Page 28

Chapter 28

Aiden

Fuck it. That data science lecture can wait. I’m never going to concentrate anyway, not with knowing Scarlett’s in trouble.

As I yank on my polo shirt, Coach comes into the locker room, looking as worried as I feel. He throws his hands up. “Okay, I’m going to be the first to admit something’s crazy going on here. The intern kept swearing she didn’t do it, so I had them check the security cameras. Guess what?” He looks directly at Noah, but the answer comes from me.

“They’re not working.”

He points at me. “That’s right! Such a wild, co-incidental déjà vu, don’t you think?” His attention goes back to Noah. “I find it odd that you left your locker open, knowing you had so much money in your bag.”

Noah’s expression blazes, but Coach’s hand flies up before he responds. He looks around at the rest of us. “If I find out that you are all behind this, I’ll take the L and lose out on the championships. I seriously thought you learned your lesson after what happened last season, but clearly not.”

“Oh come on, Coach,” Odean speaks up. “Why the hell would we do that to her?”

“Don’t look at me all innocent, Wright,” Coach barks. “Especially when you’ve been pulling pranks on the intern the entire time—yes, Melissa just told me, which clearly means whoever had sent that email to the scout was telling the truth.”

The room falls silent.

“What the fuck is wrong with you guys? Grow the fuck up!” he thunders.

I step forward. “Coach, if you’re going to blame anyone for those pranks, blame me. I put the guys up to it, but I swear, this wasn’t my doing—”

“Nah, dude. We’re all taking responsibility,” Odean speaks up, and the other guys nod. “Sure, you’re the captain but you’ve never forced us into anything.”

“True,” several voices murmur.

“Yeah, we’re all taking that L,” Michael chimes in.

“Speak for yourself,” Noah grumbles. “I did not set Scarlett up. She took my money.”

“Do you really plan on dying on that hill?” I reply, trying but failing to contain my anger.

“Fuck it. Yes, I am.” Noah squares up with me. “Coach was there when Scarlett pulled my shit from her bag—”

“You could’ve easily arranged to have someone put it there. Scarlett’s smarter than to hide it in the first place anyone would look,” I throw back.

Noah’s brows furrow, then his expression slowly clears as a smirk emerges. “Seems like she already sucked your dick, huh?” He grins. “From how you keep defending her, you clearly liked it very—”

Low gasps fill the room as he goes down from my fist. Coach mumbles, “I’m getting too old for this shit. Hunter, don’t make me bench your ass.”

I throw both hands up and back off Noah. He stands, glaring hatefully as he touches the bruising spot. “I’m going to get you for this. One way or another,” he threatens, then with a huff, he pushes through the crowd.

“You know what? Fuck it,” I address the team. “I’m done hiding. Yeah, Scarlett and I are a thing. If anyone has a problem with me being with her, take it up with me. You lay a hand on her, we’re going to have a problem.”

With that said, I grab my bag to go.

“Personally, I don’t give a fuck who you date, man,” Michael calls after me and I stop in the doorway. “And I can speak for most of these guys when I say that we’ll always follow your lead. You told us to back off her and we did. Well, except Noah, obviously.” He scoffs.

“Michael’s right. We trust you. If you’re cool with Scarlett, we’re cool with her,” Jordan, another teammate chimes in and the others nod.

Except Cameron. He stands leaning against his locker, arms folded and staring deadpan at me. I sigh. “Yeah, I know; I should’ve told you.”

“Damn straight,” he replies. “I should not be getting this news the same time these commoners are. I’m your fucking best friend.”

I grin as he punches my arm.

“I’m going to find Scarlett and get to the bottom of what’s going on,” I tell him. “Talk to you later.”

“Good luck,” he replies, then doubles back. “Forgot to mention, I spoke to Andrew.”

“Who?”

“The IT guy. He should have the footage before the end of the week.”

“That’s good news. Thanks, man.”

“Don’t mention it.” He pats my back. “Go handle your business.”

Slinging the strap across my shoulders, I rush out the building, ringing Scarlett’s cell phone as I go. After several unsuccessful attempts, I hurry to where she usually parks her bike. If it means waiting there until she shows up, so be it.

I’m crossing the park when I spot her walking briskly on the other side, heading in the same direction. I hasten my steps, just as a motorcyclist zooms onto the pathway behind her. It triggers an alarm in my head. That’s a footpath. He doesn’t fucking belong there.

And from the way he’s zooming directly toward Scarlett, it’s obvious he knows that.

“Scarlett, look out!” I yell, although I’m too far away. I drop my bag and break into a sprint as she turns around.

But it’s too late.

I almost sag with relief when it zings past Scarlett, barely missing her. She falls back into the grass and two girls rush to help her up. Almost out of breath, I come to a screeching stop, pulling her shaking figure into my arms.

“Hey, I’ve got you,” I mutter soothingly. Scarlett shudders, then a dry sob escapes. I tighten my hold around her as she cries, my emotions darting between white-hot fury and sorrow. Scarlett’s been through too much.

“Did anyone catch the plates or anything?” I ask the girls still standing there.

The curly-haired one shakes her head. “It happened so quickly. The only thing I noticed was the color. Black.”

Yeah, a lot of help that’ll do.

Scarlett pulls back and wipes her face. “What are you doing here?”

Her suspicious expression puzzles me. “I was looking all over for you,” I reply. “When I saw that biker—”

“Why?”

Again, I frown, one that deepens when she steps back from me. “You had a day from hell, Scarlett, I wanted to be there for you.”

She scoffs. “Is that it, or did you come to gloat?”

“What?”

“Was this your endgame, Aiden? Not only to get me out of there, but to ruin my life. Payback for messing with yours—”

“Stop,” I mumble, closing the gap between us. “I’m not going to let you do this. Not to you or me. Not to us.”

“There is no us, Aiden—”

She gasps as I clasp her cheeks. “You’re scared, I get it, but I’m not the enemy, Scarlett. I care about you. I would never hurt you like that.”

My pleading eyes lock with hers. I hope like hell that she believes me, because the more time passes, the more convinced I am that someone’s not trying to sabotage her .

They’re trying to fuck with me.

For every shitty thing that’s happened, there’s only one common denominator.

Me.

“Believe me, please.”

Still silent, her gaze roams my face.

“Let me prove you mean too much for me to mess things up.”

Finally she nods. “Okay.”

Still, she doesn’t let me take her hand as I grab her bike, then lead the way to my car. She sits curled up in the passenger seat, so withdrawn she doesn’t even ask where I’m taking her. As we turn up the road into my neighborhood, she throws a look at me but still says nothing. She hesitates a bit when I reach for her hand after parking in the garage.

“Trust me,” I whisper.

She sighs deeply, then slips her hand in mine. With a firm resolve, I guide her through the side door. As expected, I find my mother curled up on the sectional, skipping through the pages of a fashion magazine. She glances up, startling when she sees me. Her shock fades into fury as her gaze lands on Scarlett.

“What the hell is she doing in my house, Aiden?” she exclaims, getting up. The magazine falls to the couch as she storms toward us. “Get her out of here!”

Scarlett stiffens beside me. I throw my arm protectively around her. “We’re not going anywhere until I make something clear.”

“I said, get that tramp out of my house—”

“Marianne, that’s wildly disrespectful of you,” my father’s voice comes from my right. My head turns as he closes the garage door behind him. “That’s no way to treat our son’s guest, is it?”

“She’s not a guest.” Mom whirls on him. “For your information, I caught them in the pool house the other day. Naked,” she emphasizes.

“I’m not a teenager, Mom. You didn’t ‘catch’ me doing anything. Scarlett and I are two consenting adults,” I reply firmly.

Mom snorts angrily.

“Your girlfriend, I presume,” Dad says softly, giving Scarlett a once-over. I nod, my arm tightening around her as he offers his hand. “I’m Adrian Hunter. It’s quite unfortunate that we meet under these emotional circumstances, but it’s still lovely to make your acquaintance.”

Scarlett smiles tentatively. “Hi.”

“Now, son.” He smiles at me. “Do you mind taking Scarlett to the pool house for a moment? I’d love if you and Marianne would hash things out.”

Taking the hint that he wants us to have a conversation without Scarlett being around, I gently nudge her back to move her along. I take her hand as we walk down the brick-paved path to the pool house, with the chirping from crickets the only sound following us. Scarlett sighs deeply as I enter the code for the front door.

“Have you ever thought that maybe, we shouldn’t be doing this?” she mutters.

I usher her inside, ignoring the jab in my stomach from that comment. “No,” I reply. “Are you having second thoughts?”

Scarlett turns in the foyer, an uncertain look on her face. “I don’t know… your mom hates me—which I’m not surprised by. I’m not exactly rolling in money.” She chuckles dryly. “But this isn’t even about me. I don’t want to destroy your relationship with her. Being with me just might do that.”

“Whatever’s happening between Mom and I has nothing to do with you, trust me.” Even if Scarlett came from a wealthy family, Mom would still object. She wants me with Casey; no one else.

She nods hesitantly. I see the question in her eyes, but she won’t ask. And I can’t tell. Scarlett knowing about Mom’s agenda won’t go over well. Not with her, not for us.

“Look, why don’t you get comfortable? There’s food in the fridge and pantry and you can watch TV. I’ll be back before you know it.”

Her chest bounces on a deep sigh. I pull her close, kissing her forehead. “You’re going to be okay. We’re going to be okay. Just trust me.”

“Okay,” she whispers as I pull back, but there’s still a tentative look on her face as she curls up on the couch.

One thing at a time. I’ll handle this conversation with my parents, then come back to reassure her. No matter what happens, I’m not letting her go.

I find Mom restlessly pacing the length of the living room, while Dad sits in his favorite armchair, nursing a drink. He rests it on the side table as I approach. From his expression, I can’t tell what he’s thinking. That nice behavior with Scarlett could’ve been a facade for all I know.

“Your mother just filled me in about the curveball in her little plan,” he begins and she stops her pacing. “I would’ve loved to see it come to fruition, but what the heck.” He shrugs. “You can’t change who you love.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I wait for the other shoe to drop. Being understanding isn’t my dad’s best trait.

“You do love her, don’t you?” he asks.

“I care a lot for her,” I reply. What I feel deep inside is no one’s business. I turn to Mom. “I know it’s hard to accept that this has ruined your plans, but it gives you no right to go after her.”

Mom frowns. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I outline what happened to Scarlett over the last twenty-four hours. “It’s quite ironic that she got attacked twice since you saw us in that pool house. You’re trying to scare her away from me,” I accuse.

“This is ridiculous,” Mom laughs disbelievingly. “Why would I go to such drastic lengths?”

I raise my brows at her. I’m not sure if she wants to reveal her true motive behind me dating Casey. A knowing look fills her face as she catches on. She gasps. “I’m not that desperate. I might not like it, but I would never harm anyone and quite frankly, I’m offended that you think I’d stoop so low.”

She seems genuinely alarmed, which resurrects my earlier suspicion. There’s someone out there, someone hell bent on trying to destroy me. They wrecked my chances of going to nationals last season and they’re trying to do it again. This time, they’re using Scarlett to get to me.

The only thing is, I can’t imagine anyone with a grudge against me. Sure, I’m not perfect, but I’ve never hurt anyone—

Well…

Dad pours himself another drink as I think of all the one-night stands I’ve had since Casey and I broke up. Is this a scorned woman out for revenge? Did I break someone’s heart without knowing it?

“It’s such a pity, though,” Dad murmurs, the tumbler slowly rolling between his palms. “An alliance with Casey’s dad would do wonders for Hunter Energy. You can’t help who you fall for and I get that.”

“Thanks for understanding—”

“However, I’m concerned about the company I’ll be handing over to you someday, Aiden. Once the shareholders lose confidence in me, there’s no telling what the consequences might be.”

Oh, boy . “There’s something I need to tell you,” I begin and Mom groans.

“I seriously can’t handle any more unfavorable news, Aiden—”

“Dad, I won’t be joining you at Hunter Energy next year. I’m going pro.”

My father stares at me blankly. “Pro what?”

“Pro hockey. I’ll be heading to the NHL.”

Mom laughs, dropping onto the couch. “This must be a goddamn prank.”

“Son, to get into the league, you need to be the best of the best. Playing hockey like it’s a hobby won’t get you there.”

“I am the best of the best, Dad,” I reply fiercely. “If you came to a game even once, you would've known that.”

He throws his hands up. “I’ll take your word for it and yes, it’s my fault for not being there. You understand how busy I’ve been.”

Not too busy for other women, though . I nod, swallowing the bitterness.

Dad comes up to me and squeezes my shoulder. “If hockey is your dream, then I’ll support you wholeheartedly. There are plenty of execs at the company who are quite capable of taking over when I step down. Don’t worry about it.”

He pats my shoulder and I hug him back stiffly. “Thanks Dad.”

Mom sits quietly crying, which tugs on my heart strings. In her mind, she has nothing more to offer Dad, but I wish she would see the truth. Whether or not she succeeded, it wouldn’t have changed anything. Dad would still be running wild with women half his age.

“So.” He backs off with a cheerful smile. “The NHL, huh? I wish you’d said something to me. I’m still in contact with several of my college buddies who were in the league. Some are still involved in one capacity or another. I could’ve made some calls.”

I shrug. Getting Dad’s help would water-down my victory. For once, I want to earn something on my own merit, not because I’m Adrian Hunter’s kid.

“What teams are you hoping to get drafted to?” he asks.

“The New York Sabers or the New Jersey Cougars , but at this point, I’ll take whatever I can get,” I reply.

Anything to get out of this town.

My dad then launches into what he thinks is a motivational lecture, but with each word, unease creeps further in. I can’t shake the feeling that he took the news way too easily. He pulls Mom into his arms and I think he’s being too over-the-top with how he’s loving on her. A sparkle fills his eyes as he sweeps Mom off her feet and carries her up the stairs.

I know that sparkle.

It’s definitely not a good sign.