19. Brock

Standing in Layla"s driveway, I watch as she storms away from me, her words echoing in my ears like a haunting refrain.

She's not even going to hear me out?

She is just going to believe all the lies being spread about me? Not even a conversation so I can tell her that none of it is true?

Why would I be spending all of this time with her and Breckin if I didn't want to be with her?

Why would I buy her an engagement ring from Tiffany's, if I didn't want to be with her. I just don't get how she could believe any of this.

How had I never realized just how manipulative and deceitful Tierney was until now?

I knew she was petty and reactive, but I've never seen anything like this before.

Or have I?

There were a few times she claimed friends were attacking her, that an ex-boyfriend wouldn't leave her alone. That's actually how we got together, she was hiding from him at a bar, and we started talking.

Was that even real?

With a heavy heart, I make my way back to my car. I can"t shake the feeling of betrayal that courses through me. I'm mad about Tierney's manipulation, but I'm hurt that Layla won't even listen to me.

As I drive, my mind races with a whirlwind of emotions – anger, confusion, and regret swirling together in a maelstrom of turmoil.

How could everything be so good one minute and then chaos the next?

I get in my car and drive away, but I don't go back to the Airbnb I just drive until I see the ocean come into view. I park and walk out to the beach, sitting on the shore trying to make sense of everything.

My phone begins to vibrate. With a heavy sigh, I pull it out, expecting another barrage of hateful messages or perhaps a call from Tierney. But as I glance at the caller ID, my heart sinks even further – it"s my agent.

"Hello?" I answer, steeling myself for what"s to come.

"Brock, what the hell is going on?" my agent"s voice blasts through the line, his tone sharp and accusatory. "You cannot afford all of this negative press."

I grit my teeth, trying to keep my frustration in check. "I"m not entirely sure," I reply, my voice strained. "I don't have much proof, but my ex is making up all of these lies. We haven't been together for a while. I never cheated on her. I'm engaged to Layla, not Tierney."

My agent lets out a frustrated sigh. "Well, whatever it is, it"s causing a media circus," he snaps. "The Bruins cancelled the contract because they don"t want the negative press."

My blood runs cold at his words, the gravity of the situation hitting me like a ton of bricks. "Cancelled the contract?" I repeat, disbelief coloring my voice. "You can"t be serious."

"I wish I wasn"t," my agent replies grimly. "They're not willing to absorb the negativity."

Anger surges through me like a tidal wave, my frustration reaching a boiling point. How could Tierney do this to me? How could she jeopardize everything I"ve worked so hard for with her lies and manipulation?

"I swear to you," I say through clenched teeth, "Tierney is lying. We had broken up, and I never proposed to her."

There"s a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and I can practically hear the wheels turning in my agent"s mind. "I want to believe you, Brock," he says finally, his tone more subdued. "But right now, the evidence is stacked against you. We need to come up with a plan, and fast."

I nod, even though he can"t see me. "I know," I reply grimly. "I"ll do whatever it takes to clear my name and salvage this deal."

With a heavy heart, I hang up the phone, the weight of the situation pressing down on me like a leaden weight. Tierney"s betrayal has cost me everything – my career, my reputation, my future. And as I stand there, consumed by anger and frustration, I know that I can"t let her get away with it.

The next phone call is even worse. Coach.

"Brock, what are you doing? Public relations is all over me about this. You need to make a public apology and get this handled."

"I didn't do anything wrong."

"What is perceived is believed. It looks as though you did. It's your life, your free to make your own choices but when it's bringing the team bad press I can't sit back and let it happen. Clean up the mess."

He hangs up the phone without a goodbye.

I let out a frustrated scream and fall back into the sand.

Why doesn't anyone believe me?

I've always been an upstanding guy. How is there not one person out here saying, ‘no, there's no way this is true?'

I lay there for a while trying to make sense of everything that's happening.

What do I need to do to get this handled?

I sit back up and shake my head. Tierney may think that this is going to break me and that I'll go back to her, but it's not going to work.

I stand up, shake off the sand and go back to my car.

I'm going to win Layla and Breckin back but first, I'm confronting Tierney. This has to stop.

***

Before I know it, I find myself pulling into my parents" driveway, the familiar sight of their house looming before me. With a sense of resignation, I make my way inside, steeling myself for the confrontation that awaits.

But as I step into the kitchen, I"m met with a scene that takes me by surprise. Tierney and my mother are sitting outside the back bay windows by the pool, sipping margaritas and laughing as if nothing is amiss. They don"t see me at first, lost in their own world of gossip and frivolity.

My father walks into the kitchen and looks me up and down carefully.

"She's ruining my life and mom's out there having a party with her."

"How is she ruining your life?"

"She's been spreading rumors to the tabloids telling people that I proposed to her and that I'm cheating on her with Layla."

"I saw the ring."

"I didn't buy it for her."

"You said you were going to propose."

"No, Mom said I should propose. Tierney said I should propose to her. I never said I was going to propose to her."

My father"s expression darkens, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "What do you mean?" he demands, his voice sharp with disbelief.

"I didn't propose."

"Regardless of that, you are in a relationship with her and that other woman. I raised you better than this. Why would you do such a reckless thing by cheating on Tierney?"

I feel a surge of frustration bubbling within me, the urge to defend myself rising like a tide. "I didn"t cheat on her, Dad," I protest, my voice rising with indignation. "I broke up with her. We're not together."

But my father shakes his head, his expression resolute. "I raised you better than this, Brock," he says sternly, his disappointment palpable. "I won"t stand by and let you destroy our family name with a three-ring circus because you want to be reckless."

I open my mouth to protest, to try and make him understand, but the words catch in my throat. It"s like talking to a brick wall – he"s convinced of Tierney"s innocence, and nothing I say will change his mind.

I look out the back window. My mother is laughing and grinning from ear to ear. My father clearly has taken Tierney's side as well. I shake my head in disgust.

"You guys wonder why I never come home to visit. You've chosen to believe a stranger over me."

"Well maybe," my Dad starts to growl.

I put my hand up in the air and storm out the back door. I'm not going to listen to any more of a lecture from him or my mother but I'm definitely going to tell them they're all wrong.

"Tierney, you stop this bullshit right now. You don't know the damage you've done."

"What are you talking about?" she giggles as she stands up and drunkenly walks over to me.

She attempts to slide her arms around my waist and give me a drunken kiss. I move away from her.

"You went to the media about us being engaged. I never proposed and you know it. Layla won't even speak to me. This isn't right."

"Who cares if that bitch isn't speaking to you?"

"I care. She's my actual fiancée."

***

I find myself at Breckin"s hockey practice the next day, a sense of determination propelling me forward despite everything imploding around me. Tierney"s lies have torn my world apart, but I refuse to let them destroy my relationship with my son who still doesn't know I'm his dad.

Layla is refusing to speak to me. She won't answer my calls or text messages. If she won't see me or talk to me, I'll still make an effort with Breckin.

I need to prove to everyone that I'm not who they think I am.

"Hiya, Mr. Brock!" Breckin calls out as he waves from the ice.

I grin back at him. "Hey buddy!"

Breckin skates away and Eric makes his way to me.

"Hey, Brock, what are you doing here?"

"I"m here to help out," I reply, my voice tinged with determination.

"I don't think it's a good idea. I don't want my nephew getting hurt any more than he already will. I don't want Layla to get hurt anymore either. She's been through too much."

"I didn't do anything wrong."

Eric watches me carefully, his gaze searching mine for any sign of deceit. "What do you mean?" he asks cautiously, his tone guarded.

"Tierney is lying to win me back," I confess, the words feeling like a weight lifted off my chest. "None of what she"s saying is true."

"But why would she do that?" he asks, his voice tinged with confusion.

"Because she"s desperate," I reply bitterly, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "It's why I wanted to do the fake engagement. I knew she wouldn't let go of me easily, but I had no idea that she would stoop to this level."

"You didn't propose to her?"

"No! Why would I do that when I asked Layla to pretend to be married to me so Tierney would leave me alone?"

"I thought because you were trying to get Tierney back," Eric shrugs.

"I don't want to be with Tierney, at all. I meant that wholeheartedly. No one but Layla and my agent know this, but I've been in talks with the Bruins. All of this cost me that deal. They canceled my contract. Plus, do you think if I proposed and took her back that she would have gone to the media claiming I cheated?"

"I believe you, Brock," he says finally, his voice firm and unwavering. "I"ve known you for years, and I"ve never known you to lie or cheat. I trust that you"re telling me the truth right now."

"You do?"

"Yeah. I was pretty upset when I first learned about it all, but when I stopped and thought about it logically, none of it makes sense."

"I think you're the only person to say that to me. Everyone believes Tierney over me."

"She's pretty convincing at playing the victim. It's also not abnormal for stuff like this to be all over the media. The loudest person gets the attention."

"It's not even worth my energy to deny it. Normally, I would just ignore it. Coach is on me, public relations is on me, my agent is on me. They're all screaming at me to apologize. I'm not apologizing for not loving someone or not wanting to be with them. After this fiasco, can you blame me?"

"No, I can't. I was never a fan of her. I've been hating her for a long time."

"Why have you never said that before?"

"You wouldn't have listened," he chuckles as he shrugs.

"I don't know what to do."

"We can start by focusing on hockey practice. Then you can come over later tonight and we can figure out a game plan over some beers or something."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Layla has had to shut down her social media over this mess and that's where she makes her money. She's also lost clients because of it. The sooner we get this figured out the better off my sister will be. It's ruining her business and her life at this point. Tierney isn't that smart, we'll find somewhere that she screwed up and we'll call her out."

"Thanks Eric, I really appreciate you."

"What are friends for?"

He gestures for me to come out on the ice with him, Tyler, and the kids. It's a nice reprieve from the craziness of the last week.

Tierney isn't just imploding my life, she's doing the same to Layla and I won't stand for it. I'll protect her and Breckin at all costs.

If you don't take me back, I'll go to the media and tell them all that I'm pregnant and you're forcing me to get an abortion

What in the actual fuck?

I will not stop spreading lies about you until you come back to me, Brock. Stop being so ridiculous and just understand that I'm the best thing in your life

Her lies have reached an all-time high, but at least now I have the written proof to shut her down.