Page 30

Chapter 30

Aiden

“Whatever you’ve been doing, keep at it,” Coach advises, patting my shoulder. “If you play half as focused on Friday, that final spot will be ours.”

I nod, containing my smile. I don’t want to count my chickens before they’re hatched, but I agree. We’ll be heading to the finals if we keep the same energy. It’s not just me. There’s a good vibe among the entire team. Even Noah’s in a good mood, playing his ass off today.

We’ve got this. All we need to do is replicate.

“Hey, we were thinking of hanging out at my place, unwind a little. You game?” Cameron asks as we make our way to the locker room.

I shake my head. “Got a shitload of things to do this afternoon.” For instance, meeting Dad at the office. I’m not sure what’s so urgent that it couldn’t wait until we’re home. Besides that, I’m still helping Scarlett solve the mystery behind who framed her. I’m still disturbed by the footage conveniently disappearing, just like they did when our skates went missing. Someone in the athletics department is behind this, I’m positive.

The questions that keep going off in my head are; who and why?

“I’m sure Scarlett could spare you for an hour or two,” Cameron jokes.

“It’s not Scarlett,” I reply. “Dad summoned me.”

“Sounds serious.”

“I hope like hell that it’s not. My plate is full as it is.”

“Look, we’ll have some answers by Thursday, so relax.” He stops short, allowing me to enter the locker room first.

“It’s not about me, really. Someone set Scarlett up. Her academic record is in jeopardy because of me.”

“I don’t understand,” Cameron says with a frown.

My hand pauses on the handle of my locker. “I can’t shake the feeling someone’s trying to ruin her to get back at me—yes, I know it sounds conceited,” I add when his expression flares up with amusement. “But Scarlett has no enemies. It must be me.”

“Scarlett has no enemies that you know about ,” he clarifies.

“She’s not aware of having any, either. Well, except us.”

Cameron closes the locker door, a wary look on his face. “I like the girl, Aiden, but you still don’t know her very well.”

“I know her enough,” I snap. “Scarlett is the sweetest, most innocent person I know.”

“If you say so,” he replies with a shrug. “Either way, whoever is after her—or you—they’re connected to the athletics department.”

I slap the locker triumphantly. “Fuck yes. I think so, too!”

My cell phone rings as Cameron nods thoughtfully. Dad. Fuck . “I need to get out of here,” I announce, yanking my bag from the locker.

Almost at the door, Cameron calls after me. “Take it slow with Scarlett,” he says when I turn.

Which earns him a confused frown. “I don’t get it; one minute you’re gassing me up to pursue her, the next you’re telling me to slow down. What gives?”

“Just a gut feeling. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

My arms going lax, I walk back to him. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“No, dude. Just be careful.”

Why is he not looking in my face?

“Cam.”

He finally sighs. “There’s something wrong somewhere, but I can’t put my finger on it. Just please watch your back.”

“Always,” I mutter, patting his shoulder.

Unease creeps up my spine as I walk through the exit. Cameron’s instinct is usually spot on. If he says there’s something wrong, it usually is.

For the first time, I hope like hell that he’s wrong.

***

Amanda, Dad’s secretary, shoots me a thumbs-up as I point to his office door. She buzzes me in, and I step into the vast, glass-enclosed space a moment later. On one side, the frosted glass provides privacy from the rest of the floor, and the other side gives a one-eighty view of the city below. Besides a large mahogany desk and high-back chairs, plus a large bookshelf, Dad’s office is also equipped with an ensuite bathroom, a small closet filled with clothes, a kitchenette and a pull-out futon. He could actually live here. I remember an instance where he and Mom fought so badly that he stayed here for an entire week.

With the phone cradled to his ear, he beckons at me and I pull up a chair in front of his desk. It takes me a hot minute to notice a silver loop earring half resting under his keyboard. I shake my head. Mom hates silver jewelry. It wouldn’t surprise me if there was an employee wearing just one earning around here.

“It’s bittersweet; isn’t it?” he greets me gaily after hanging up the phone. As I raise a questioning brow, he clarifies, “Walking into a space that you’ll never get to use.”

“I’d rather rephrase that statement, actually. I chose not to follow in your footsteps, Dad. Not the other way around.”

“Which leads me to why I asked to see you here.” He sits up straight, his hands linked and resting on the desk. “After our conversation last night, I made a call to the owner of the New York Sabers . Nathan and I went to high school together and to my surprise, he remembers me. Told me he saw you play and definitely has his sights set on you.”

I nod solemnly, although there’s a party going on inside me.

“But the coach has his eyes on two other players, Nathan tells me. I think you’d be meeting them in the finals. That is, if you get there.”

There’s something in his tone that brings the party to an abrupt end. I stiffen in my seat.

Dad shrugs. “From what Nathan told me, you just might. It was surprising to hear how talented you are. Maybe I’ll fly to New York for a game or two if you go pro—”

“No, when I go pro, Dad,” I correct firmly.

“If you go pro,” he repeats, his voice just as firm. Malice dances in his eyes as he leans in. “You might make the finals, you might even win the championships, but Nathan and his coach just might choose one of the other players after getting an anonymous email.”

He has my full, scowling attention. “And what will this anonymous email contain?”

“An MRI of your ankle,” he replies, smiling slyly. “And before you point out that it’s five years old, a doctored document would show a more recent date, say… two weeks ago, for instance.”

I scoff. “No one in their right mind is going to buy that, especially when I could simply get an MRI done.”

“We both know you wouldn’t want that, son. I saw you limping, remember? Whatever was going on then, it just might be lingering now. Do you want to risk revealing a slight imperfection that could cost you a major spot? And don’t even think about another team. I’ll have my assistant post it on social media so fast, you’d be lucky to get hired as a water boy.”

“What do you want, Dad?” I’m already sick of him explaining why he’s trying to blackmail me.

He leans back in his chair, smiling brightly. “Now we’re getting somewhere. I want you to dump that girl and go back to Casey. You do that and I won’t stand in your way.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“As a heart attack, son—”

“I’m not your fucking son!” I explode, shooting up from my seat. “For you to back me in a corner like this… I’m nothing to you.”

With no remorse, he spreads his arms. “We’re trying to reach a specific goal. Let’s help each other get there.”

“Fuck you and fuck your goal.” With a click on my tongue, I storm toward the door.”

“Aiden.”

The clear warning in his tone makes me stop, staring at the frosted door. “What?”

“Your mother told me Casey’s birthday party is tonight. You’re going to pick her up with a grand gesture—whatever gift she likes—after which you’ll express how much you love and want her back. Throw in the promise of getting married someday to sweeten the deal. A week from now, you’ll invite her and her folks over for dinner with your mom and me. I’ll take it from there.”

“And if I don’t?”

“I’ll send the email first thing in the morning. Dr. Samuels will be more than ready to corroborate the results. It’s funny what people will do for six figures these days. Absolutely no integrity.” He chuckles. “I love it.”

Without another word, I storm out, too pissed off to even respond to Amanda’s wave at me. I slam my car door and drop back in the seat, blowing out breaths to calm myself. My cell phone rings. Seeing Mom’s name on the screen, I toss it on the backseat. This is all her fault, all because of her desperate plan to keep a man who loves no one but himself.

What the fuck am I going to do now? He’s right about one thing. Although my ankle feels quite fine, I’m not sure what’s happening beneath the surface. If an MRI reveals an issue, my career could be over. This is my dream. I can’t walk away from it.

Can you walk away from Scarlett?

Fuck.

I bump my head against the steering wheel, muttering a curse. For the first time in my life, I found someone who sees me for more than a guy who’s only good for money and sex. I found a woman stronger than I am. She’s smart, sassy, so obliviously beautiful and I don’t want to lose that.

Fuck my fucking life.

Shifting the gear into drive, I take off. This is definitely being caught between a rock and a hard place.

The phone starts shrilling with my mother’s personalized ring tone, and I resist the urge to stop and throw it out the fucking window. I don’t want to talk to her. Whatever pity I’ve ever harbored is gone now. She’s on her own, in for a rude awakening when she realizes Dad will never change, even after getting what he wants.

I just hope Scarlett will forgive me for what I’m about to do.