26. Jessica
Chapter twenty-six
Jessica
W hen I hear the knock at the door, it surprises me. The only person I expect to come to the house tonight is Eric, but he wouldn’t come knocking at the door. It’s late, and I know he’s had a rough day after practice. I was at the arena with Jason to meet with Allison and the PR team to assess future events for the team and check the contracts of each player to see who has fulfilled their community service hours mandated by the team for the team’s image and who hasn’t.
I heard through the rumor mill all about this Bart guy who has it out for Eric. Enough to know Eric is probably not in a good mood. His text earlier was short, just a “see you soon,” and I could tell from that alone he wasn’t in a good mood.
What I’m not expecting is to open the door and find my dad standing there, dressed in one of his slick LA suits, looking completely out of place in Colorado.
“Jessica,” he says smoothly, as though he’s surprised to find me at my own house. “You didn’t answer my calls.”
I cross my arms, bracing myself. “Dad, I didn’t answer because I already told you my answer.”
Dad had obviously felt terrible about saying he was going to marry that little bimbo of his because his latest tactic is making me a legitimate job offer to work in his entertainment law firm for double what I make with the Avalanche. That offer is dead on arrival.
Before I can say anything else, I hear footsteps behind him. I turn to see Eric walking up the path toward the house, shoulders hunched like he’s carrying the weight of the world on them. His expression shifts when he sees my dad, his eyes narrowing slightly in confusion.
“Uh, hello,” Eric says, stopping a few feet away, clearly not sure what’s going on. His eyes dart between my dad and me, and I can see the question forming in his mind.
My dad, Nigel, doesn’t waste any time. “I was just stopping by to see if Jessica had reconsidered my offer. Trixie and I are heading back to LA soon. I’d like an answer before we leave. I’ve been thinking more about it, honey,” he says, turning his full attention back to me. “You’d be the perfect fit at the firm in LA. You’ve got the experience, the name,” he puffs his chest out, “my name, and the connections. It’s the right move, and you know it.”
I can feel Eric’s eyes on me as I respond, my voice tight. “I told you before, Dad, I’m not interested in leaving Denver. My life is here now.”
Nigel lets out a little sigh, like he’s disappointed but not surprised. “Jess, you’re selling yourself short by staying out here. I don’t get it. You’ve always been ambitious, always aiming for bigger things. You could be working with celebrities, high-profile cases, not stuck in sports law.”
“Dad, I love my job,” I say firmly, my patience wearing thin. “And I’m not stuck in anything. I’m staying because this is where I want to be.”
Nigel raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “If that’s what you really want.” He glances over at Eric, like he’s sizing him up, trying to figure out what kind of role he plays in all of this. “I just hope you’re not staying for the wrong reasons.”
That’s when Eric speaks up, his voice low but steady. “She’s got a good thing going here, Nigel. I’m sure you can see that.”
My dad doesn’t respond immediately, just gives Eric a look that says he’s not going to be convinced that easily. “Well, Jessica, I don’t have to tell you that I’m disappointed, if this is your final decision,” Nigel says, his tone light but his words heavy.
I bite back a retort, trying to stay calm. Here comes the guilt trip. I’m not sure which is worse, that or the cold shoulder. Dad’s manipulation tactics are pretty basic and tiresome. “I’m not going to change my mind, no matter how many times you bring this up.”
Nigel gives me one last lingering look before nodding, then turns to leave. “Alright. I’ll let you get back to… whatever this is,” he says, gesturing vaguely between Eric and me. He walks off, his expensive shoes clicking on the sidewalk, and I feel like I can finally breathe again when the door closes behind him.
There’s a long, uncomfortable silence in the house now. Eric’s standing there, still staring at the door, his hands clenched at his sides. I can’t read his expression, but I can tell he’s processing something. And I’m not sure I want to hear what it is.
Finally, he turns to me, his voice careful. “So… your dad offered you a real job in LA? A big role in his firm, I’m guessing?”
I nod, trying to keep my emotions in check. “Yeah. He’s been after me for months to leave NYC where I was and then leave Denver and join his firm.” I shrug, like it’s no big deal.
“His interest in me working with him comes and goes. Right now, thanks to his little fiancée, he wants me to work entertainment law, big celebrity cases, right alongside him, to be this big weird happy family with his new wife.”
It hurts to say that word, but it’s the reality I have to deal with. “But I’ve told him over and over, it’s not what I want.”
Eric lets out a low whistle, shaking his head. “That’s… that’s huge, Jess. I know this is your dad we’re talking about, so it’s hard for you to see this clearly. But you’ve got a shot at something major there.”
I cross my arms, defensive now. “It’s not what I want, Eric. I can’t work with him for starters, and I also want to build a career of my own. He should just be happy I went into law in the first place! I like what I do here. I’m happy.”
“Are you?” His voice is soft, but there’s something else behind it. Something that makes my stomach twist.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I snap, already on edge from the encounter with my dad.
He shrugs, but there’s tension in his shoulders. “It just sounds like… I don’t know. You’ve got a chance to go for something glamorous and hugely impactful in LA, something that would pay you well. And you’re turning it down. I don’t get it.”
I stare at him, my irritation rising. “Do you not know me at all? Geez! Eric! I’m not taking it because I don’t want it! Just because it’s flashy and high-profile doesn’t mean it’s what I want for my life. Not everyone’s chasing after the next big thing.”
His eyes darken a little, and I can see something shift in him. “At least you’ve got someone offering you something like that,” he says quietly. “At least you’ve got someone looking out for you. You have family.”
His words hit me like a slap, and I realize what he’s getting at. He’s talking about his mom, about the fact that she’s been out of his life for so long. About how he doesn’t have anyone pulling strings for him or offering him opportunities. He’s out here on his own, fighting for everything he’s got.
“That’s not fair,” I say, my voice rising. “You think it’s easy having my dad push me into something I don’t want? Just because he’s offering me something doesn’t mean he’s really looking out for me.”
Eric shakes his head, his frustration clear. “At least he’s there , Jess. My family… I don’t have that. I don’t have anyone.”
I feel something snap inside me, my patience wearing thin. “You could go talk to her, you know,” I say, my voice sharp. “Your mom’s out there. She’s not that far away. Go out to Las Vegas and see her. Go to the shelter and talk to her.”
Eric flinches, his expression hardening. “It’s not that easy.”
I scoff, unable to hold back. “Oh, please. You’re just afraid. Afraid of what she’ll say, afraid of what you’ll feel if you actually face her. You think my life’s perfect just because my dad’s around? Guess what, Eric—family dynamics suck, no matter what. We all have our shit to deal with.”
The words hang in the air between us, both of us breathing hard, glaring at each other. I can feel the tension crackling, and for a second, I wonder if we’ve just become enemies.
Eric’s face softens, just a little. “You’re right,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair. “I know you’re right. It’s just… hard.”
I let out a frustrated breath, my anger still simmering. “Yeah, well, facing my dad in the present is hard, too. You don’t get a free pass just because your mom’s been out of your life.”
We stand there, staring at each other, the weight of everything we just said pressing down on us.
Before either of us can say anything else, our phones buzz at the same time. We both glance down at our screens, and I feel my stomach drop when I see the text.
It’s from Allison, the PR lady for the Avalanche.
Allison: Hey, we need you guys at another charity event this weekend. It’s the last big holiday thing, and the team wants to make a good impression. You’ll need to go as a couple.
I look up at Eric, and he’s staring at his phone too, his expression unreadable.
We just look at each other, both of us too lost in our own separate feelings to even argue. The idea of putting on the act again, pretending everything’s perfect when it’s anything but… it feels like the worst timing for that.
“I don’t know if I can even do this,” I groan dramatically, more to myself than to him.
Eric looks up at me, his face amused but tired. “Yeah,” he says quietly. “Pretending you’re not a pain in my ass for a whole evening at an event?”
I laugh, the tension broken.
He winks at me. “That would be almost impossible.”
We both know we’re going to do the event anyway. Because that’s what we signed up for. The fake relationship, the pretending, the charade. And if I’m being honest, I am not sorry for pushing Eric tonight about seeing his mom. His heart needs it, and so does his mind. The sooner he learns the truth, whatever it is, the better.