Page 170 of Puck Me Secretly

“Mom, wait.”

“You,” she pointed a finger at Max. “You stay away from my daughter.”

I stepped in front of Max. “Mom, stop.”

“No, you listen here.”

“Mom!” I almost yelled. “Watch this interview and then we can talk, okay?”

She crossed her arms. I turned my back on her and focused on the television.

“You okay?” Max’s voice was only for me.

“I will be.”

Lolita’s interview started. They had edited it to create a succinct story about how she was brutally assaulted by Joseph and how Max stepped in to care for her.

The reporter lifted his head. “Is this the reason Max Logan beat up Joseph Flanynk?”

She nodded, her big eyes staring straight into the camera. “In the locker room, Joseph was bragging about how I wanted it and he called me a slut. Max knew the truth. He knew what had happened had been against my will. Max held my hand that night in the hospital when I couldn’t stop crying. I think he lost his cool when Joseph was making it sound like I had a choice in that matter.”

“Lolita, tell me why you are doing this interview.”

Her voice sounded clear. “Max Logan is a compassionate, caring friend and I think the media and the world have unfairly judged him. Now with those false charges against him, I want the world to know who he really is as a person. Max protected my secret at great cost to himself, but now I want the world to know the truth of what happened.”

“Lolita, why do you think the charges pending against Max are false?”

She smiled. “Because he spent that night with his girlfriend. His alibi is airtight. The truth will come out soon enough.”

The television cut to the reporter who stood outside the stadium. “Well, folks, as you have heard, that interview, coupled with Joseph being taken in for questioning, has left the Vancouver Wolves fans reeling. That Baxter Nicols stood yesterday on these steps, announcing the Wolves’ intention of buying out Flanynk’s contract leaves everything in flux. We don’t know where Max is or if he will return to the team, but we know now we have a lot more questions than answers.”

I stepped forward and shut the television off. Max wore a shocked expression. Mom’s hands covered her mouth.

My phone buzzed.

Brian: Alleged victim has reversed her story. She confessed that Baxter paid her to falsely accuse Max. They have dismissed all charges

I read the text out loud. Max dropped his head, and a sigh escaped him.

Mom shook her head. “I don’t know what to say.”

I stepped forward. “Mom, everyone has made mistakes here, but Baxter has unfairly canceled Max’s contract. If we don’t get that reversed by tomorrow, then that’s on us.”

Her eyes were big. “I didn’t know.”

“Please reverse the proxy. Put me in charge so I can reinstate Max back on the team.”

Her face was white. “I’ll call Brian.”

“I can text him and he can bring the paperwork here.”

“Okay,” her voice sounded small.

Me: Brian can you bring the paperwork to the hospital?

Brian: Already on my way

I looked behind me at Max. He was sitting, with a confused expression on his face. His face lifted to mine. “You did that?”

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