39. Emma

I'm sittingin my cubicle, sipping coffee and absentmindedly scrolling through social media, looking for posts about our team to amplify, when something stops my thumb dead in its tracks.

It's a photo of Lukas, Ryan, and me, our faces clearly visible, as we're on our date together in Miami. It's a whole gallery of photos, I realize, but in the first one, Lukas has his arms slung over both of our shoulders. I have my hand up, laced in his, while he's whispering something in Ryan's ear. Ryan is blushing, grinning.

The caption reads "NHL Star Lukas Dvorak Caught in Steamy Love Triangle!"

We look very clearly like three people in love. I'd actually like a copy of this photo if I didn't have the sinking feeling it was about to wreck my whole life.

"What the actual fuck," I mutter under my breath, my mind reeling. We were in such a casual part of South Beach, not anywhere that you'd find paparazzi. And it's not like Lukas or Ryan are easily recognizable celebrities in Miami. It's not like Chicago, where they get recognized on the streets by rabid Blizzards fans.

How did?—

"EMMA COLLINS!"

I nearly jump out of my chair as Alison comes barreling into my cubicle, her face flushed with anger. She slaps a printout of the very same photo on my desk.

"Explain yourself. Now," she seethes.

I straighten up, taking a breath but internally panicking. She's been looking for any sort of reason to get me in trouble, and I've been so careful not to give her one. "Alison, listen, I know how this looks, but?—"

"Do you have any idea how unprofessional this is? Sleeping with not one, but two of the team's top players? Are you out of your goddamned mind?!"

I swallow, trying to calm my racing heart. "Alison, please. Our relationship is completely consensual and has been approved by HR. It's really no one's business?—"

"The hell it isn't!" she snaps. "When it jeopardizes the entire reputation of this organization, it becomes my business. Do you know the PR nightmare this is going to cause? The Chicago Blizzards' precious legacy, tarnished because their social media manager couldn't keep her legs closed. Is that why you've been kept around all this time? Because you're banging everyone on staff?"

Her words hit me like a slap. Rage and humiliation war inside me, bringing hot tears to my eyes. I blink them back furiously.

"That's not fair. I earned this job, fair and square. My personal life has nothing to do with?—"

"Oh, please." Alison scoffs derisively. "We both know the only reason you got this position is because of your daddy's name and legacy. No one would hire someone like you if it hadn't been entirely nepotism. And now, once and for all, you've proven to the whole world that you don't deserve to be here."

Nausea rolls through me at the accusation I've dreaded and fought against my whole career. But I force myself to meet her icy glare head-on.

"You're wrong," I tell her, steel in my voice. "I am good at what I do. And who I choose to be with doesn't change that."

Alison just shakes her head, a cruel smirk twisting her lips. "Pack up your things, Emma. You're fired. Effective immediately."

My stomach drops out from under me as she turns on her heel and storms off.

This cannot be happening.

The job I've poured my heart and soul into, the chance to carry on my father's legacy…gone. Because of a stupid photograph.

Just as despair threatens to swallow me whole, Lukas comes barreling into my cubicle. His handsome face is etched with concern and fury.

"Emma! I heard what that miserable woman said. She can't do this." He grasps my shoulders, green eyes burning into mine.

Despite everything, his touch is instantly steadying. I draw in a shaky breath. "Lukas, it's okay?—"

"No, it damn well is not okay!" He releases me and spins toward Alison's retreating back. "Hey! You can't fire Emma. This isn't her fault!"

Alison whirls back around, arms crossed and eyes flashing. "Who are you to tell me what I can and can't do? You're just a dumb jock. You have no say in this."

She takes a menacing step closer, pointing an accusing finger at Lukas's chest. "And if you want to blame anyone for your little girlfriend getting canned, blame yourself. For not being able to keep your dick in your pants and dragging her into your sordid bullshit."

Lukas blanches, but stands his ground. "My personal life is none of your damn business. Emma is great at her job. Firing her for this is discrimination."

"Oh, cry me a river, pretty boy." Alison's face twists into an ugly sneer. "Dating not just one but two of the star players? Emma made her slutty bed. Now she can lie in it. Unemployed."

With that parting shot, she pivots sharply and click-clacks away in her power heels. Leaving utter destruction in her wake.

I slump into my chair, not sure if my trembling legs can support me. This is a nightmare. It has to be. In one fell swoop, I've lost everything I've worked for.

And now even Lukas—confident, funny Lukas—looks hopeless and guilty. "Emma, baby, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I never should've?—"

"No." I cut him off hoarsely, fresh tears burning my eyes. "It's not your fault. It's mine. I'm the idiot who fell in love with her colleagues. I'm the one who couldn't put her career first."

Saying it out loud unleashes the anguished sobs I've been choking back. I bury my face in my hands, not wanting Lukas to see me crumble.

But in an instant, his strong arms are around me, gathering me into his solid warmth. "Shh, Emma, no. We'll figure this out. It'll be okay. I promise you, it'll be okay…"

I want so badly to believe him as I weep brokenly into his chest. But right now, with my entire world collapsing around me, I honestly don't see how anything will ever be okay again.

Lukas gently rubs my back as I cling to him, my lifeline in this storm.

Eventually, my sobs subside into hiccupping breaths, and I pull back, swiping at my damp cheeks. "I'm sorry," I whisper, my voice raw. "I shouldn't be putting this on you."

"Hey." Lukas cups my face, his gaze fierce. "We're in this together, remember? I love you, Emma. We all do. And we're going to get through this as a team."

A team. The word sparks a flicker of warmth in my chest, a tiny flame stubbornly resisting the cold dread that's taken root. Lukas is right.

For once in my life, I'm not alone in this.

I have him, Ryan, Alex, and Slade. My guys. My loves.

Drawing a shuddering breath, I nod. "Okay. Okay, you're right. We…we'll figure something out." I glance around my cubicle—former cubicle. "I guess I should pack up my stuff…"

"I'll help you," Lukas says immediately, grabbing an empty box.

Together, we start gathering my personal belongings. There aren't many—some photos, a few knick-knacks. Reminders of a life I'd fought so hard to build here.

Loading my pitiful box into Lukas's car a bit later, I feel numb. Hollow. Like I'm sleepwalking through a bad dream. I keep thinking I'm going to blink and find myself back at my desk, the last hour erased.

But it's real. The sympathetic looks, the whispers that followed us out of the office—all real.

Alison's hissed comments about using my father's connections to catapult me into a job I didn't deserve. The sneering judgment in the eyes of coworkers I'd thought were my friends.

"Hey." Lukas takes my hand as he starts the car. "What do you want to do? You want me to take you home? Or I can call the guys, have everyone come over to my place."

My throat tightens at the sincere concern in his voice, but I shake my head. "No, I think I do need some time to myself. I want to just be alone and process this for a bit," I tell Lukas quietly. "Maybe take a long bath with a glass of wine and have a good cry."

Lukas nods in understanding, though I can see the worry lingering in his eyes. "Okay, sweetheart. Whatever you need. I'll drop you off. But call me if you want company later, alright? Any of us. We're here for you."

"I know." I squeeze his hand. "Thank you."

The drive to my apartment is mostly silent. Lukas keeps hold of my hand the whole way, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on my skin.

It's a small comfort, but I'm grateful for it.

When he pulls up outside my building, Lukas shifts to face me. "Emma, listen to me. This isn't over. We're going to fight this, okay?"

"Sure, Lukas," I say, but my heart isn't in it. I know he wants me to be strong, but the farther we've driven from the practice, the farther away I feel from that world.

And the more the cold, hard reality of my situation has settled in.

I came so close to having everything I'd ever wanted.

But I'm Emma Collins. My life is a series of bad luck.

It was foolish of me to hope for anything else.