make you look bad to your new team, but yeah. I’ll sign whenever you want.”

My heart lodges in my throat.

Whatever I thought she would say, it wasn’t that.

Fuck.

I don’t want to divorce her.