Page 27

Chapter 26

Taylor

“He fucking cheated!” Paul claims as he rubs a towel through his hair, making everyone chuckle, and Ezra chimes in, “Liam didn’t cheat, he just told you to look behind you, and you fell for it like an idiot, meaning he won the puck off.”

The boys laugh harder, and I shake my head as I slip my boots on.

Coach decided to play the two goalies against each other after hearing Paul claim he was better than Liam. The rules were to stop the puck from entering the net, and the goalie with the most pucks saved would start the next game.

Safe to say Paul lost, and not just because Liam tried to psych him out, which worked. The fucker didn’t even hesitate to look behind him, knowing Seth was about to shoot.

“Paul, you couldn’t save any of my hits, so stop blaming Liam, who could save my hits and get on that fucking ice and practice before the next game; otherwise, you’ll be a permanent bench warmer,” I state as I stand, and he drops his head clearly forgetting I was in here.

Fucking idiot.

I look around the room to see every eye on me, and I remind them, “Two teams have now tried cheating to win, one succeeding in putting me out of the game, which lost us two fucking games.”

The boys nod, taking things seriously, while Paul swallows hard. I notice Coach Williams standing near the entrance, but I ignore him and continue, “We need to keep our heads in the game, especially after the shit with the Eagles,” I look around the room, “Just because the other teams have frowned upon what has happened doesn’t mean they haven’t thought of a way to try and get away with some of it. You all want to celebrate, then fine, but do it after we win the cup.”

Ezra smirks as our team stands up straight, and I grab my bag before making eye contact with Paul, who breaks it instantly.

The fucker is on thin ice, and he knows it. Don’t fucking brag about being better than the number one goalie in the NHL who happens to be on your team, especially not in front of me when he can’t even stop me.

Sneering at him, I turn and walk towards where Coach is still waiting. My gut tightens at the cold look on his face, hiding his emotions, and I know something is wrong.

“Coach,” I say when I am close with Ezra by my side and not one teammate behind me says a thing.

The coach never comes inside the locker room unless it’s important.

“I had a call from your dad,” he says, and I brace myself. “Penelope had forgotten Hudson’s bag on the way to her dad's and turned around to get it…”

The hairs on my arm instantly rise, and I cut him off, “Just tell me, Coach,” and Ezra grips my arm.

My whole body vibrates with fear as adrenaline runs through me.

They have to be okay; they just have to be, but something is telling me my girl is hurt.

“Elena broke into your place and attacked Penelope,” he says quickly and my team curses and shouts behind me as Ezra’s grip tightens.

“Boys!” Henry shouts, and they all look our way again.

Coach Williams continues, “She left Hudson in the car with her sister, and when she realized someone had broken in, she called her sister and then stupidly decided to investigate quietly.”

“Until she realized it was Elena, right?” I confirm, and Coach winces.

“She confronted her, yes, and Elena charged at her, and they fought. Pen managed to knock Elena out as security entered your place,” he confirms.

I nod but can see Coach is still hiding something, and I demand, “Where is my girl?”

Coach looks at Henry, then back at me, and admits, “She’s at Heaven’s Medical Center with a gash down her arm. She’s okay, though!”

I grit my teeth and give Coach a nod before moving past him, and as soon as I’m out of the locker room, I pick up my speed to a run, suddenly really fucking happy that I brought my bike today, meaning I can get through any traffic.

“I’ll follow,” Ezra shouts as we get to the parking lot and I throw my bag at him before running towards my bike, all while nausea fills me at the thought of her or Hudson being hurt in any way.

I swear to fuck, Coach better be right, and my girl better be okay.

Twenty minutes later, Ezra and I run into the ER. The nurse on the desk looks up, and her eyes widen when she sees us and she stutters, “You-you, you’re Taylor Evans and Ezra Johnson…” before she licks her bottom lip.

“Penelope Vine!” I demand, ignoring the lust she’s radiating, and her mouth parts in shock. “What room is she in?!” I demand when she doesn’t say anything back.

The nurse clears her throat and states, “I’m sorry, but only family members can go to the room, but you can stay here with me if you like…”

Ezra snorts, and my anger heightens. I open my mouth to curse up a storm, but before I can shout at this woman, I hear my dad say, “Son,” And I look to my right to see him walking my way, holding Hudson.

“Fuck,” I breathe and rush over to them, and Hudson squeezes his fists as soon as he notices me, squirming in my dad’s arms. I take him instantly and hold him tight as I press my nose against his head.

“He’s okay,” my dad confirms, and I look at him and ask, “Penelope?” At this point, I’m trying my fucking hardest not to fall apart right now.

“Also, okay. She’s in room five, but son…,” My dad starts, but I don’t let him finish as I rush over to where the number five is on top of the cubicle.

“You were lucky, Pen,” I hear a male voice when I get close, and I narrow my eyes when she replies, “I know Doctor James.”

Fucking Doctor Pretty Boy James….

Jealousy eats at me knowing he’s in there with her alone and I move the curtain, but he’s soon forgotten, and rage fills me when I lock on my girl’s body and see Doctor Pretty Boy finishing stitching up her fucking arm, a gash going from her shoulder to her elbow.

“Well, it’s about time you got here,” Pen says light-heartedly, and the fucker begins to wrap her arm, but I don’t soften.

She’s fucking hurt to the point she needs stitches!

Hudson begins to fuss, and I know he’s picking up on my emotions, so I gently bounce him in my arms as I take in the marks on my girl’s body.

Bruise to her cheek, split lip, gash down her arm and her knuckles are cut.

“Taylor…,” She whispers, and we lock eyes.

“Dad, can you take Hudson, please?” I say, not taking my eyes off my girl and I feel Huddy being lifted from my arms. Once he’s safe with my dad, I move into the room and pick my girl's hand up, inspecting her knuckles.

“I punched her in the face twice,” Pen admits, and I nod but don’t say anything.

I knew Elena was unhinged, but this is, fuck, it’s insane. Breaking into my home, something she shouldn’t have been able to do, then attacking my girl, and why, because I didn’t want her?

How in the fuck did this even happen?

“She got in with movers,” my dad says, answering my silent question. “She trashed your apartment, smashed all your photos, and tried taking Penelope’s jewelry. She wanted to try and make it look like Pen did it,” he continues.

“She was delusional and actually thought you’d believe it, and I may have mouthed off to her, which caused her to attack. When she shoved me, I went flying into the console under the TV, which was what cut my arm,” Pen rasps as she turns her hand over and links our fingers together, but I still don’t calm down, my rage building and building.

“Son, she’s going down for breaking and entering, vandalism and assault. I’m ensuring she’ll get the book thrown at her, and I’ll also make sure all the threats she sent some of her clients come out as well,” my dad reassures.

I still don’t say anything, and Doctor Pretty is wisely keeping quiet.

Pen believes he chooses her as his nurse because she doesn’t flirt with him like all the other female employees. The truth is he fucking likes her because she doesn’t want him, and I’m ready to knock the fucker out.

Everyone normally wants something they can’t have, and he wants her, but it’s never going to happen, and it’s time he realizes that.

“Is she ready to leave?” I ask, not looking up, only focusing on her fingers gripping mine.

If that fucker gives her a certain look, I’ll snap.

A throat clears before the doctor says, “Uh, yes, she can leave, but I’ll be putting her on sick leave for two weeks to recuperate.”

I nod, and thankfully, my girl doesn’t try to fight him.

“Son, your place is a wreck. I have people cleaning it, but maybe you should stay at ours tonight,” my dad says.

I shake my head and state, “No, Pen’s place hasn’t been touched yet to be sold, we’ll go there,” before I finally look at my girl.

She nods without me having to say anything. She can see I’m ready to break, so gently, she slides off the bed. I help her as Ezra grabs her things, and without saying a thing to Doctor Pretty, I help Pen out of the room.

“Can she leave?” I hear asked, and I look up to see Avery and Carl, both with concerned faces.

I nod and state, “Yeah, I’m taking her to the condo until the penthouse is back to normal,” leaving no arguments before I turn and bend. I wrap an arm around Pen’s waist, then another behind her legs before picking her up bridal style.

She gasps, “Taylor, I can walk,” but I ignore her and look at Dad, who has Hudson. He nods, and I know he’ll follow me while Ezra states, “I’ll ride your bike, Tay; you can drive my truck,” I give him a grateful nod and wait for Dad to walk in front of me, but I growl as Avery tries to take Hudson from him and I state, “Hudson is coming home with us, his parents,” causing Avery to scowl at me.

She opens her mouth to argue, but Carl pulls her back, knowing there is no place my son will be tonight where his mother and I aren’t. I get Avery has been there after Pen gave birth, but I’m in the picture now, meaning, she needs to focus on herself, not my family and I may sound like a dick but for weeks, I have had to put up with Avery messaging me telling me when she will have my son and what he likes acting like I have no idea how to care for my son. Enough is enough. She’s not his mother, she’s his aunt and she needs to back off before I fucking snap.

“She’s definitely going to be in jail?” I confirm in a low tone.

My dad replies, “She’ll get at least four years for the attack, add on break-in and vandalism, she should get at least another year, maybe a year and a half longer. Then there’s the threats to her clients if they don’t screw her so she’s looking at least seven years maybe and when she does get out, she won’t be allowed anywhere near you, Pen, Hudson or any clients she represented.”

I sigh and run a hand through my hair as I lean my arms on my knees, holding the phone to my ear.

I’m sitting on Pen’s old couch while she and our son sleep peacefully in the bedroom. When we got back from the hospital Pen’s phone rang off the hook. Her sister was pissed because I wouldn’t allow her to come back with us, and I fucking snapped. Hudson was in his highchair playing with some pureed food, and I was finally calming down until I overheard her words, which could have damaged my career if she had said them in public.

“Seriously, Penelope, he knows I come before him, meaning you and Hudson should have come to my house. He, God Pen, I think you need to leave him; he acted just like Harry!”

I tense hearing Averys words from where I sit near Hudson, and I look at Pen whose mouth is parted with shock.

Her sister did not just fucking compare me to her abusive ex-husband all because my family came home with me! My fucking family, not hers!

“Avery, how dare you?!” Pen snaps, but before she can say anything else, I take the phone from my girl and go off, “I understand you’re upset, Avery, but you comparing me to an abusive prick is out of fucking line, especially when you know I’d rather die than lay a finger on Penelope,” Pens eyes soften, and I continue, “My girl, the woman I love was attacked while our son was in the car asleep. If I say I’m not allowing her out of my sight, my son out of my sight, then instead of using your past traumas, that you willingly put yourself through instead of telling your parents where to go because you knew Harry’s reputation, then fucking listen. Hudson is my son, not yours; he’s your sister’s son, not yours, fuck, you weren’t even there during her pregnancy despite your sister always putting you and your safety first. So get off your high horse instead of spreading accusations that could destroy my fucking career and my relationship with your sister!”

I pass the phone back to a shocked Pen and mutter, “Sorry, Firecracker,” then walk away without looking back.

I went for a two-hour walk after that, and when I came back, Pen acted like nothing had happened while she cooked us homemade Chinese, and her phone didn’t ring once.

I hate what I said to Avery, but unfortunately, it was the truth, and she pushed me too far. Don’t fucking compare me to someone who hits women to feel better about himself when I would die for Penelope, something Avery is fully aware of.

“I know it isn’t enough son. I know you want her to pay. It wasn’t just you she was stalking but half the fucking team, you just got the brunt of it. I promise she won’t hurt you or our family again,” Dad reassures, and I smile a little at the ‘our family.’

I fucking love how easily he and Mom have accepted Pen into the fold.

“Alright,” I sigh, “I better go. We’ll see you tomorrow for family dinner.”

Dad replies, “I’m looking forward to it, but do me a favor and come in through the side door so your mother doesn’t steal my grandson. "

I chuckle as he hangs up, drop my phone beside me, and lean back on the couch. Between Mom, Hannah, Kaylah, and Dylan, Dad barely gets Hudson, and he hates it.

I hear a door open, but I don’t move. Instead, I lean my head back and close my eyes, knowing I need to brace myself to see her bruises, bruises that were my doing by bringing Elena into her life.

I feel Pen climb over me, straddling my legs before her soft hands cup my cheeks and she pulls, forcing me to lift my head. I open my eyes, locking them with her mesmerizing dark green ones.

She gently rubs her thumb along my bottom lip and says, “I know what you’re thinking,” and I raise a brow. She smiles and rasps, “You blame yourself for this, but it isn’t your fault. I get it, you slept with her a few times, but so did half the team and several others. Her doing this wasn’t your fault. It was hers, and I hate that you blame yourself because you shouldn’t,” her eyes raced between mine, “And besides, I got to not only hit her but also tackle her and knock her out. I’ve dreamt of that since my first call with her.”

I snort before gently nipping her thumb, making her smile.

“How’s your sister?” I ask, and her eyes soften as awe shines in them because I’m willingly asking about her. Smiling gently, she admits, “Feeling guilty. She knows she owes you one hell of an apology, but not by phone. She was out of line, and after you left, she called, and I ripped her a new one, as did Tony when he tried to interrupt me. He thought someone rang and made her cry until I told him what happened. He lost his shit at her and actually questioned if she’d accuse him of abuse next before walking out. I love my sister, I do, but she has to understand that not only did she put herself in that situation because she didn’t know how to fend for herself, liking the lifestyle mom and dad gave her but accusing someone who didn’t deserve it of abuse, all because she didn’t get her own way was disgusting. She knows she’s not welcome in our home or near our son until she apologizes.”

She leans forward and gently kisses my lips, sending shockwaves throughout my body and she whispers, “I will never allow anyone, including my sister, to make you out to be someone you are not. " She looks over my face and states, “I love you, Taylor Hudson Evans, and I never want to live my life without you.”

My heart flutters as corny as it sounds, but everything in me calms as I sit forward, run my fingers into her hair, and grip it tight. Gently, I caress her lips and reply, “You’ll never live without me, Firecracker, because you are my everything, I love you too,” then press my lips against hers hard.

She kisses me back just as hard, and our tongues meet. I know I’ll go to the ends of the earth for this girl, and if anyone tries to get in between us, I’ll destroy them.