Chapter 36
Iwas icing my shoulder when the buzzer from downstairs went off. I called down and was surprised to hear Jill’s voice, and she didn’t sound happy. What had I done now? Her voice sounded snippy, and I groaned after buzzing her up. I met her at the door and was pleasantly surprised she’d brought Chloe with her. Chloe yipped and jumped on me when she saw me.
“Hey, girl, I’m so happy to see you too,” I said, petting her as she frantically brushed up against me. Jill waited for the reunion to end, and I let them inside. Jill’s face was ruddy, and she seemed a little out of breath.
“Did you walk here?”
“Yes. I needed the exercise.”
“It’s more than a half-hour walk.”
Her blue eyes were trained on me, and I could see the rage.
“Yes, I know how long it is,” she said, peeling off her jacket.
She had on a V-neck pink knit sweater and bootcut leggings that showed off her great body. I wanted to pull her into a kiss, but I had the feeling she’d kick me in the nuts if I tried. She flung a piece of paper at me.
“What’s this?”
I took the paper from her and looked it over. I had no idea what it was. A bank statement of some kind? As I read it, I realized it had to do with Jill’s student loans, and by the looks of it, they were paid off, but the bank wanted to keep her ensnared with a line of credit or some other loan. I handed it back to her.
“Congrats?”
She bit her lip, and I thought she might slug me.
“Don’t be a smart-ass.”
I threw my hands up. “I have no idea what you’re talking about or what this is. Do you want to explain?” Now I was getting a little frustrated. “Do you need advice on lines of credit?”
She narrowed her gaze, and if I hadn’t known better, I thought she might charge me.
“You paid off my student loans!”
“I did no such thing!”
She moved in closer, pointing the paper at me. “We are going to do this? You’re going to pretend you know nothing about this?”
“No, I’m not going to pretend because I actually know nothing about this.”
She stared at me and her balled fist unfurled. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “If you didn’t pay this off, who did?”
“Again, I have no idea. Did you try calling your bank? Or was your first instinct to come over here and blame me?”
Sure, there was some snark in my voice, but she’d come in here with a head full of steam after weeks of no contact, and started shooting accusations my way. I had a right to be a bit pissed.
She let out an exasperated sigh. “I assumed it was you, trying to get in my good graces.”
“Then it’s a good thing I didn’t do it. But since you’re here and came all this way, why don’t you stay a bit? Can we at least hang out and talk?”
I’d tried to mute the hope in my voice, but I was sure I looked a little desperate. I could see her mulling the idea over, and when she dropped her shoulders, I knew I had a chance. “Fine. We probably should talk.”
I had no idea if that was good or bad, but I was going to take my chances. I hung up her coat, and she looked around my condo. She’d never been here before, and probably wasn’t impressed with my minimalist style. I didn’t really care for things, and had the essentials only. Then she zeroed in on the ice bag.
“Are you injured?”
“Just an old shoulder injury acting up. It’s nothing. Can I get you anything? Did you eat?”
“Yes. Before I came over.”
“How about a beer? I don’t have any white wine.”
“I’d love one.”
I got the beers, and she and Chloe sat on my plush gray sofa, but Jill didn’t look comfortable, like she wanted to bolt at any second. I’d waited so long to talk to her, and the last thing I wanted to do was blow this. I handed her the beer and sat on my gaming chair. I could see she’d taken in my TV setup.
“I had no idea you were this much of a gamer.”
“I find it relaxing.”
She sipped her beer, and I hated how uncomfortable we both were. I couldn’t let this go on. “I’ve missed you, Jill,” I said.
She looked at me, her face expressionless. “The fact you didn’t tell me about Orla makes me so angry. Why couldn’t you trust me?”
“It wasn’t about trust. At first, I thought the whole thing would go away, and no one would ever need to know. Then Lex got himself into trouble, and shit started happening. I should have told you all from the start, but I think I was worried that you’d all lose respect for me for screwing around with a teammate’s wife. I should have never done it, and I have so many regrets. I’ll do what I have to in order to make it right.”
She set down her beer and frowned. “I thought we had a connection, and I told you so many things I’ve told no one else, and you still didn’t tell me about Orla. Do you know how much extra work and stress this has caused?”
“I know. And I’ll do anything it takes to make it up to you. These last few weeks without you have sucked. No, worse than that. I miss you. I miss everything about you.” I closed my eyes, trying to come up with the right words. “You mean a lot to me, and the way I feel about you is so different from anything I’ve felt before. I want us to make it.”
She bit her lip, and I knew I was getting through, but when her gaze settled on me, I still saw the hurt and anger.
“I need to think about this, okay? I’m not ready to deal with us. I’ve had so much to deal with already.”
I wanted to ask about her dad, but if she’d wanted to tell me about him, she would have. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m much better. So about next week,” she said, changing gears, “we will schedule the press conference first thing in the morning. You will make your statement and not take questions, even if reporters ask you. I’ll be there, and I’ll make sure I’m seen. Taylor will be there too. I’ll take a few questions and we have a release that will be going out to the media. Do you have any questions?”
The all-business Jill was back. “No questions.”
She got up, and Chloe followed her. Jill stopped.
“Do you want Chloe to stay here for a few days? I don’t mind.”
Was that her way of extending an olive branch? If so, I was going to take it. “Yeah, that would be nice.”
“She was happy to see you.”
“I can bring her back to your place whenever you want. And if you’re leaving, I can drive you home.”
“I’m going to call an Uber.” I thought she was going to say more, but instead, she pulled out her phone and ordered her ride. I insisted on walking her downstairs while she waited, and when her car pulled up, I grasped onto her hand.
“If you need anything or just need to talk, call me, okay?”
She nodded and left through the glass doors.
I put on a dark-gray suit and felt like I was going to a funeral. I’d seen the press conference announcement, and people were speculating. Every reporter with my number had called or texted. No way was I saying a word before a microphone was shoved in my face. Of course, people were speculating, but if they expected me to confirm it, that wasn’t happening.
Taylor met me at Graham Place along with Jill. She had on a black tailored pantsuit and baby-blue blouse. She looked great, but when didn’t she? She escorted us into an office with another person from her staff, a mousy brunette with huge brown eyes that were almost too big for her face.
“This is my most trusted staff member, Whitney Charbonneau. She and I will be handling the statement today.”
Jill and Whitney ran us through the scenario, and I couldn’t quell the nervousness I was feeling. The statement was only a few paragraphs long, but it felt like the longest thing I’d ever seen. My only consolation was that our bye week was starting, and a lot of the guys would be heading out of town. I’d be hiding in my condo.
“Is it all clear? Do you feel ready?”
I glanced at my watch. This thing was supposed to start in ten minutes. “I think so.”
Jill grabbed a glass of water that was on the table. I hadn’t even seen the pitcher and other glasses. She handed me one and told me to have a bit of it. How did she know that my mouth was already painfully dry? I thanked her, and we slowly made our way to the media area. Dave was there, and so was Coach Anthony. Jill had briefed them, and they’d both offered to take some questions. Jill agreed to only a few because her plan was to have this over within minutes.
I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths. I stared at the door to the media room and wanted to throw up. I should have never hooked up with Orla, and now this would follow me forever. I could only hope my teammates, family, and Jill would forgive me.
Jill opened the door and went into the media room. Taylor and I followed. A lectern had been set up, something different from normal media events. Jill went to the lectern, and the assembled reporters quieted. There had to be at least thirty in there.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Jeremy Vaughn has a short statement to make,” she said. “He won’t be answering any questions, but a few questions can be directed to Dave McLeod and Coach Anthony. I will also be available to answer a few questions.”
She motioned for me to come out, and I took one more deep breath and made my way to the lectern as she stepped away. She’d made sure to touch my arm, more for the benefit of the assembled reporters than for me. She wanted to show unity. I thought she’d leave, but she stood a few steps behind me, and I found some comfort in that. I looked out at the assembled crowd of reporters and then looked down at my statement. I’d practiced it a few times so t it sounded sincere—not that it wasn’t.
“I have a statement to make today. Back in September, I lied to all of you, and I’m sorry for that. In April of last year, I engaged in an inappropriate and intimate relationship with Orla Donnelly. When I returned to training camp in the fall, Orla and I resumed our relationship. It was wrong, I made a mistake, and I apologize to everyone I’ve hurt. I let my teammates, family, friends, and my fiancée down by not telling them the truth. I apologize to Lex and hope that one day you all can forgive me.”
I finished the statement and heard all the shocked murmurs. Finally, it was out there. Jill startled me by touching my arm again, and when I turned to her, she gave me a hug. I assumed it was all phony, but she whispered in my ear that I’d done a great job. Then she kissed my cheek. I didn’t think that was for the cameras, but then again, maybe it was. I was too confused and anxious to make any sense of it.
Reporters peppered questions at me, but Taylor ushered me back out the door.
Once we were in the hallway, my phone was lighting up from friends and teammates, but then one caught my eye. It was from Orla, with a few choice words.
You fucking asshole!
I deleted the message and blocked her number.