Page 56 of Your Biggest Downfall (Ravens Hockey #3)

nova

“Nova, I need a second to speak to you before you finish up for the evening,” Iris shouted from her door.

Fuck. I had submitted the social media package and requested a very small budget this year to pay for a few new equipment items we needed to replace.

The first game of the season was this weekend, so it was a bit last minute, but I couldn’t let her mull over it too long because then it would be an immediate rejection.

I smoothed out my black wide-leg dress pants and long-sleeve black blouse that covered all my tattoos before I walked back in her direction.

I’ll admit, I used to hate Iris, but ever since Austin went to rehab, she’d been much nicer over the past few months.

She even let me work through the summer, making sure I had a paycheck.

I didn’t need the income now that I was living with Austin, but I wanted to maintain some independence.

Plus, I genuinely loved my job and was hopeful it could turn into something more.

I knocked on her door and heard her call for me to come in. When I entered, I was surprised to see a man in a sleek black suit sitting across from Iris.

I glanced at her, noticing she had on the pleasant smile she always wore around clients. “Can I get you something, Ms. Rhode?”

Iris shook her head, laughing like I’d told a great joke. “No, Nova. Please, have a seat.”

I grabbed a chair from the back of the office and pulled it next to the stranger. This was all the more confusing because I was never included in any meetings unless I was the one taking notes.

“Nova, I’d like you to meet Mr. Hopkins,” Iris said as the stranger stood, buttoning his jacket before extending his hand toward me.

He was tall with neatly combed, dark hair and a strong jawline. His eyes, a deep shade of brown, held a certain intensity, but there was a hint of warmth behind them. As he extended his hand, I couldn’t help but notice the glint of a silver watch peeking out from under his cuff.

“Hello,” he said, his voice smooth and polite, laced with a distinct English accent that caught me off guard.

I blinked, momentarily surprised, but quickly recovered, shaking his hand.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Nova Thatcher. I’ve come just for you. Please, sit down,” he said, gesturing toward the chair with a slight nod.

For me? Did he say he had come to see me? I must be on an episode of some prank show because who ever came to see me?

“For me?” I asked, looking between the two of them.

“Mr. Hopkins?—”

“Call me Peter, please, Iris, especially since we are among friends.”

Iris nodded politely. “Peter is the head of the public relations team for the London Hands, one of England’s most esteemed rugby clubs.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. Do you live here?” I asked, realizing how silly the question was as soon as it left my mouth. Of course he didn’t live here.

“No,” he replied with a small smile. “Just visiting... an old friend.”

I caught the way he glanced at Iris, who quickly dismissed it with a wave of her hand.

“He’s looking to expand his social media team and wants to bring London rugby into the spotlight on social platforms. I thought you’d be a great fit, so I suggested he talk to you about joining his team.”

“H—His team? You mean I’d be part of his social media team?” I stammered.

But... London? My mind raced as I tried to process the idea. Working for a prestigious rugby club sounded incredible, but the reality of it being based in London felt overwhelming. Would that mean relocating? I glanced between Iris and Peter, trying to wrap my head around the logistics.

“I want you to head up the entire social media department. Your work with the Ravens has been absolutely outstanding. I’ve been following you on social media for a while, and, hell, you’ve even convinced me to be a hockey fan.”

I laughed politely, but I was still not understanding. “You want to offer me a job?” I asked.

“Yes, a management position. We can discuss salary, but we were thinking of offering what would equate to roughly ninety thousand US dollars.”

Nine—I must’ve heard that wrong. There was no fucking way he said ninety thousand dollars. That was more than...

“This would be remote, right?” I asked, my voice betraying a mix of hope and uncertainty.

The idea of moving halfway across the world felt too sudden, even for an opportunity like this. I was newly married. Mami was sick. I was all she had, and I couldn’t simply abandon her or Austin.

Peter smiled, seeming to understand my hesitation.

“That’s the caveat. You’d have to relocate to London for the position,” Iris added.

It was too good to be true. The moment a real opportunity knocked on my door, a chance to be more than just the intern, it slipped away before I could even grasp it.

I forced a smile, though inside, it felt like my dreams were shattering right in front of me.

“Not to worry. We would cover the relocation costs,” Peter added, his tone professional and polite.

Of fucking course they would. That’s what made this so much harder—dangling something incredible within reach, only for it to be impossible for me to accept. My heart sank, disappointment pulling me under.

“Thank you for the opportunity,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “But unfortunately, I’m newly married to a player on the team here. My life is in Chicago for the time being.”

Neither Iris nor Peter knew the full extent of why I couldn’t pick up and move. Sure, Iris knew my mom was sick, but she didn’t understand how serious it was. There was no way I was about to explain the depth of it to them.

“This is a huge opportunity,” Iris chimed in, but Peter was already standing up.

I followed his lead, standing to shake his hand with as much politeness as I could muster, even though it felt like my chest was caving in.

He met my eyes kindly, sensing my hesitation.

“There’s no need to decide right away,” he said gently.

“Hockey and rugby run on different schedules. We wouldn’t need anyone until next year, so there’s time to consider it.

The offer will stay open if, somehow, life changes.

We’d be thrilled to have you whenever you’re ready. ”

I sighed, my heart heavy. Life wouldn’t ever change. Austin played hockey, and his life was wherever the NHL took him. Bringing this conversation up to him would cause more stress, and he didn’t need that, especially not with the first game of the season this weekend.

“Thank you, sir,” I replied quietly, unable to muster the enthusiasm the situation deserved. I turned to leave, feeling defeated, but Iris called out, stopping me.

“Peter, can you give us a moment?” she asked.

“Absolutely,” he said, giving me a polite wave before heading out the door.

The moment he was gone, I slumped back into the chair, bracing myself.

I knew what was coming—some version of the “you’re such a disappointment” speech, or worse, a pitying look that would make me feel even smaller.

Either way, I was ready for it. I always had to be.

Because nothing ever came easily for me, not without some kind of cost.

“Your husband?”

I flinched at the word, the question hitting me harder than it should have. I forced myself to meet her gaze, my stomach knotting.

“Yes,” I said, my voice quiet.

Her brow lifted, her expression unreadable. “You’re married.”

I nodded.

She pressed her lips into a thin line, and I could tell she was debating whether to push or let it go.

“We’ve been keeping it quiet,” I admitted.

“Quiet? Why?”

I hesitated, the words threatening to choke me. She needed to know the truth, especially if things unraveled later. “Austin’s recovery. We didn’t want to draw any attention to it. The pressure, the questions—it’s not what he needs right now.”

“I see. And when did you get married?”

“A few months ago,” I said, my lips curving into a small, bittersweet smile. “We went to a courthouse. No fanfare. No press.”

She nodded slowly, leaning back in her chair. “That’s a lot to carry on your own. I can’t imagine it’s been easy.”

I shrugged. “It’s what he needs. I don’t regret it.”

“No one’s questioning your commitment,” she said gently. “Don’t lose yourself in the process. Secrets like this have a way of surfacing, and when they do, it’s better if you’re in control of the story.”

“I know,” I admitted. “I just... I want to protect him. He’s worked so hard to get here, and I don’t want anything to jeopardize that.”

She studied me for a moment before leaning forward and bracing her arms on her desk. “If you need anything—anything at all—you come to me. I mean it.”

“Thank you,” I said, the sincerity in my voice surprising even me.

“He won’t let you go to England?”

I blinked, caught off guard by her meddling.

“I’m sure he would,” I replied, keeping my voice steady.

“But that’s not the point. I can’t go. My mom is here, my husband is here—my life is in Chicago, for now.

” I clenched my jaw, trying to remain civil.

“I do appreciate you bringing Peter to the office though.”

She shook her head, leaning back in her chair, clearly unsatisfied with my response. “He—” She gestured toward the door. “Peter and I knew each other a long time ago. He was playing rugby here in Chicago for a bit, and I was still working on getting my degree.”

My eyes darted around me to make sure, once again, I wasn’t being punked. Was I getting a personal story from Iris? I folded my hands in my lap and tried to understand what lesson she was going to teach me with this story.

“I met him, and it was amazing. We were dating pretty quickly after, but a lot of things went downhill fast. Peter is a good guy now. He’s married with a family of his own, but he wasn’t a good boyfriend back then.”

Oh, shit. We were getting personal.

“He was narcissistic and emotionally abusive to me. He would berate my degree, my outfits, my entire life.”

Why the fuck was he here then? Why would she even think about having a relationship with him after all these years?

“He was recruited by a club in England and asked me to drop everything to go with him,” Iris said. “I agreed, and up until the day we were supposed to leave, I had every intention of going. I was ready to sacrifice my dreams, hopes, family, and friends for someone who didn’t truly love me.”

“What happened?” I asked, leaning in and resting my elbows on her desk.

“I didn’t go,” she said, shaking her head slightly. “I couldn’t bring myself to get out of the car at the airport. I told the driver to take me to my parents’ house in the suburbs instead.”

“But you guys still talk?” I asked, confused as to how he was here now, trying to make sense of it.

She shrugged. “Not much anymore. In the beginning, we talked more, but we both moved on. Sometimes, with time, therapy, and life, people change, Nova. But often, when someone shows you who they are, they can’t change for you.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, feeling a little lost in her explanation.

Iris sighed, turning her chair to gaze out at the arena below.

“I mean, some people come into our lives to teach us a lesson or reveal a truth, but they’re not meant to stay forever.

Peter’s a better man now, but that took years of facing hard truths and consequences for his actions.

Even if he’s changed, I could never take him back because we’d fall right back into that toxic place. ”

I was still unsure why she was sharing this deeply personal story with me. We weren’t close like that.

“And how does this relate to me?” I asked, searching for the connection.

“I’m telling you this because I want you to be sure,” she said, her voice soft but serious. “I want you to weigh your choices carefully.”

My first response was to lash out at her and tell her she didn’t know my life, but she was a reserved person, so telling me this story likely took a lot out of her. I wouldn’t allow myself to be put in that position though. Austin was a good man. He just had an illness he had gotten help for.

She turned around and gave me a soft smile. “Anyway, everyone is different. Peter is an amazing boss, and this is a fantastic opportunity. You deserve it, Nova.”

I did deserve it. I’d worked hard for this job. “Thank you.”

“I, uh, approved your budget request. You’ll find the billing invoice in your mailbox today. Looking forward to seeing you this weekend.”

I stood, giving a nod of appreciation. “Thank you,” I repeated, unsure of what else to say.

What was there really? Thanks for sharing something so personal with me?

As I left Iris’s office, the enormity of what just happened settled heavily.

The choices I had to make weren’t just about work—they were about my entire life.

Staying here meant staying with Mami, staying with Austin, staying tied to everything I’d built in Chicago.

It meant choosing a life filled with people I loved, even if that resulted in passing up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

But was I choosing, or holding onto, what felt safe?

I could keep working as an intern, hoping another once-in-a-lifetime chance would come my way, but would I even be able to take it then?

Or would I still be tied to making decisions based on everyone else in my life instead of myself?

I had to believe that staying was the right choice—at least for this moment.