Page 49 of Sin Bin (BU Hockey Season 2, #1)

Fallon

I ’ve been avoiding Ollie all week. I really do have a Calc test tomorrow, and a project to work on for one of my design classes, but mostly I’ve been hiding from my husband.

And that’s bad.

But my grandparents want an answer. They are ready to go to the Dean with what they know about Ollie’s extracurricular activities, unless I agree to “take a break” and go on this trip.

But we all know it’s not a break. And we all know it’s not just a trip.

Ollie won’t ever go for something like this, so if I leave, I have to sever ties with him completely.

I’d have to lie and say that this has all been a mistake.

Otherwise, if I tell him I want to travel, he’ll start looking at flights and sending me ideas.

He’s already talking about taking time off after graduation to do some backpacking in Europe.

He couldn’t be more perfect for me.

It’s hard to look at him without confessing everything that’s going on, but I have to keep my mouth shut. Things will be worse if I don’t.

When we made love late Sunday night, I felt like he took a piece of my soul. We connected so deeply, and I don’t want to lose that.

But I can’t let my grandparents ruin his future.

My phone lights up and I nearly jump off the couch. I’m on edge, afraid that every text or phone call is going to be Gran asking for an update, or worse—Ollie calling to tell me that someone leaked his MyFans account to the Dean.

There’s no need for alarm, though. It’s just Emersyn.

Em: So…what’s up? Any big news?

Fallon: Getting spontaneously married wasn’t big enough?

Em: That was weeks ago. It’s old news.

Fallon: Not much else to tell here. How about you? How’s the wide world of ice dancing?

Em: Competitive as hell. Just the way I like it.

Em: But seriously. You have nothing to tell me?

Fallon: No…and don’t even think about asking me if I’m pregnant. I have an IUD, and I told Booker years ago that he’s responsible for siring grandchildren.

Em: Damn right he is. That’s not what I was asking.

Em: What I want to know is why you’re spending New Year’s in Paris? Is that your honeymoon? How freaking romantic. Although, tbh I expected something a little more creative from Ollie.

Fallon: What are you talking about?

Em: I just talked to Gran. She said we all have to come home for Thanksgiving because you’ll be in Europe by mid-December. I told her I’ll be in Japan for Thanksgiving, so she suggested we all visit you in France for New Year’s.

I love my grandmother. I really do, but she’s taking things too far.

I know damn well Gran never mentioned Ollie in these plans.

Em just assumed. And why wouldn’t she? He’s my husband.

But by telling Em I’m going to Europe, she’s forcing my hand.

For the thousandth time, I wonder what would happen if I told Ollie.

If there’s a way we could mitigate the damage.

He hasn’t posted in weeks, not since we’ve been married. Shouldn’t that count for something?

Em: Hello?

Fallon: Sorry. Yeah, I’m still not sure about Europe. I’ll keep you posted.

I set my phone down, trying to make sense of the mess in my brain. There has to be a way out of this. I stride into the kitchen to fill up my water bottle, but I just end up pacing the length of the counter, back and forth, back and forth.

I’m jolted out of my trance when I see Ollie set a grocery bag down on a stool. He leans over to me and gives me a kiss.

You okay? he asks.

Yeah, fine, I lie. Anxious about my test.

You’re going to kill it, seriously. We’re on a string of good luck, you and me. And you know how I know that?

I shake my head, but he starts signing, not really waiting for an answer.

Because my dad called.

I cock my head to the side, because Ollie’s dad and good luck do not belong in the same conversation.

I know, he signs, but it’s good news. Really good news.

I was just doing stuff for the charity committee and I met an associate of my dad’s.

We work well together, and I guess he’s been singing my praises to dad whenever they talk.

So much so that my dad wants me to work with him.

Well, I think that’s what he wants. He used a lot of business lingo, but the gist was that when he and his buddy invest in a local resort, he wants me in on it, too, acting on his behalf.

I blink, because that is a lot to process. Your dad wants you to work for him? I sign.

As long as I keep “living up to my potential,” yeah.

It’s crazy, but it’s good. I know he didn’t win you over at first, but I promise you’ll love him once you get to know him.

This is actually so fucking cool. He’s proud of me, Fallon.

It took twenty-two years, but he’s proud of me. And I’m not letting him down.

Ollie kisses my forehead before turning to put the groceries away, while I fight off the knot that's forming in my stomach.

When he faces me and reaches past me to put a bottle of olive oil away in the cabinet behind me, I catch his attention. That’s amazing , I manage to sign. I have to get back to the library, though, so I have to run.

I thought we were having dinner? he signs, frowning.

I’m sorry. There’s a study group meeting for my test and I don’t want to miss it.

Ollie’s frown deepens. The test you already studied for?

Fuck. Ugh. This is why I don’t lie. I’m really bad at it. It’s a really important test.

Okay, he nods. I’ll make a plate for you and put it in the fridge.

I manage to make it out to my car before I start to lose it. Tears fall and I swipe them back as I pull out onto the road.

I don’t remember a lot about the night Ollie and I got married, but I remember taking shots with him at the bar.

I remember that I’d been complaining about my situation and telling Ollie that my grandparents' world was a little too restrictive for me.

He asked me if I could have anything in the world, what would I choose.

My answer was freedom.

And Ollie’s response was to propose marriage so no one could dictate my choices ever again. He promised he never would, and that’s something I know to be true.

And now, the only solution is to end it. Ollie offered me a partnership so I could have my freedom, but that means his will be taken away, and I just can’t do that.

He loves hockey, and I won’t jeopardize that for him.

But he’s wanted his father’s approval for his whole damn life, and that’s not something I’m stealing from him.

Louis Jablonski is not a man who would look past his son’s MyFans account.

Perception is everything to him. Maybe that’s why he never valued Ollie.

My husband isn’t about perception or surface value.

He’s all about substance. It’s one of the reasons I love him.

But now I know what I have to do,even if it breaks my heart.