Chapter 42

28 weeks pregnant

" F igure it out, Kendra!" Jeremy yells. He's the executive producer on the show and is giving me shit because Sully has taken none of the women he's dated on a second date. I'm trapped in his office with him while he screams the house down with a red face. He's pissed because this show isn't the cheap-and-easy reality productions he prefers. He gets off on exploiting others in the fastest way possible and wants to fabricate his own drama. All he cares about is putting up numbers. I thought I could learn a lot from this guy, but his style is not mine, and there's nothing beneficial for me to learn here.

My argument is that we can achieve the same results by working the story from a different angle. Sully has depth! The entire story has depth, it's Minnesota's first pro-female team. Why are we relying on only these dates for the storyline? It's lazy.

"How? I can't force him. If he wants to find out what's behind door number two, we can't intervene. That's the show."

He grimaces at me. "We're halfway through production, and he hasn't had one second date! What show, Kendra ?! Where's the story arc of him not finding a partner? Nobody cares to watch him speed date a bunch of bimbos! They want to see him fall in love!"

This asshole.

"Your arc is with the Rogues!" I argue. "He's a coach first and foremost! It's a great story, we can play the NHL to PWHL angle, having the hotshot male hockey captain coming face-to-face with athletic misogyny. It's a big issue! We don't need the fake shit. Let's work with what he's given us." Before I even finish speaking, I can tell he will shoot it down. Jeremy doesn't give a damn about ethical filmmaking or the important matters at hand.

"Fuck that—make it happen! Fix it! Talk him into it, trick him, I don't care. I want a second date from him before I get on set."

He throws open the door to his office with enough strength to rattle the door handle in its wake, then stomps out. He's ranting under his breath out in the hall. What a dick. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I'm growing sick of this production.

Normally, I don't get flustered when a producer starts yelling. Most of the time, they're blowing off steam, throwing fits because shit isn't going the way they want—um, hi? That's the job. It's never fun being the target of someone's anger, but it's never gotten under my skin like it has today. Probably because the person in question is Sully. Being under the weather isn't helping either. I don't want to force him to pick a woman twice—I don't want to watch him date those women in the first place.

I look at my phone and check the time. Shit, I needed to leave ten minutes ago. I feel ill, it's probably the stress from the ass-chewing I just received, or possibly the recent traveling from Florida. It's not exactly nausea, but an overall not-well. I need to rally if I'm going to make it to ten o'clock. I've been here since six. It's going to be a long day.

We've secured a film location at a local brewery for Sully's date tonight. I text Rachel, my favorite production assistant.

Hey. You on loc already?

Rachel

Yeah, what's up?

We need Sully to take this girl on a second date. How's his attitude right now?

Rachel

He's thrilled lol what do you think?

Super.

Get him a beer or something, I'm on my way.

Oh! The owner, Cliff, has the branding he wants in the shot. Everything has been set aside already, he should be on-site to show you where it is.

Rachel

10-4

Thank you!

I haul ass to the local craft brewery, Citra, and see that Rachel has taken care of most of the prep. Thank God, because I have to pee.

"Sorry, I'm late!"

"You're not late," Rachel says with a laugh.

"Jeremy here?" I say, heading toward the restroom sign in the corner.

"Not yet—oh, nevermind, there he is." She shifts her eye contact behind me, so I spin to see him walking in from the parking lot with tonight's date.

I scan the room and find Sully signing a couple autographs near the bar. Lance already has a camera on him. I do my best not to stare, but damn, he's handsome. How many days until this contract is over again? Then I remember why I have to talk to him.

I'll try to convince Sully, but I know that man, he's not gonna do it. It's hard enough getting him to do the show. He's been adamant about not having any repeats. For now, I need to find a bathroom; I can't think until I pee. Once that's done, I'll have a snack, drink some water, and clear my head. We'll sort this out.

Pushing open the heavy door, I take the first stall. Sweet fucking relief— there is a God . Finishing up, I spot blood on my underwear.

Washing my hands, I try to remain calm while my mind races with the possibilities. None of them are positive. I have to get out of here, but I have to tell Sully. I made him a promise there would be no more secrets. And truthfully, he's the only person who can comfort me right now.

When I find him, he's still at the bar, giving his fans all the attention. I hustle over to Jeremy and let him know I've got to leave, keeping him informed of the situation.

"Shit." He snaps at Rachel, "Hey, I need you to drive Kendra to the ER."

Rachel's eyes rove up and down my body. "What's going on, are you okay? What happened?"

I nod and briefly explain without sounding too frantic.

"Do what you gotta do, I'll cover it here. We'll talk about the date stuff later," Jeremy says.

Oh good, I was so worried about the date stuff. Whatever, at least he's not being a massive dick about it. Now I have to let Sully know.

I head toward the bar, and he's chatting about his new role with the Rogues, enthusiastically promoting the players and team. When I press my fingers to the back of his arm, he spins to face me. His smile grows, and he goes to touch me but stops himself, and the smile slides off his face.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

My eyes find Lance's and look to Sully again. The fans are no longer circling him like vultures, but the camera is on us. Shit.

"I need you to casually turn off your mic for a sec," I say.

He reaches behind and fumbles with the button on the battery pack.

My voice catches in my throat, but I force it out, speaking as level as I can. "I have to go to the doctor. I'm bleeding, and I want to make sure everything is okay."

"You're bleeding—where?"

I look down. "I saw blood in my underwear a moment ago. It's not a lot, but I want to be sure."

"Let's go." He puts an arm around me and is ready to take off for the exit.

I plant my feet on the ground, and he whirls around when he notices I'm not moving. "You stay. Rachel is going to take me. I will call you as soon as I find out—"

His nostrils flare. "Kendra, you are out of your goddamn mind if you think somebody else is taking you to the emergency room. Let's. Go."

Next to me, Rachel's gaze is ping-ponging between us.

He looks at her. "I'm taking Kendra to the ER. Tell them we can reschedule this for another time."

"Ohhhkay?" Of course Rachel is confused. This whole situation is a clusterfuck.

I open my mouth to speak when Jeremy shouts, "Sully, we need you over here." He points to one of the empty chairs. Sully rolls his eyes and shakes his head, so naturally, Jeremy clomps over in our direction . Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

As soon as Jeremy is within earshot, Sully glances down at him. "I'm taking Kendra, we'll reschedule."

He rears his head back with a pinched expression. "Sully, we've got it under control. Rachel is taking her. Please sit so we can begin shooting. The crew is already set up and waiting. Stay out of this."

Sully invades his space, and I hold my breath. Shit, what is he doing?

"That's my child. Kendra is leaving with me. We are done." He disconnects his mic and shoves it into Jeremy's chest.

I'm frozen in place. He told them. He revealed everything.

"Now, Kendra."

My blank stare is echoed by Jeremy's. I don't know how to explain. There's nothing to explain. Nothing can be said. It's over.

A big arm braces my back, then I'm being ushered toward the exit. Without saying a word, my feet shuffle all the way to Sully's vehicle. One thing at a time , I think, trying to compartmentalize what happened. I can't have a breakdown here. Bo needs my attention right now. Bo is my priority.