21. Royal

twenty-one

"There's someone here to see you, Royal," Mark's voice calls through the closed door.

I open the door to find him and Selina standing there. "What are you doing here? I didn't think you would ever want to show your face around here after what you did last year," I hiss, trying to hold back my anger. Selina almost ruined my hockey career with her allegations that I forced her to have sex with me.

I'd seen Selina around the hockey games, and I knew she was Greg's step-niece, so when she showed up at one of our parties, I knew she was underage. When a couple of guys started hitting on her, I took her upstairs to my room and called Greg. He arrived twenty minutes later and took her home.

That was the end of it, or so I thought. The next morning, the cops arrived and took me in for questioning, saying that Selina had told Greg I had forced myself on her. It was a lie, but no one but Fin and Coulter believed me.

It wasn't until twenty-four hours later that she finally agreed to an exam that showed her to still be a virgin with no signs of trauma to any part of her body that she finally dropped the charges, but the damage was already done.

"Selina, I told you I never wanted to see you again." I close the door, wanting to block her and the memories out.

"Please, Royal. I need to tell you the truth about that night." The pleading sound of her voice gives me pause.

"Fine, but Fin and Coulter will stay here as witnesses. I'm not going to have a repeat of last year. You can leave now, Mark." I motion for Selina to step into Coulter's bedroom before dismissing Mark.

"Say what you came here to say, then leave." I cross my arms over my chest and lean back against the door.

"I'm so sorry. It wasn't my idea. Greg forced me to do it. He said if I didn't say that you attacked me, he would tell Mom and Dad about the guy I was seeing. I was young and gullible. I only saw myself as a victim, not you." The tears start to flow from her eyes, and Coulter takes pity on her, offering her a tissue and a place to sit down.

I scowl at him, not wanting to show Selina any mercy for her involvement in last year"s events. "I almost lost my scholarship because of what you did. Hell, I was almost thrown in jail over it. I think your apology is a little too late."

"You're right. I should have apologized sooner, but I wasn't strong enough." Her eyes plea with me.

"But what? All of a sudden, you are now. I find that hard to believe."

"Royal, give her a chance to explain. It took a lot of courage for her to come here today and make amends." Fin glowers at me from his spot by the window. He nods at Selina. "Go on," he coaxes.

"Like I said, I'm really sorry, but Greg forced me into it, and I'm afraid he's planning on doing something like that to one of you again." She takes a deep breath before continuing. "I heard him on the phone the other day talking to someone about how a girl should never be able to play on a men's team and how he was going to make sure she and everyone who supported her paid for letting her on the team starting with the three co-captains that picked her at tryouts."

"That bastard," Fin says. "We have to tell Coach Johnson about Greg's plans."

"I've already talked to Coach Johnson about Greg's plan from last year and his current plan. He told me he was aware that Greg was planning something, but he didn't know what it was yet."

"Thank you for telling him and us the truth," I say to Selina. The weight I've been carrying around feels like it's been lifted off my shoulders. But instead of feeling a complete sense of relief, I realize we have to talk to Teagan about Greg's plan or what we know of it.

I gently help Selina to her feet and to the door, walking her to the hallway with Fin and Coulter following behind us. "I appreciate you having the courage to step forward. I know it wasn't easy."

Selina's eyes fill up with more tears, and the urge to hug her and comfort her breaks free.

Fin and Coulter must feel the same need to comfort Selina; both of them give her a quick hug before we walk her to the front door.

Selina's a good kid. With any luck, her coming clean with Coach Johnson and I will bring her some closure; I know it has for me.

Now, to get our girl and win the game.