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Chapter thirty-seven

Holt

I huff out a breath, setting my phone onto the counter with more force than is probably necessary.

“Everything okay?” Hadley asks. Her brows knit together as she glances between me and my phone.

“No. I didn’t realize my phone was dead last night. Becca left me a voicemail and texted, asking me to call her. She sounded upset. I haven’t been able to get a hold of her today.” I rake a hand through my hair.

“I know it’s the All-Star break, but does the staff have it off too? Or do they have to work?” Hadley takes a sip of her coffee.

“They’re off too. At least I think so,” I say after a few seconds.

“I’m sure she’ll call you back when she’s not busy. Stop worrying.” She spears a piece of scrambled egg with her fork and pops it into her mouth.

Hazel cries out, and Hadley moves to get out of her chair.

“Stay. Finish your breakfast. I got her,” I tell her.

Hadley’s right. Becca’s probably busy. She’ll call me when she can. I left her a voicemail. She knows I called.

I take the stairs two at a time up to my daughter’s new room, push open the door, and walk around all the boxes to her crib.

The guys helped me finish bringing over everything yesterday and even helped put together a few pieces of the furniture, including Hazel’s crib and changing table before they left.

But most of her other stuff is still in boxes.

The same way most of my stuff is still packed.

I plan to tackle unpacking over the next few days before the break is over.

Hopefully I can power through and get a lot, if not all of it, done.

I’m finishing changing Hazel when Hadley comes flying into the room, holding her phone out to me.

“What’s going on? Where’s the fire?” I ask, noting the concerned look on her face.

“I think you should see this.” She thrusts the phone at me before scooping Hazel off the changing table.

“What the hell?” I mutter as I read the headlines suggesting I’m being traded.

“Did you know?” Hadley asks.

I shake my head, handing her phone back. “No. Of course not. I wouldn’t have bought this house had I known this was going to happen.”

Before I can figure out what to do next, my phone rings. Pulling it out of my pocket, I see that it’s Sutton calling. Hopefully, she has answers.

“It’s not true,” Sutton blurts out. “The trade rumors. They’re not true.”

I heave out a breath, meeting my sister’s eyes and shaking my head. “I was about to call you.”

“It started circulating last night on SportsCenter, but we’re not sure where it came from. Kind of odd, since Vancouver isn’t in a playoff spot either. But who knows . . .”

It all clicks into place. “Kat,” I growl.

“What?” Sutton and Hadley both ask at the same time.

I squeeze my eyes shut.

“Kat. One of her sorority sisters is married to a guy who works at SportsCenter. At least as far as I know, he still does. Fuck’s sake.

” I shake my head. “Last year when she broke up with me, it was because I wouldn’t ask for a trade.

To Vancouver. Where she works. She showed up after the game we played there recently, trying to play more mind games,” I spit out. “The specifics don’t matter.”

“Holy shit,” Sutton mutters.

My sentiments exactly .

“I want to pop one of her fake ass tits,” Hadley hisses.

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes me.

“I’m going to see what I can do to shut this down.

I have a friend who works for Vancouver.

I’ll reach out to him and see if he can get the team to issue a statement that they’re not trying to acquire you.

He owes me a favor. I wanted to call you first and let you know the rumor wasn’t true before you panicked. ” Sutton says.

“Thank you.”

“Of course.”

“Before you go, have you talked to Becca lately? Or know if she’s at the arena today?”

“No, to both of your questions. We have plans to meet up for lunch though. Why? What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” I shake my head even though she can’t see me, reaching over and taking my daughter from Hadley’s arms and cuddling her close to me. “I’m overreacting. Thanks for calling me. I appreciate it.”

“Absolutely, and if you need anything, let me know.”

I hang up the phone and turn to my sister, who is pacing the room, her fists balled up.

“I hate her.” She whirls around. “Fucking Kitty Kat.” She throws an air punch followed by a kick.

“Alright, Karate Master, I’ll let you know if I need your help,” I say with a laugh.

She levels me a look. “I’m so glad you kicked her to the curb, brother. I hated her.”

“I can see that.” I don’t bother correcting her that Kat kicked me to the curb because what does it matter at this point? I’m glad to be done with her.

“Rebecca, on the other hand, I love. Keep her around.” She winks.

“I’m trying. Can you watch Hazel for a little while? I want to run by Becca’s place and see if she’s there.”

“Of course.”

A few minutes later, I’m leaving my house and heading toward Becca’s apartment. The drive is quick and I greet the doorman as I head for the elevator .

It takes its sweet time getting to Becca’s floor but eventually it opens and I get off, making my way to her door and knocking. I step back, shoving my hands into my pockets as I wait for her to answer.

As I’m about to accept that she’s not home, she pulls open the door. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up at the sight in front of me. Her eyes are red rimmed and bloodshot, and her nose is red.

“Becca, what’s going on?” I ask, stepping closer to her.

She shakes her head. “Nothing.” Her voice quivers.

“Can I come in?” I reach for her, but she takes a half step back, and I drop my hand.

She shakes her head again, not looking at me. “I don’t think so. I think we should break up.”

What. The. Actual. Fuck.

“I’m not being traded,” I rush out. “If that’s what this is all about, I spoke to Sutton a little while ago and the rumors aren’t true.”

She gives me a small smile. “I’m glad you won’t have to leave your Storm family.”

“What’s going on? Becca, sweetheart. Talk to me.” I roughly run a hand through my hair.

“I can’t.” She swallows, fiddling with the belt of her robe. “We were a mistake. I should never have agreed to date you.” She shakes her head, closing her eyes for a second. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Rebecca. What are you talking about? What happened?” I rub my chest, hoping to relieve the ache that’s forming.

She shifts her weight from side to side, hugging the robe closer to her. “Nothing happened. I just realized I can’t do this, us, anymore. I’m sorry.”

“Can we talk about this? Tell me what I did wrong,” I plead. “Whatever it is, I can fix it.”

How did I manage to screw this up? I thought I was doing everything right, but now, apparently not.

“It’s nothing you did. You’re gone so much, Holt.

I thought I could deal with it, but I can’t.

You’re going to be so busy the second half of the season, and what little free time you have, you should spend with your daughter, not me.

” She blinks a few times and swipes away a tear.

“It’s not meant to be. Goodbye, Holt.” She shuts the door.

“Becca.” My voice cracks.

I knock on the door again, hoping she’ll have a change of heart.

That she’ll talk to me.

But she doesn’t answer.

I stand there for who knows how long, turning her words over and over in my head, before finally turning and walking back to the elevator.

I drive home on autopilot, and it’s not until I’m standing in the kitchen, and Hadley is shaking my arm, that I snap out of my haze.