Chapter 31

Chap ter 31

Amber

Thursday night, I find myself at Bri's along with Stephanie to watch the game. I debated going because it's been a long week, and I'm tired. But Bri practically begged me, and tonight is a late game. I get to her house a little after ten-thirty. "Amber," Bri says, hugging me tightly. "I'm so glad you came." She steps back so I can get through the door.

"Hey Amber," Stephanie calls out from the living room where she's already sprawled out on the couch with snacks all around her.

"Got enough snacks?" I ask with a smirk.

"You can never have too many snacks. Come join us." She pats the couch next to her even as she throws her hands up in the air. "Score!"

Just like that, my tiredness fades, and I sink into the couch to see what's happening. "How are they doing?"

"Dominating," Stephanie says with a wide grin as she throws back a handful of popcorn. I stare at her. "What?" she asks.

I shake my head. "It just always cracks me up. You two are or were like the least two people into sports ever."

"Well yeah until we discovered hockey. I mean have you seen our men?" she asks, wiggling her eyebrows.

Thinking of Rico—his muscles for days, bronzed skin, dark hair, and tattoos—I say, "Yeah, I get it."

Stephanie laughs. "Welcome to the dark side."

"Dark side?" Brielle asks with a frown, settling in with us. "There's no dark side."

"Have you seen Aiden play?" I ask dryly.

"Okay, yeah, you have a point."

Stephanie lifts her juice bottle. "To the sexy men we love who decimate on the ice."

"And off the ice," Brielle adds.

Stephanie lifts an eyebrow. "Is that a personal testimony?"

Brielle's face turns red, and she sputters as Stephanie and I laugh. "That's not what I meant."

"Sure sounded like it," I throw out before stealing some popcorn. I turn my attention back to the tv just in time to see Rico make a save. I can't help the smile that tugs at my lips. It's a pretty easy win for the guys, just as it was supposed to be. I pause with popcorn halfway up to my mouth when Rico takes off his helmet and joins the guys in celebration. I'm still staring a few minutes later when he's interviewed briefly after the game. It's so weird to see him on screen after a game like that. He looks so intimidating and formidable, and yet I know how gentle and patient he is with me.

As if she can hear my thoughts, Bri's voice reaches me. "Rico's a really nice guy."

"Yeah, unlike that other loser you were dating," Stephanie adds. She jumps when Bri hits her. "What? She's not dating him anymore; I thought it was safe to talk about him now."

"You didn't like him either." It's not really a question, more a statement of sorts.

"I didn't even meet him; I just didn't like who you became when you were dating him. That was enough for me to know I wouldn't like him."

"Yeah." I sigh. "I'm not really sure where my head was for that time in my life."

"Up your backside," Stephanie says without missing a beat.

I shake my head but don't argue. After a huge yawn, I stand up. "I gotta go; I have classes tomorrow."

"Do you want to crash here, so you don't have to drive home tired?" Bri asks.

"It's tempting," I admit. "But I need to be home, so I can be ready for classes." I manage to push myself out of the couch and onto my feet. "Thanks for letting me watch the game here."

"Any game," Bri says, and I know she means it.

"Neither of you travel to the away games?"

"Every once in a while," Stephanie admits. "But it's a lot of work and it's not like I see Sebastian while I'm there. And I hate away games because it gets crazy when you're on the opposing team."

"What she said," Bri says, collecting the paper plates and popcorn bowl. I help her with pickup before heading to the door. "Love you, Sis," she says, hugging me.

"Love you too, Bri."

I text Rico on my way to my car.

Me- good game tonight

I don't hear back from him before I go to bed, but that doesn't surprise me. I figure he has a lot going on behind the scenes. The next morning, I check my phone and sure enough, there's a text from late last night.

Rico- you watched?

He probably figured I was asleep because he didn't text after that. I quickly text him back.

Me- i did. i had to make sure you actually did something out there on the ice.

I grin thinking of him reading that; I love razzing him about staying in the net all night. After checking on my mom and making sure she's good for the day, I head out. I ace one of my exams and feel good about my other classes before I head over to the library. I eat the banana and nuts I packed before heading into the library.

Mrs. Randolph sits behind the counter but looks up at me over her glasses. "You still feeling good?" She hasn't let go of my "episode" the other day. "No more drama?"

I don't let her words bother me. "Well, you know me—I'm all about drama."

I get to work shelving returned books and help several students with various assignments they need to do research for. I'd just returned to the front desk when I hear a commotion. I look up to see a group converging on the front desk. Suddenly, there are several cameras and video cameras pointed in my direction. I stare in confusion, trying to figure out what in the world is going on. "There she is."

My stomach knots. Adam. " What are you doing here?" I ask before I can even think about it. He grins at me. It's amazing how I used to do anything for that grin. Now the sight of it makes me sick. It's not warm, not like Rico's is. Has it always been that cold and empty?

" Coming to see my girl, of course."

I stare at him, but before I can say anything, there's like a half dozen people clamoring for my attention.

"Is it true that you're carrying Adam Grey's baby?"

"When are you due?"

"How come you haven't been to any of his games?"

"What about the fact that you were spotted at a Green Thunder game wearing the goalie's number?"

"When's the wedding?"

I can't respond to a single question; I'm too in shock to say anything. "Did you all check in with campus security?" Mrs. Randolph asks, coming and standing next to me. "I didn't hear from them, so I'm going to assume you didn't. You all need to clear out now and don't come back again until you've run it through the proper channels. Go. Shoo."

They must take her seriously because one by one, they begin to clear out. I fix my gaze on Adam as fury burns through me. Gone is the scared woman of the other day. Today, I'm just angry. I walk around the front of the desk to where he stands. "I can't believe you just did that."

Making sure no reporters are still around, he turns back to me, a condescending smile on his face. "What? Came to see my girl?"

"I am not your girl," I practically hiss at him. "You didn't want me or my baby."

" Our baby," he corrects.

"No." I stand strong. "You didn't want her, and you certainly don't want me. I don't know why you're doing any of this, but it needs to stop."

He leans forward. "I'm not going anywhere, Sweetheart." The way he says it is so different than the way Rico says it.

"Don't call me that," I snap. "You need to stay away from me."

"Or what? You going to get your boyfriend to come after me?"

I pause. "Is that what this is all about? Is this about Rico? You need to get this through your head. I'm not with you anymore. I'm with Rico."

He grabs ahold of my arm and squeezes. "If you think for one minute, I'm going to let you go so you can be with that idiot, you have another thing coming to you."

"I suggest you take your hand off my arm right now, Adam." I narrow my gaze at him.

"Or what?" he sneers.

"Or I will report your abuse to the police."

He scoffs. "You can't be serious." I'm deadly serious. And to prove it, I add, "This isn't the first time you've put your hands on me like that," I remind him as I take a step back. "I don't want anything to do with you; you need to leave me alone."

He releases my arm but takes a step closer. "You need to stop flaunting your relationship with Garcia."

"Why, Adam? So, you don't look bad? So the reporters don't figure out that you got me pregnant and then left me high and dry while you slept your way through your harem of women?"

He clenches his jaw. "I will destroy you and that goalie if you continue with this. Two can play this game."

I shake my head, feeling a headache coming on. "This is not a game. I'm not," I pause. "We're not doing anything to you."

"You are destroying my credibility," he says in a low voice. His lip curls up in disgust. "My coach even asked me about you. It's not my fault you didn't use protection and got knocked up, though I'm sure that's what you were after. Congratulations. You did it; you got pregnant. Just know, you won't get a penny out of me. I already told my lawyers everything."

"I don't want anything from you, Adam."

"Sure you don't. Just know this." He steps close. "There is no length I won't go to make sure I can still play hockey for my team. I have a really good contract with them, and you won't ruin that for me."

"Why would I even do that?" I demand.

"It's time for you to go," Mrs. Randolph says.

He doesn't even glance over at her. "I'll go when I'm good and ready to go."

Anger burns through me. "You'll go now because she asked you to."

He scoffs and shakes his head. "I'm telling the world that we're together, and you'd better back that story up."

"No, Adam. You want nothing to do with me or the baby. I'm not going to—"

He leans close to my ear, and I jerk back. But he grabs my arm, stilling me. "Then your goalie can kiss his career goodbye."

I go still. "What are you talking about?" My words are a whisper.

He leans back so he can see my face. When he grins, my stomach turns. He's got something up his sleeve. He dances backwards. "That's for me to know. Just know this—if you don't get on board with this, with us, I will give something to the media and his career will be over."

I stare at him, unable to say a single word. He winks and then spins and walks away. I stare long after he's gone through the front door. Rico's career. Everything he's worked for. I walk back to my seat in a state of shock and feel like I'm going to throw up. That feeling becomes less like a feeling and more like a reality, and I make my way to the bathroom where I unload the contents of my stomach. I knew Rico was too good for me, and now he's going to have to pay the price for something he didn't do.

I have to figure out a way to fix this.