Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 92972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
“Whether we like it or not,” Merwood says, “we have no choice but to suspend you, pending a full investigation. You have to leave immediately. You will not travel on the team charter, and you are to have no contact with team personnel aside from Liam, who’s already packed your suitcase and will put you in a car to the airport.”
To the airport…
Holy shit.
It’s all…gone. All of it. Just like that.
At least for the foreseeable future.
And if I can’t find a way to prove that recording is a fake…
As I follow Liam out of the complex, I try to tell myself that Beatrice will talk to whoever she needs to talk to—the police, the press—and straighten this out. But I know how bad people are at agreeing on objective facts and reality these days.
The press, her fans, my fans…they might simply decide not to believe her. To believe Kai, instead. Because his story is juicier. Or because he’s older. Or because he’s a man.
I’m a man, too, but I’m a man who was caught using his fists to solve his problems. While, as far as the rest of the world is concerned, Kai is as pure as the driven snow. A DUI isn’t great, but it’s not kidnapping or forced imprisonment. It’s not almost killing his ex-girlfriend, like what he did with that poor girl in Nebraska.
I realize for the first time that he’s accused me of the crime he actually committed.
Talk about a textbook case of projection…
It’s almost funny, in a dark, twisted way.
But nothing is truly funny right now. Nothing. Ten minutes ago, I was the master of my destiny. I was the future of the franchise, with a chance at MVP honors. Now, I’m a toxic-waste-level liability.
I’ve been outplayed, there’s no doubt about that, but I’m not down for the count. I’m not about to go down like this, not without a fight.
But not with my fists this time…
As soon as I’m alone in the cab on the way to the airport, I text Charlotte and Beatrice in a group text—I know what’s happening, and I’m so fucking sorry. I’m on my way home. My plane lands at eleven. I’ll be at Charlotte’s as soon as I can, and we’ll tackle this together.
Charlotte texts back almost immediately—Thank God! I would normally tell you to stay and play hockey, but we need you here. I can’t believe how much that message he faked sounds like you.
Exhaling a deeply relieved breath, I type—I know. I’m just glad you know I didn’t say any of that. I would never.
Of course not! I knew it was fake from the jump—Charlotte replies, her faith in me enough to bring grateful tears to my eyes. But it sounds so real, Baylor. It’s just… It’s insane, honestly.
So insane—Beatrice agrees—I’m so sorry, Bay. I would say I can’t believe Kai’s doing this, but I can. But I’m not going to let him get away with it. Laurel and I are already brainstorming a plan to clear both our names, and Charlotte’s going to call in a favor with her media contacts when we’re ready to hit back.
Charlotte seconds—And we’ll hit back hard. We just need to be careful. Strategic. Since not everyone knows what we know about Kai, and we have no way to prove what we know. It will be good to have you here to talk through the variables. Was the Coach upset that you asked to come home early?
Deciding the “suspended” part of the story can wait—I don’t want to upset them more than they are already—I shoot back—No worries about that, but I have to go. Almost to the airport. I’ll let you know when I board. Hang tight. I’ll be there with backup ASAP.
As they wish me a safe flight, I pull up the contact info for the person who tipped us off to the truth about Kai in the first place.
Blue answers on the second ring. “Where are you? I’m assuming you’ve seen it?”
“The article you mean?” I ask tightly. “Yeah. And I heard the recording Kai’s saying I left on his phone. Merwood played it for me before he told me I was suspended until they could prove it was fake and put me in a cab to the airport. I hope I don’t need to tell you that I didn’t say those things, but I didn’t.”
“Of course not. The recording sounds nothing like you,” Blue says calmly.
I frown. “It doesn’t? Dude, I thought it was me for a split second, and I know for a fact I haven’t spoken to Kai in years.”
“No. The rhythm was wrong. They’ll prove it’s fake. Eventually. But in the meantime, damage is being done, and not just to your career or reputation. There are already rumors circulating online that Beatrice is unwell. Mentally.”