Chapter 11 #2
Thoughts whirling, I tried to catch up. Atlas knew what he was talking about since he’d spent the past decade in the business, but I had no idea what the fuck I was doing.
When my brother had been in the NFL, he’d stayed away from Ashford Creek because our father would have ruined everything he had at the time.
Callum had sent money and kept his distance.
Kiera was different. “How do you handle it? People being in your business all the time?”
“I handle it because it’s part of my job.
I love playing hockey. It’s in my blood, and it’s something that I would do for the rest of my life if I could.
I gave up a lot to do it. So I deal with cameras in my face, and no privacy.
Everybody has a goddamn cell phone now that can snap a photo and put it on social media out of context.
If I had slept with the number of women that they thought I did, I wouldn’t have time to play hockey. ”
I snorted. “I don’t have social media.”
The star NHL goalie rolled his eyes. “I don’t run my own social media. There’s no need. And the comments just get ridiculous. But somebody sent them here. At least that’s what I think. I’ll talk to my management too. I’d let Kiera know. The secret’s out.”
My gaze shot to his. “You think Jeremiah knows where she is?”
“Is that the ex?” I nodded. “Maybe. You can get through the back alley here into the parking lot without dealing with cameras, hopefully. But I’ll make a distraction if I have to. I’m pretty good like that.”
“You’re an asshole, but I like you, Atlas.”
The other man reached forward and gripped my shoulder. “I like you too, Bodhi. And I like the fact that you’re out here. I haven’t seen you in too long.”
“Oh?”
“You’re out here, with your family. And yes, you had to deal with some bullshit, but you’re doing it. That woman’s good for you.”
I froze. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure, Bodhi. Whatever you say. Just go talk to her.”
I nodded tightly, then headed toward my car.
Thankfully, nobody smelled me along the way.
I shot a text to Callum for an update and told him thank you for handling the situation.
Then I headed to Kiera. My hands shook, and I told myself that this was fine.
We could handle this. I got through my front gate, latched it behind me, and made sure all the security was on.
There was no way anybody was going to be able to follow me and figure out where Kiera was.
But they could still find my business, still find my address.
There were so many ways to search for that shit these days.
I pulled in front of my house, and rather than going inside, I made my way to the cabin.
Kiera was there, music playing out the open window as she sang a melody softly under her breath.
Then she would pause in strumming the guitar and muttering to herself.
I knocked on the door, making sure I didn’t startle her, and let out a breath when she told me to come in.
“How was your night out?” She stood up, setting the guitar down, before her face fell. “What happened?”
“The media showed up at the bar. Looking for you.”
The pencil fell out of her hand, and she immediately came over to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. I pulled her toward me, kissing the top of her head. I ran my hand down her back, needing to just feel her. To make sure she was safe. I wasn’t going to let them hurt her. I refused to.
“Oh. I wonder how they found out? I mean, anybody could have snapped a photo and told them about Ashford Creek. But I thought I was safer than that.”
“Maybe somebody posted something, but it felt targeted. Do you think Jeremiah knows you’re here?”
The blood drained from her face, and I cursed.
“I’m sorry. But Atlas said that you should probably talk to your agent. Max, right? Or your team. Just get everything handled. I don’t know anything about that world. But he would know better.”
“Atlas was there tonight too? Must have been a big score.” She shook her head. “Let me text Max real quick, and then I’ll figure it out. I’m sorry your night got ruined.”
“It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” I blurted. She needed to know the truth. Needed to know why this was a bad idea. I was Icarus, flying too far too close to the sun. And just like before, I’d been burned. I refused to break her along the way, though.
“What’s wrong?” She reached out, her hand on my chest. I placed mine over hers and let out a breath.
“They knew. About the accusations. About who I was. They knew I’d be there.
And they were searching for you. Somebody told them.
Where you were, and maybe the connection to me.
They’re going to print that. And they’re going to dredge it all up again, and it’s going to stain you.
Maybe you should go stay with Callum. Or Teagan.
Or hell, Gabe. You’d be safer there.” It felt like a kick to the gut with each recommendation, but it was the only thing I could do in that moment.
They were going to hurt her because of my past. Because of the false accusations.
And Nathan being an asshole wasn’t helping.
There was going to be a front-page image somewhere of me throwing that man against the wall, and that would just be more evidence of how I was a horrible person. I should not be connected to Kiera.
“I’m so sorry. It had to be terrible. They had no right to bring that up. And it was a lie, you know that, right? Of course you do. But I hate that they’re dredging up old hurts.”
“They’re going to plaster your name with mine, because you’re staying here. And they don’t even know that we’re, well, we’re what we are.”
“We’ll deal with it. I’ll talk with my publicist and Max.
Everybody. Please, it’s—I don’t know. I don’t know what to say.
But I don’t believe those lies. And nobody should.
Using your family and those terrible things to hurt you is horrendous.
And I’m so sorry.” Her hands shook, and I pushed her hair back from her face, trying to gather my thoughts, or even my wits, at this point.
“It might get worse before it gets better. I know we said whatever this is, is just for when I’m here. But if they do put us together like that, they’re going to bring up things. And I don’t want them to hurt you.”
“I was just thinking that I don’t want to hurt you,” I cut in. “Being associated with me brings back those past words. All of that news that can never be erased from the internet.” Every accusation, every lie was etched in stone in people’s memories. And there was no taking that back.
“It’s not your fault. But being with me can make it worse for you.”
“You don’t get to blame yourself.”
She reached out and kissed my chin. “And you don’t get to blame yourself.”
“I’m not okay with what happened. I don’t like them pulling that shit back. And I want to kill Nathan. But that’ll just make things worse.”
“Maybe we can hire someone. Though that sounds premeditated. We’ll have to make it a surprise.”
I didn’t laugh because none of this was funny.
Instead, I just stood there, Kiera in front of me, wondering what the hell we were going to do.
Our moment of peace, of pretending, was over.
The real world was sticking its clawed fingers in, and I didn’t know a way to make our way out without either one of us being broken in the end.