Chapter 9 #2
“The press terrified me. Honestly, the fans did too. Whenever people approached Dad when we were out, I’d panic, and sometimes, I wouldn’t be able to speak again all day.
I love Dad and Uncle Wayne, and I love hockey too, but I hated the public scrutiny that went with it.
I still do. Even now, if I ever end up the center of attention, I feel like I’m right back where I started, unable to say a word. ”
“I’m sorry.” I couldn’t imagine how traumatizing that must have been. No matter how careful her family had tried to be, they’d obviously failed to protect her.
“It is what it is.”
For a short while, silence descended between us. She was breathing in a calm, measured way that I suspected was wholly intentional, so I let her do what she needed until she was ready to continue.
“The way my family reacted didn’t help,” she said eventually, downing another swig of beer. “Nor did the fact that people tried to use me to get close to them.”
“They fucking what?”
She grimaced. “Yeah. Even when I was little, my friends’ parents would use me to introduce them to Dad.
That wasn’t a big deal, but when I got older and Alec was drafted into the Dragons, it started all over again.
People at school pretended to be my friends, hoping to meet him.
A couple of guys dated me so they could get invited to our family events. I was… hurt… when I found out.”
Based on the way her breath hitched, I doubted “hurt” was a strong enough word. It sounded like she’d been devastated, and I couldn’t blame her. The teenage years were hard enough without having to wonder about whether the people in your social circle were lying to you.
“Then, whenever it happened, Mom, Dad, and Alec would get overprotective. They just wanted to shield me from having to go through that again, but they ended up holding me back from some of the things I really wanted to do. It was nice to know they cared but also kind of smothering. That sounds ungrateful, doesn’t it? ”
“No, it doesn’t,” I assured her.
I couldn’t pretend to know how it felt to have people who loved you so much that they smothered you, but I knew all about feeling out of control in your own life. It sucked.
Her lips twisted, her doubt clear. “Anyway, I was tired of either getting special treatment or being used because of my family, and that’s a big part of why I decided to move away for college. I just want to find my own path, you know?”
I did know, and holy fuck, I’d underestimated Jane so badly.
When I’d met her, I’d thought she was a timid little thing. After a month, I’d realized she was far more efficient and competent than I’d given her credit for.
In the meeting Gus had called earlier this week, I’d been blindsided by the discovery of how little I knew about her, and yet, I’d still managed to make the same mistake again.
Jane wasn’t meek or timid. She was strong and stubborn. Determined as hell.
I understood now why she’d been so upset by my request. It must have poked at several of her vulnerabilities. I’d essentially wanted to use her because of her family connections, exactly the same as those assholes I’d inwardly condemned earlier.
She gave an awkward laugh. “Unfortunately, being so far from home can get expensive and my parents are covering my course fees but not my living costs. Hence, the job with you.”
I frowned. “They weren’t willing to help with your other bills?”
“I didn’t ask them to.” She pulled a face and took another drink. “They have some money but not nearly as much as they should. The accident nearly wiped them out.”
I barely resisted the urge to smack my forehead.
Of course it had. The Wrights had been lucky to survive the car accident that had ended Pete Wright’s career.
It was easy to forget how quickly medical bills could stack up, and I doubted her father had cheaped out on anything.
He’d have had the best treatments possible for him and his wife.
Knowing this explained a few things, but it also gave me a new angle to approach this with. She’d shown me her hand now, and I could see how important it was for her to get her degree on her own, without burdening her parents by asking for help.
I had something to offer her. Something she might want.
“Thank you for sharing that with me.” I considered reaching for her hand to give it a comforting squeeze but decided against it.
I’d made her uncomfortable enough, and if I wanted to have any chance of keeping her around, it was about time I respected her boundaries.
“I’m glad you trusted me enough to open up. ”
She dipped her head but didn’t speak.
“You’ve just given me an idea. Do you mind if we pick up this conversation again over dinner?”
“Sure.” Her eyebrows furrowed with confusion. Instead of asking what was going on, she drank more beer. “I’ll get started on the meal now.”
“Thanks.”
I hurried to my room, my mind buzzing.
A couple of calls and a bit of paperwork, and I had a plan ready to present.
I carried the papers out to the dining table, where cutlery was laid out and waiting. Jane appeared carrying a plate with a large burrito and a pile of vegetables.
“Join me?” I asked as I took a seat, waving the papers.
She set the plate down. “In a minute.”
She left and returned with her own plate and two glasses of water balanced on a tray. She passed me one and sat opposite.
“I’m aware I’m being a bit pushy,” I prefaced by saying. “And I completely understand your reluctance, so I stand by my word that if you tell me to leave it alone, I will.”
“Okaaay.” Her hands were on her lap, and she didn’t look like she was going to make any effort to eat before I spat out whatever was on my mind.
I pushed the papers toward her. She scanned them one at a time, her eyebrows inching higher.
“You want to pay me fifty thousand dollars to pretend to be your girlfriend for the rest of the season?” she asked, her tone giving nothing away.
Was she horrified?
Did she hate me for being so persistent?
If not, did she consider $50,000 to be sufficient reimbursement for her time and effort?
“It would more than cover any bills while you finish school and find a job as a speech therapist. Even if we don’t make it through the whole season, if you gave it a fair shot, the money would be yours.”
“I’d want that in writing.” She spoke slowly, her face expressionless. “What about everything I told you earlier? The reasons I didn’t want to do this still stand.”
I took the papers from her and flipped to the second one.
“That’s where these guidelines come in. They limit the total number of outings I’m permitted to take you on, specify that I have to give you at least a week of advance warning prior to any engagements, and allow you to set terms and specify what you are and aren’t willing to do. ”
She pursed her lips. I was certain she already knew all of this from her cursory inspection of the documents. She was intelligent. She just wanted to hear it in my own words.
“I swear, I’ll never mention it again if you turn me down, but I really think this could be done in a way that benefits us both.”
She took the papers from me again and reread them. “I don’t know.”
“Think about it. Please.”
She nodded jerkily. “I-I will.”
“I’ll be waiting for your decision.” I’d have to be patient. Even if I wanted to demand an answer right here and now.
Hopefully, she wouldn’t leave me hanging for long.