Jake
Pulling up to the arena, there’s a lot of nervous energy in the air. I’m not sure what to expect as Kailyn and I park, but it definitely isn’t the group of people standing outside the entrance.
“What are they all doing here?”
Kailyn called her brothers to meet us here rather than at my house, but I’m shocked to also see Beckett, Connor, Hannah, Lainey, and Emilia.
Reaching across the center console, Kailyn grabs my hands and laces our fingers together.
Seeing her sitting next to me and wearing my jacket with my number and name on it both melts my heart and has me so turned on by her.
She’s taken to wearing my clothes when she’s over and now that we’re about to tell everyone about us, I think she’s ready to stake her claim on me.
I’m not mad in the slightest at the thought that this girl is mine, and I’m hers.
“They’re all here because I asked the twins to invite them. We’re a family, and we face this together. Plus, if we’re gonna take Eric down, then we need the numbers.”
Smiling gratefully at her, grateful for the family that’s standing outside those doors waiting for us, I squeeze her hand before we start to get out of the car.
We walk up to the group, Kailyn coming up on my side and lacing her hand in mine.
With just a simple touch, I know that I can face anything and be anything.
My world has done a full three-sixty in the last couple months, and yes things have changed so fast, but I wouldn’t change a thing knowing that this is where we end up.
“How are you both feeling?” Connor asks.
“I’m ready to get in there and demand to be heard. Until Eric is gone, as much as the team culture has changed, we’re still living in the same toxic shit as last season,” I say honestly.
All the guys nod along, remembering all of the toxicity that plagued our team the last couple years and how we’ve worked to overcome it. We won’t fully be rid of it until Eric is dealt with.
“I think we need to come up with a game plan. It’s safe to say you’ll get a suspension for what you did, but we need to make sure that the GM knows what has been happening.” Brandon adds.
“B’s right. I know Coach is with us, but that might not be enough,” Kailyn adds, squeezing my hand one more time to let me know she's here for me to lean on.
“So, what’s the play then?” Connor asks.
“We go in there, let them talk to Jake about what happened and get a read of the room, and go from there. We can’t come in hot, so let’s see what they have to say.”
“Alright then. Lead the way, Jake, and we’ll follow you.”
We all make our way inside the arena and to the conference office. The closer we get, the more my nerves start to pick up. As logical as Brandon’s outcome sounded of a suspension, I can’t help but feel like it might be more.
I don’t regret my actions.
If I had the choice to do it all over again, I’d do exactly the same thing, because while hockey has been my life for as long as I can remember, having Kailyn back in my life has changed things for me.
She’s my endgame, my reason to be and my partner in crime.
I’d do anything to protect her and love her with everything I have.
What I care more about is getting justice for Kailyn, Hannah, and all of the other people that Eric has managed to hurt while getting away with it.
I hate that he made her feel scared and like her body was being violated.
That even after all of this, he can still be let off the hook and she has to work with him every day.
I’m also enraged that Hannah’s had to do this alone for months because she didn’t have anyone to trust or tell until Kailyn.
It should never have happened, and I’ll make sure that they both get justice.
“Hey, I’m right here.” She must sense my nerves getting the better of me as she slows our pace and squeezes my hand that she hasn’t let go of once. “I know this is scary, but we’re in this together.”
I lean down to kiss the top of her head just as we stop in front of the door. “I don’t care about me, I care about what you went through. The fact that he can walk around like that, and you have to be in fear makes me so damn angry. If they don’t listen to you…”
“Jake.” She turns me to face her, her hands coming to cup my face and bring it down so our foreheads are pressed together.
“I’m just as scared as you are. There’s a small part of me that thinks that the GM will wash this all under the rug, but I’m choosing to have faith.
I’ve been running for so long, lost and alone, but I don’t want to do that anymore.
I’m going to fight for myself, for Hannah, and for every other person that he’s hurt, and if they don’t listen, we’ll make them.
This is my home, you are my home, and everyone around us.
” She pulls back slightly to look at everyone.
“They’re my family, our family. And I’m not afraid of that.
” Her words hit me right where they need to, reminding me that whatever happens, my family, the people that care about and love me are standing right here.
I pull her in by the waist and kiss her softly. “I love you, Kailyn. Thank you for being my rock. Thank you for coming back into my life, choosing me again, and fighting for us.”
“Thank you for not hating me and pushing me away, even when I deserved it.” Tears are pooling in her eyes, dripping down her cheeks, and I wipe them away gently with my thumbs. “I love you, Jake, and I’m so grateful you’ve given me a second chance to hold your heart. I’ll never break it again.”
“It was always yours to hold.”
With one more kiss, she lets go of my face, stepping back to wipe her eyes on my jacket she borrowed, before straightening and turning back to the door. “You ready?”
Reaching up, I knock on the door with one hand as I grab hers with my other one, ready to face whatever happens with her by my side.