Chapter 32

Cha pter 32

Amber

As soon as I get to my car after my shift, I immediately dial Adam's number. "I thought you'd call," he says by way of greeting.

"What are you talking about?" I don't waste any time. "What do you have on Rico?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" he taunts.

"Yes, that's why I'm calling," I snap.

"And here I thought you just missed me."

"What do you have, Adam?"

"You're no fun anymore." I don't say anything. "Fine. Come over tonight and I'll show you."

"No, you can tell me on the phone."

"I don't think so."

"Adam, I am not playing games."

He laughs. "Oh, but aren't you?" I try for a calming breath, so I don't lose my sanity. "Fine. Meet me tomorrow for lunch, and I'll tell you."

"I'm not meeting you for lunch."

"Then I guess you won't find out."

I grind my teeth. "Fine. When and where?"

"Perfect. I'll meet you at Club 9 at noon. See you then."

"Wait. Adam." I throw the phone on the passenger seat because he hung up on me. "Ugh." I take a deep breath. "It's okay. I'll just meet him, find out what he has on Rico, and be done." I make the drive home in a daze; I can't stop thinking about tomorrow.

The next day drags. I barely slept last night because of being nervous about what Adam's going to say today. I'm too sick to eat anything all day. I make the short drive over to Club 9. I have no plans of actually having lunch with him; I just need to get the information and move on. I scowl at the place as I park. This is just the kind of place that Adam loves. It's upscale and expensive and serves ridiculous food in tiny portions. Honestly, I don't know how he gets enough to eat, being a hockey player and all. I try calling him, but he doesn't answer. I stare up at the ostentatious restaurant before I finally push my door open and begin the long walk inside. I ignore the looks I get from other patrons. I don't look anything like the people who eat here in my maternity jeans and the long soft sweater Rico gave me over a graphic tee that's stretched to fit around my belly. When I get inside, I finally convince the young host to take me back to Adam. When I finally get to his table, I'm fit to be tied. I lock him in my gaze. "We could have just met outside."

"And miss having a wonderful lunch together? Have a seat. I already ordered for you."

I take a calming breath and count to three, mostly so I don't reach over and strangle him. "I'm not having lunch with you, Adam. Just tell me what I came to know."

He takes a piece of bread out of the basket and takes a ridiculously long time to butter it before taking a bite. When he finally swallows, he looks up at me. I am about two seconds away from throwing his water at him. He smirks at me. "You may as well sit. I'm not talking to you until you do."

I slide into the booth across from him. "There. Are you good now?"

"Want some bread?" he asks, waving the bread basket in front of me.

"I don't want anything. Now, I've done everything you said. You need to deliver on what you said, or can I not trust your word for anything anymore?"

He scowls at me and pulls out his phone and slides it across the table to me. I stare at it for a moment before picking it up. I push play on the video that's pulled up. My stomach tightens, but I keep a blank expression on my face. I don't finish the video; it makes me sick to watch. I slide it back to him. "You went through all this for that? I was there that night, Adam. I remember the fight." I remember everything about that awful night, even you in bed with another woman! It's odd because it doesn't make me nearly as mad as it used to. I sit back against my seat and calmly stare him down. "This is a complete waste of my time." I make a move to slide out of the seat, but he stops me.

"Do you know why that video is a big deal?" I debate just leaving, but I want to get this all out in the open now. I don't want to have to deal with him again. I don't say anything; I just wait him out. "He can't fight."

When he doesn't say anything more, I sigh in frustration. "What are you talking about?"

"It's in his contract. The Green Thunder boys are the golden boys. If they get caught fighting off the ice, they're done."

My blood turns to ice. "What do you mean they're done?"

He smiles, and it's ruthless. "It's a breach of contract, and they're off the team. And I've got not one but two of those boys on a recording." He cocks his head to the side. "How do you think the Green Thunder boys will do without their captain or their goalie?"

My mind scrambles. "I don't believe you."

He shrugs. "You don't have to."

"My brother-in-law tangled with another player off the ice, and he was fine."

"Did he miss any games?" he asks.

I pause because I didn't really pay attention back then. Did he ?

"I don't really care what happened back then. All I know is that it's in their contract. I turn this video in to anybody in their organization, and those two are done."

"How do you know all this?" I demand.

"Does it matter?" I stare at him, still trying to decide if he's bluffing. He laughs. "You still don't believe me. How about you call the goalie and ask him? I bet he knows."

"Why are you doing this?" I ask him, keeping my voice emotionless.

"I'm not doing anything. I'm just letting you know."

"No, you want something. What, Adam?"

His eyes narrow, and he finally loses the charade. "You told the world that I was the father of your baby and that I left you. And then you flaunted your relationship with that goalie to the entire world."

I swallow at the very real hatred in his eyes. "Adam, whatever you think happened didn't. I have never told anybody that you were the father of my baby except my close family and friends. And I haven't flaunted anything."

"Oh please. Those photos of you and him at the pregnancy center?"

"You know how those reporters are. They're always following you guys around trying to get anything. So somebody got a picture of us. It's not a big deal."

"It is!" He slams his fist down on the table, making me jump. "I already lost a contract with a potential sponsor over it, and one of my long-standing contracts is possibly being pulled." He leans forward. "You and that baby are going to make my life miserable."

I work to keep my breathing steady. "Adam, I'm not—"

"Don't," he says viciously. "This is what you're going to do. You are going to break things off with the goalie." I'm already shaking my head, but he continues. "You and I will continue to date, just as we were before. Once the baby comes, I'll wait a little longer and then we will break up."

The thought of dating him, even for pretend, makes me sick. "I'm not doing this, Adam."

He leans forward. "Oh, but you already are." A bad feeling begins to form. "Look over there. You see that guy in the brown jacket?" I turn my head and search the room until I see a guy wearing a brown jacket. He waves at me and lifts a camera. I turn slowly back to Adam.

"What did you do?"

He leans back in my chair. "Made sure I had leverage. My buddy Steve works for...well anybody really. He sells photos to the highest bidder." Dread pools in my stomach, and I whip my head back around. But he's already gone. "Those photos will appear at the latest tomorrow sometime on some popular site somewhere. It will show that we're back together again. Or maybe it will come across that you're two-timing your beloved goalie. Not sure how it will be spun."

I stare at him. "Why are you doing this?"

"I already told you, Love. Nobody makes a fool of me. I'm not losing the life I have because of you ."

Realizing I've already lost, I hang on to what's left of my dignity. I just need out of here. I can fall apart when I get home, but I am not giving him the satisfaction of watching me fall apart now. I lean forward. "If I do this, you will destroy the video you have of Gunner and Rico. You won't threaten their place on the team?"

"Yes."

"And how do I know I can trust you?" I demand.

"You can't, Sweetheart. But what's the alternative? All you have to do is date me until the baby is born and the season ends, and then you can go on your way."

"Fine. But I'm not going to your house. Ever. And no coming to mine. No physical contact."

"You were always so uptight."

"Do you agree or not, Adam?"

He stands to his feet, so he's towering over me. "I think you forget who's holding all the cards, Sweetheart."

I grind my teeth. "What do I have to do to make it look like I'm dating you."

"Come to a few games. We'll go out a few times and get some photos snapped. Oh, and the gala. You need to be my date for the gala."

"Send all this in a text. Don't bother calling because I won't answer the phone." I stride away without looking back, hoping and praying my shaky legs will hold me up. Somehow, I make it to my car and to the library. I punch in right on time. I make it through my shift somehow; everything's seems to be in a fog. Adam texts me, but I ignore it. When I get home that night, I finally open his text. It contains all the information for the upcoming events we need to be together for. It includes a few hockey games, a few dates, and a gala. The first of which is a home game tomorrow night. Their stadium is a couple of hours away. I close my eyes in frustration when I realize I'll have to take off work early to get there for any of it, even though it's a late one. He ends the text with threatening to turn the video over if I tell Rico or anybody else for that matter what's going on. I toss my phone on the side of my bed and bury myself under my covers. I need to study, but I just can't face it tonight. My phone dings, and I'm afraid it's Adam again. It's worse.

Rico- hey, just checking in. hope i'm not waking you. i can't believe how much i miss you! how was your day?

I put my phone on silent and roll over as hot tears soak my pillow. Regret like I've never known comes roaring to the surface. I hate that all this is my fault. I'm reaping the consequences of my actions, and nobody can save me from them. I pull my pillow over my mouth to muffle my sobs, and I let my heart break into a million pieces. The shame and sorrow threaten to take me completely under. In a moment of weakness, I pick up my phone and read the text again. Before I can stop myself, I text a reply. Knowing this will probably be the last time he texts me, I say what I want to say to him.

Me- y ou're a really good guy, rico. don't ever change.

And then because I know I have to, I send one more text.

Me- things just aren't going to work out for us. i wish you all the best.

I put my phone facedown, so I don't see a reply and I try for sleep that I know probably won't come tonight.