Page 45 of Over the Moon (Rosewood River #3)

thirty-two

. . .

Eloise

I sat in the tub and cried until my fingers pruned and there were no tears left.

I was physically sick to my stomach.

My head was pounding, and I just kept playing the conversation over and over in my head.

Who knows who else she’s sleeping with on the team?

Your daughter is having an affair with our most valuable player at the moment. She could cost him his career because she couldn’t keep her legs closed.

I shook my head and dragged myself out of the lukewarm water and dried off. I slipped on a robe and stopped to look in the mirror. My hair was tied up in a scrunchie, my skin looked pale, my eyes were swollen and bloodshot, and my lips were chapped.

I padded out to the kitchen to make a cup of tea when there was a knock on the door.

I groaned and moved to the door, looking through the peephole as my father stood on the other side of the door.

I started crying all over again at the sight of him.

“Ells bells, open the door,” he said.

I pulled the door open and fell apart when he pulled me into his arms. “I’m so sorry, Dad.”

I said those words over and over as he held me in his arms and rocked me slowly before pushing the door closed.

“Come on, let’s sit on the couch. Everything is okay.”

I sat down beside him, using the sleeve of my robe to swipe at my face. “Everything is not okay. I’ve made a mess of things, and I let you down.”

“Hey, hey,” he said, his voice harsh now. “Don’t you put words in my mouth, Eloise.”

My dad rarely called me by my full name unless he was being very serious.

He turned my chin, forcing me to face him. “You’re wrong about several things. First off, everything is okay. Because what is most important is that you are here on this earth with me. You and I have survived a hell of a lot worse than you falling in love with Clark Chadwick.”

I blinked a few times, wondering how he knew that little tidbit as I’d barely spoken in the meeting.

“I know this isn’t casual. He busted into that office, declaring his love.

Saying he’d marry you today if you agreed to it.

Hell, he threatened to leave the team if they let you go.

He looked me in the eye and told me that he loved you.

I assume you feel the same way, because I know you, sweetheart.

You wouldn’t risk all of this if it wasn’t something real.

And that’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.

To experience what I had with your mom. And the fact that it’s with a man who I happen to respect and admire, that’s a good thing. ”

“He said all of that?”

“That and more. He called out Randall and brought up the fact that other couples have had relationships on this team, including Wolf Wayburn and our chief legal, Dylan Wayburn.”

“I know. But we don’t own the team. And I’ve been having a relationship with a man who’s on the team, a team that I work for, so there’s that.” I shook my head and shrugged.

“Yep. There is that. But loving someone is never a bad thing.” He took my hand in his and smiled.

“I couldn’t look at you in that office because I was not there as your father.

I was there as the coach of this team. I was also blindsided and processing what I was hearing.

I did not read the letters that you and Clark wrote to one another, and no one in that office did, aside from Randall.

Yes, he read two short passages, where you both shared how much you loved one another, so I think Sebastian and Scarlett were in the same boat of feeling really bad that it came out this way. No one is upset with you.”

Relief flooded. I imagined them all sitting around, reading our most intimate words.

The tears started falling again. “Dad, is this going to affect your job?”

“No. But I wouldn’t care if it did. You are my priority, Ells. I’m very angry at the way that they handled this situation. I knew Randall was a petty bastard, but this… This is unforgivable.” He shook his head.

“Dad, you love this team. I will not be the reason that changes. You have to work things out with Randall. You’re the coach, and he’s the trainer. Sebastian didn’t do anything other than react to what was reported to him. But I do need a favor from you.”

“Of course, sweetheart. There isn’t anything that I wouldn’t do for you.”

“I need you to talk to Clark. He loves this team. They’re his family, too.

When they terminate me, you have to promise me that you’ll make him stay.

I’ll figure it out and land somewhere else.

But he can’t just start over with a new team at the height of his career.

This city loves him, his teammates love him, and you love him.

You have to help him do the right thing. ”

“If they fire you for this, I don’t think he or I will be okay with that.

So that is not a promise I can keep, sweetheart.

I’m sorry.” He pulled me close and wrapped his arms around me.

“It’s always been you and me against the world, and now, apparently, it’s you, me, and Clark Chadwick against the world,” he chuckled.

I just rested my head against his chest and listened to the sound of his heart beating. “Clark came here, and I told him to leave.”

“It’s normal to be upset about this. The things Randall said to you… I won’t ever be able to look at that man again. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop it. But this is not Clark’s fault, honey. Don’t push him away.”

I lifted my head. “I’m not pushing him away because I want to. I’m pushing him away for his own good. Being seen with me right now is not a good idea. I’m about to get canned from my first job. He can still save himself. And he can’t do that while he’s sitting here, wallowing with me.”

“When did you get so cynical?” he asked, as the corners of his lips turned up. “Come on, no one has decided anything yet.”

“I just don’t see how we all keep working together after that scene in Sebastian’s office.

I mean, Randall is my direct boss. He clearly hates me.

I can’t very well work for him now, nor would he tolerate that.

So, there is no doubt that they will ask me to leave.

And I am not taking Clark or you down with me when that happens. ”

He pulled me close to him again and hugged me. “This is hockey, Ells. People beat the shit out of each other one day and then high-five one another the next. Let’s not jump the gun, all right? Just hang tight and see what happens.”

“Okay,” I whispered. “I’m really sorry if I embarrassed you, Dad.”

“There has not been one day, one single moment in your lifetime, that I have been embarrassed by you. You are the light of my life. And I’ve failed you if you feel differently.

” He pulled back to look at me. “The only thing that upset me is that you didn’t think you could come to me with this.

I would have been happy for you. For both of you.

I would have told you and Clark to go to Human Resources and be upfront with them about it.

We’re all human, sweetheart. It happens. But you can always come to me.”

“I should have. Clark wanted to. I was afraid it would put you in a bad position, being the coach of the team. I thought if we waited a little while, it would get easier. I didn’t expect to fall for him this hard,” I finally said, swiping at my eyes again.

“I love him so much, and it’s scary enough to feel that way, but involving my father, my employer, and all the people I work with…

I was scared to put that kind of pressure on us. ”

“I get it. But from now on, you come to me for anything. It doesn’t matter if it involves work. I love this team, there’s no doubt. But I don’t love anyone or anything the way that I love you. I’d walk away from this team in a heartbeat if it meant protecting you, all right?”

I nodded. “You shouldn’t have to.”

“Well, neither should you.”

I sighed. “Okay. It’s late, and you look exhausted. Go get some sleep. Tomorrow is a new day. Go to work, and I’ll take the next few days and wait to hear from Sebastian.”

“Randall is on leave, as well, so it might be a good idea for me to go to work. I can have my ears open and find out if anyone knows what’s going on. Maybe I can talk to Sebastian and see where his head is at.”

“Yes. And will you make sure Clark goes to practice tomorrow?” I asked, putting my hands together. “Please, Dad. Can you do that for me? Tell him it’s important to me that he goes.”

“Why don’t you tell him yourself?”

“I will. I just—I need to see how this plays out so I don’t pull him down with me. If I call him right now, he’ll want to come over, and he’ll refuse to go to practice while I’m being forced to stay away. I need to do this for him, okay?” My bottom lip trembled.

“Okay. I’ll make sure he goes. I’ll tell him that you want us both to be there tomorrow, and we’ll reassess once the decision is made.” He forced a smile. “But I don’t want you to be alone tonight.”

“I’m fine. I’m a grown-up, remember?” I chuckled, but the lump in my throat made it hard to swallow.

“You’re still my little girl,” he said, and we both turned when there was a knock on the door.

It was almost 11:00 p.m. now, and I couldn’t imagine who it would be.

If it was Clark, it would be difficult for me not to fall into him right now.

Because that’s what I wanted to do. But I needed him to stay focused on his team right now.

He worked so hard to recover from his injury and get into the best shape of his life. I wasn’t going to derail that.

Dad moved to the door and pulled it open, and my mouth fell open.

Emilia, Lulu, and Henley wheeled in their suitcases, and Lulu held up two pints of ice cream.

“We heard our girl needed us,” Emilia said, and I rushed toward her.

I hugged her before turning to Henley and Lulu and doing the same thing. “What are you guys doing here?”

“Clark called us and told us what happened, and we came immediately. If our girl needs us, we show up,” Lulu said.

I gaped at them. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Yep. We’re all taking off work tomorrow, so we’ll be here with you,” Henley said. “And I’ll be reading that contract of yours and giving you all the legal advice.”

“Those bastards can’t treat you this way,” Emilia said, before turning to my dad and wincing. “Oh, sorry, Mr. Gable. It’s great to see you. You’re not one of the bastards, of course.”

My father chuckled. “Thank you. I’m not happy with how this was handled, but I do believe this is all coming from Randall. I have faith that the owners will do the right thing.”

“Men love to hate on women.” Lulu quirked a brow. “I mean, not you, Mr. Gable. But this Randall dude, he’s been jealous of our girl since the day she started.”

“Agreed.” Henley sighed. “Let’s have ice cream and talk about all the ways we hate him.”

“And that’s my cue. I’m going to let you have your time. Thanks for showing up for my girl,” he said, pulling me into a big hug.

“I love you, Ells. I’ll call you tomorrow. Try to get some rest.”

“I will. Love you, Dad.” I closed the door after he left and padded back over to the couch.

“Clark sounded pretty desperate when he called,” Emilia said, as she sat down beside me.

A deep lump sat in my throat, making it hard to swallow. Clark knew what I needed, and even though I asked him to leave, he made sure they were here for me.

He loved me, and that meant everything to me.

I didn’t know what our future looked like, but I knew without a shadow of a doubt, that he loved me.

Lulu brought over the ice cream, and Henley grabbed four spoons.

“Okay, tell us everything,” Henley said.

I started from the beginning, when I’d just been called to Sebastian’s office. They listened to me, they cried with me, and they were angry on my behalf. I’ve never had friends like these three. They didn’t judge; they just supported me.

“Listen, this is bullshit. And if they let you go, you can come work at MSL with me until you figure out what you want to do.” Lulu wrapped an arm around me. “And if I see Randall ever again, I will kick him in the balls for what he said to you.”

“I mean, the fact that he went through your desk and took your notebook. How is that not a violation of the contract?” Emilia asked.

Henley had the contract on her lap as she read it in detail. “That would certainly be cause for termination, but you’d have to prove that he took it, as he’s claiming he found it.”

“I’m so sorry this happened, Elle.” Emilia leaned her head on my shoulder. “Love hurts, huh?”

“Well, I don’t know about love hurting, but this pint of ice cream is not sitting so well in my stomach. I think I’m lactose intolerant,” Lulu said, leaning her head against my other shoulder.

“You are not lactose intolerant. You just ate an entire pint of gummy bear ice cream, and that would make anyone sick,” Henley laughed.

“Agreed. Gummy bears don’t belong in ice cream,” Emilia said, peeking up at me. I forced a smile. It helped that they were here, but this deep sadness was still sitting on my chest.

I missed Clark. I couldn’t imagine how this would work if I had to move somewhere else for a job. He traveled with the team all the time. We’d never see one another.

A sob escaped my throat, and they all startled.

“Damn, you guys. The gummy bear ice cream distraction did not work. Our girl just needs to be sad.” Lulu wrapped her arms around me. “We’re here for you. Cry as much as you need to.”

And that’s exactly what I did.