11. Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
Duncan
“No,” I cut Finn off before he can persist with this unhinged idea he’s calling about. I toss my duffle bag in the back of my Acadia and slam closed the hatch. Sliding into the driver’s side, I shut the door, scrubbing my three-day-old stubble. “I’m struggling to keep my head in the game as it is, Finn. Being part of something like this isn’t going to help me.”
Ava being at David’s is affecting every area of my life. It’s bad now; what would it be like if I agreed to ‘fake dating’ and had actually to spend time with her? Touching her, kissing her—
“No,” I say, firmer this time as I turn over the ignition. “Count me out.”
“Duncan,” Finn’s voice surrounds me in the car. “Her agent is really concerned about what Vaughn could do. Caroline told me that based on the number of times Nathan has reached out to her, he’s probably quadrupled that with Ava. She’s starting to get concerned for Ava’s safety.”
“And?” I ask mulishly. The thought of Ava being harassed has my gut churning, but she’s not mine to protect. She made it clear that that’s not something she’d want from me, despite what a snapshot in time may depict. “How do you even know Ava’s agent?”
Turning from the parking lot onto the highway, I head toward home.
This entire day has been one crazy episode after another. This call from Finn is the icing on the cake. It all started when I got to the Arena for film, only to have my teammates grilling me.
As for ‘Tea Time’, it’s safe to say the guys had a field day with that one.
“Here’s our ‘brooding yet irresistibly handsome goalie’ now,” Spencer snickered when I walked through the locker room doors, causing everyone to catcall.
I narrow my eyes at him with a silent question as to what he’s talking about.
“Tea Time,” he yells. “You’re officially famous!”
“Now I know why you didn’t want to introduce me,” Wallace grumbles. “You wanted her for yourself.”
“Will someone tell me what the heck you’re all talking about?” I growl, glancing around the room. The faces staring back at me with dancing eyes and smirking lips are starting to make my blood boil.
Except for Spencer. The corner of Spencer’s eyes crinkled and every tooth in his mouth was showing.
“You don’t know Tea Time?” Davidson claps me on the back, pulling my attention away from Spencer. “The Pleasant Hollow gossip column?”
I stare at him blankly and he laughs, making me grimace.
“Hold on.” He heads to his locker and grabs something before returning to shove his phone in my face. “Here.”
I look down and read a few lines before grabbing his phone.
“What the devil?” I barked, feeling a muscle in my cheek tick as I read what was reported about Ava and me.
“Oh, that’s not the best of it, my friend,” he says excitedly, ripping the phone out of my hand before shoving it back in my face. The picture of Ava in my arms stared back at me, stark and unforgiving. Heat crawls up my neck as I remember the feel of her in my arms, the smell of sandalwood surrounding me. “The two of you look very cozy. Do you have any confessions for your teammates?”
“This isn’t what it looks like,” I mumble. Heat is creeping up my face, and my heart rate spikes. “I was just getting her away from the press.”
“I’d like to get her away from the press too,” one of the guys teases.
My fist clenches and I glare at him. He raises his hands in front of him before turning back to his locker.
“Geez, Denier. It’s really only fun when your nickname applies to the net.”
“That offer to talk still stands,” Davidson whispers close to my ear.
“Like I said—” I scowl, catching the glint in his eyes, “I’m good.”
My stomach clenches as his laughter reaches me. I’m so not good.
“Caroline is my best friend’s little sister,” Finn’s voice pulls me back to the conversation. “We go way back. When she called to tell me about Ava’s situation, I knew I wanted to help if I could.”
“Perfect!” I scoff. “You can be her ‘pretend’ boyfriend.”
As soon as the words leave my mouth, a burning sensation fills my stomach, and my hands tighten on the steering wheel. The thought of Finn dating Ava, even just for appearances, makes me uncomfortable.
The thought of anyone dating Ava has my blood boiling.
“Duncan, people want to see you and Ava together. Have you checked your social media account today?” I don’t even bother with a response. He knows I hate social media and that the Wolverines’ social media manager handles everything on my account. “People have always been intrigued by you.”
A snort falls from my mouth. I’ve never been a fan of the fame that comes along with being a professional hockey player. I like to keep my head under the radar, do my job, and stand out on the ice, not off of it.
Off of it, I just want to live my life.
I take my job seriously and am always available for team events, volunteering, and fundraising, but that’s it.
As for the fans? I love the fans. I just want to keep my private life private.
This thing with Ava would be public. Very public. And as much as I’d like to help her, I can’t.
“Finn,” my voice is hoarse as I run a hand down my face, surprised I’m admitting this out loud. “Ava and I have an… um…a complicated history. I’m not the right person to help her with this problem.”
“You’re exactly the right person. I don’t know anyone more intimidating than you are when you want to be. Nathan Vaughn’s ego needs someone like you to shut him down.”
I grip the steering wheel, my stomach knotting at the thought of Ava being in danger. Every ounce of me wants to keep her safe. Last night is the perfect example. I didn’t even hesitate when I saw her surrounded by those vultures.
I don’t regret what I did, but I’ve waited forever to hold her close to me, and now that I’ve done it, I want more of it. Of her.
The desire to be near her, to feel her pressed against me, and to protect her is so overpowering that it’s taking all of my self-control to stay in my lane.
The truth is I want to say yes to this ridiculous idea. I want to dive in head first. “What has Ava said about all of this?”
Did I actually utter those words? What is happening right now?
Finn, like a shark smelling blood in the water, pounces on my weakness. “She said she’d think about it.”
Of course she did! Did I really think that anything would change after last night? If Ava doesn’t want to do this, doesn’t want me, what I have to say about it isn’t important.
Disappointment floods me. I feel rejected all over again. I have to say no, my heart can’t handle the heartbreak again. The armor surrounding it has started to fissure.
Ava is already creeping her way back in. Not intentionally, I know, but it’s happening.
“Finn—”
“Duncan, just give it some thought before you shut it down. You know I’d never steer you in the wrong direction, right?”
“In my career, no. But this?”
“Look at Josh Owens and Adam Daniels,” Finn responds. His tone is light, so I know he’s only being partly serious. “Everything worked out for them.”
“Are you looking to change careers and become a matchmaker?” I scoff.
“Gosh, NO!” And I can’t help but chuckle at his response. “What I’m saying is that I wouldn’t suggest you do something if I thought it would hurt your career or you.”
I take in a slow, deep breath and then blow it out. Not believing I’m going to say yes to this. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Finn repeats.
“Yeah. I’ll do it.” I sigh.
“You’ll do it?”
“But,” I say firmly, shaking my head for saying yes when every inch of me is protesting— well, except for the part that wants to keep Ava safe and have an excuse to spend time with her—“Ava needs to be fine with it. Otherwise, I’m out.”
“Understood. I’ll let Caroline know,” his voice takes on a calming tone. “And Duncan? This is a good thing you’re doing. Nathan Vaughn is unpredictable right now, and there’s no saying what he’ll do.”
I clench my jaw and flex my hands around the steering wheel as I absorb his words.
If Nathan does anything to Ava, and I mean anything, I’ll make sure he regrets it. I don’t care how famous he is.
I pray I don’t regret it more.