Chapter 49
FORTY-NINE
JJ
“Look at the bright side here. At least we can serve her now,” my father says as he settles on the couch in our living room.
By the time we were dressed, there was a swarm of reporters outside the brownstone.
I pace the living room, feeling trapped. We can’t even leave our damn house. Aiden snuck in through the back and got Vivi and the kids out of here. Avery is still with my mother. Thank fuck. Winnie and Hope are in the kitchen with Adeline, trying to keep her from freaking out.
Because yeah, this is bad.
Tabitha is using the photo of us last night as proof that I breached the fidelity clause of our prenuptial agreement. She seems to have forgotten the dozen or so affairs she’s had over the years. Never mind that we’re fucking separated so I can do whatever the fuck I want.
God, I hate the woman. It’s been months. She couldn’t find the time to talk to her daughter but somehow got a publicist and an attorney to fabricate this ridiculous story that Adeline and I have been having an affair for years.
She’s using pictures from the Olympics, alleging that she and I were already engaged and that while she was giving birth to our child, I was gallivanting around with Adeline. It’s absurd. But there’s just enough of the truth to push the narrative, and the narrative isn’t fucking good.
Fire burns in my veins. “I don’t want her served; I want her dead.”
Dad arches a brow. “You’ve done enough of that for now.”
I whip around, a strangled sound escaping me.
He merely chuckles. “You think I don’t keep tabs on you?” He shakes his head. “I would have done the same thing if someone hurt your mother.” He shrugs, nonchalant. “Hell, I did. But we’re not involving Frank in this.”
I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. “I just want her gone. Avery doesn’t even ask about her anymore. And Adeline doesn’t deserve this.”
“We can certainly agree on that.” Beckett stalks into the living room, and my heart rate skyrockets.
Shit. When did he get here?
In a button-down shirt, without a tie, and a pair of dark slacks, he’s all business, and he looks pissed.
He nods at my father in greeting before turning his glare on me. “Sit.”
“Beckett—”
“Sit,” he growls.
Exhaling, I drop to the couch beside my dad.
“You told me nothing was going on,” he says. His tone and his expression leave no room for stretching the truth.
“Nothing was going on when I told you that. But I’ve always had feelings for Adeline,” I say. “I think you know that. But she wasn’t open to anything so long as she was my coach.”
He drops his head back. “Fucking hell, it’s been going on that long? Tell me there’s no truth to what Tabitha is saying about the Olympics.”
I grunt, my lip curling. “I didn’t even know about Avery until after the Olympics. Tabitha and I never even dated.” I inhale, reining in what little control I still possess. “I only proposed to her after I thought Adeline had moved on.”
God dammit. I’m still so fucking angry at how stupid I was. How reckless. Mean.
I tried to punish the only woman I’ve ever loved by marrying someone else, and I fucked everything up.
Dad pats my knee, his touch soothing me just a fraction.
“Fine. Good. We’ll craft a statement denying everything. And you’ll move out,” Beckett says evenly. “Today.”
“What? No.” I launch myself to my feet.
He’s lost his mind if he thinks I’ll give up Adeline that easily.
Glowering, he angles forward. “What part of my statement sounded like a question? This isn’t up for discussion.
” He shakes his head. “This is a mess, and you won’t take Addie down with you.
You’ll end it. You’ll stay clear of one another.
And you’ll get your divorce wrapped up. Focus on your daughter. I’ll worry about mine.”
My instinct is to yell. To tell him to go fuck himself. Adeline is mine. But my father squeezes my leg, and I tamp down on my anger. Beckett is only looking out for his daughter. I got us into this mess. It’s up to me to find a way out. Without giving up Adeline. That part is nonnegotiable.
“Daddy.”
The three of us turn at the sound of her voice.
She’s standing in the entryway to the living room, her brows furrowed, her eyes red and heavy with exhaustion. Her hair is a mess since it hasn’t seen a brush yet today. She slipped on one of my oversized Bolts sweatshirts after her shower and we crawled back into bed so I could hold her.
Beckett walks toward her. “Are you okay?”
As he approaches, she holds up a hand, stopping him. “I’m fine.”
He studies her, forehead creased like he doesn’t believe it. “Gavin mentioned—” He shakes his head and glares at the floor. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
She zeroes in on me, her expression full of pain. Heartbreak. But when she looks back at her father, she stands taller and gives a quick nod. “JJ got to me before he could hurt me. JJ loves me, Daddy. And I love him.”
Beside me, my father clears his throat and shifts. “I agree with Beckett.”
I jolt, a sense of betrayal slapping me in the face. Dad knows how I feel about Adeline. He’s privy to all I’ve been doing to make this work.
I look at him, my heart cracking in two, unable to speak.
His eyes soften. “She’s going after everything, JJ. Without the prenup, it’s all up for grabs.”
I throw out my hands. “She can have it. I don’t give a fuck about money. I want Avery and Adeline. That’s it.” I drag my hands down my face. “She can have everything else. I don’t care about it. I don’t need it.”
The money, the houses, the cars, none of it means anything if I don’t have my daughter and Adeline. That’s all I ever was to Tabitha—dollar signs. And she used our daughter in her schemes.
If she wants my money so badly, she can have it. But only if that means she stays away from Avery.
“Fine, but what about Adeline’s career?” Beckett asks, turning my way. “Because if she stays with you, everything she’s worked for comes into question. Dating a teammate? It’s messy. It looks bad.”
“Right, but it’s not unethical,” Adeline points out.
“It doesn’t matter.” He sighs, focusing on her like he thinks he can get through to her.
“The press will still destroy you. In the eyes of the media, you stole Tabitha’s husband.
It’s a tale as old as time. I’m not saying it’s fair, but this has always been your dream.
Are you really willing to throw all of it away? ”
I stand and stride across the room. “No, she isn’t.”
Beckett’s nostrils flare, his jaw ticking. “If she stays with you, she is.”
I shake my head, a sense of peace washing over me. “No. I’ll retire. Then she’s not dating a teammate.”
Adeline lets out a disbelieving scoff. “You’ll what?”
I tug her closer and press a hand to her cheek. “I don’t want it if I can’t have you.”
She searches my face, brow creased in confusion. “You can have me. This is ridiculous. Tabitha already ruined things once. I won’t let her do this to us again.”
I stroke her cheek. “She won’t. But Avery has to come first. And she doesn’t have a mother who gives a shit—”
“Right, but I care.”
A genuine smile plays at my mouth. But deep in my soul, I know this is the right decision.
“I know you do, and I’m so thankful she has you in her life.
But this is my responsibility. Avery has to be my number one priority, and while she needs me, the Bolts don’t.
They have you. And you deserve this time to shine. ”
“JJ.” Voice breaking, she shakes her head.
“Either way, I planned to announce it at the end of the season. Avery is almost five. She’s starting kindergarten next fall. She needs stability and I want to give her that.”
Adeline’s shoulders rise and fall with a bewildered sigh. “I hate this.”
I press my forehead to hers. “I know. And that’s another reason I love you.
You always have my back. But I’m not upset,” I promise her.
“I can’t wait to cheer you on from the stands with our girl at my side.
Can’t wait for you to show her what a strong woman can do.
You’re such a good role model and we’re both so lucky to have you.
I won’t do a thing to tarnish that. You deserve this career, Adeline.
Like I told you years ago, you’re going to be a legend in the NHL and I am going to be your biggest fan. ”
Eyes filling with tears, she wraps her hand around my neck and presses her lips to mine. Lost in the feel of her, I swipe my tongue into her mouth and settle my hands at her waist.
Only when a throat clears beside us do I remember we’re not alone. Jolting backward, I rough a hand down my face. Fuck.
“Sorry, Daddy,” Adeline says sweetly, but rather than release me, she turns and settles against my chest so we both face her father.
With a shake of his head, he lets out a heavy sigh. “No one is retiring.”
“Beckett, it’s what he wants,” my dad says before I can formulate a response. “We’ve been planning this. He knew he couldn’t remain her player, so as long as she was a coach, this was the plan.”
Frown deepening, Adeline turns to me.
I nod, eyes locked with hers. “I told you I was figuring it out. You and I were always the plan, baby. And I’m serious. This is what’s best for Avery.”
“Fine,” Beckett says, like he has any say in the matter. “But after the season is over. Like you said, Avery goes to kindergarten next year. You’re not retiring midseason because someone isn’t getting her way. We’ll figure it out.”
Adeline throws her arms around her father. “Thank you, Daddy.”
He hugs her tight. “I’d do anything for you,” he tells her, voice choked.
If the way his eyes mist over is any indication, he knows what happened with Dirk last night.
I don’t blame him for being emotional. For coming in here guns blazing. He only wants to protect his little girl. Even if she’s nearly taller than he is.
“But how will we deal with the press?” Adeline glances back at me.
“We go with the truth,” Beckett says matter-of-factly.
Adeline’s brows tug together. “The truth?”
Smiling, he looks from his daughter to me. “Yeah. And fortunately, we have access to a magazine article that’ll help us do it.”
“The New Romantics,” Adeline whispers, turning to me. She sighs, her body deflating. “But it’s been focused on me dating other people.”
“Yeah, but the world loves a love story,” he reminds us.
“Even if it’s a messy one. Especially when it’s about two people who have been best friends all their lives.
Tell them the truth,” he says. “Tell them how you fell in love. About your shared love of the game and how it brought you closer. Tell them the truth.” He puts his hands in his pockets and eyes my father.
“Seemed to work for both your father and for me. We both made a mess of things before we got it right, wouldn’t you say, Hanson? ”
My dad dips his chin, a hint of a smile breaking through.
Beckett nods in return. “We’ll help you get it right.”
Adeline searches my face, a thoughtful frown marring hers. “What do you think?”
“I could talk about why I love you all day long,” I tell her, grasping her hand. “It’ll be an easy story to sell.”
Face turning pink, she takes a deep breath. “Okay, let me go talk to Winnie and Hope. And I should probably call Savannah and Josie, see what they think. Maybe they’ve got ideas for how to spin for it.”
She leans in and presses a kiss to my cheek, her mind working.
I can’t help but chuckle. She’s already focusing on this next project, and I guarantee that by the end of the day, she and the girls will have a damn good plan for how to handle it.
Pretty sure our money is wasted on publicists and attorneys. That group of women is full of better schemers than any expert we could pay. And they have my girl’s back.
I don’t care how I look when it’s all said and done as long as Adeline and Avery are protected, and I have faith that Savannah will make sure of it.
I’ve never been so thankful that my mom owns this magazine. She wouldn’t publish anything that could hurt either of us.
Once Addie has disappeared through the doorway to the kitchen, I turn to Beckett. “I thought you didn’t want me with your daughter.”
He eyes me, his mouth turned down. “Were you really willing to give it all up?”
Of course I was. But it’s not a hardship the way he thinks it is.
I give him a rueful smile. “A wise man once told me that he’d give his life for the ones he loves. I’m not giving it all up, sir. I’m gaining everything.”
Beckett nods. “That’s why you’re the right person for my daughter.” He holds out a hand.
I step closer, sliding my palm against his.
Rather than shake my hand, he pulls me in for a hug, slapping my back hard. “Welcome to the family, son.”