Page 131 of In Your Wildest Dreams
Ash stares at it for a few seconds. His expression morphs from sleepy to wide awake in seconds. “Is this real?”
Leo shrugs. “I came straight here as soon as I saw it.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask tentatively.
They both look at me.
“What?” I ask, nerves making me want to run away instead of move closer when Ash holds out the phone to me, then hurries over to the basket for his abandoned device from last night.
My jaw drops at the headline. I glance quickly up at Leo, who is staring at me like he’s waiting for a reaction.
I can’t even guess what my expression looks like. I avert my gaze just as fast and skim through the article. After I’ve read it once, I start back at the beginning. I go through a series of emotions. Confusion, relief, unease, and the scariest emotion of all—hope.
“But how…” I trail off. I know Ash didn’t say anything and neither did I, but here it is the top story on the site:Wildcat Assistant GM Rumors of Harassment and Assault.
“Jack,” Ash says. “It had to have been.”
I stare at the little picture of Meredith under the headline. I only met her a couple of times, and I never mentioned Gabe or my previous relationship with him.
“Makes sense.” Leo bounces in place with Callum. “If he didn’t leak it to her, he’s going to be pissed. Have you heard from him?”
“No. I’ve got a bunch of texts and missed calls from my agent though.” Ash focuses on me. “Are you okay?”
The article doesn’t name me at all. Meredith only says that a top player’s girlfriend was assaulted and continues to be harassed by Gabe. She also mentions that many of the players on the team are aware of the situation and it’s made the mood in the locker room tumultuous. The most surprising part is that Meredith claims there are others. Specifically, someone from when Gabe was working as a scout for the Penguins’ junior hockey team. I never thought about the idea that he’d treated other women the same way. I guess that makes me selfish, but I was too caught up in it.
“Yeah.” My throat is dry as I swallow. I briefly wonder what my friends and family will think, but I’m tired of feeling shame for his actions. I blow out a breath. “Yeah. I’m okay. Are you?”
I have to think that this kind of attention on the team is going to make a lot of his bosses really unhappy.
His phone rings before he can answer me. “It’s Jim.”
“Answer it,” Leo and I say at the same time.
Ash’s face pales as he accepts the call and puts the phone to his ear.
The conversation doesn’t last long, but those minutes drag on with excruciating thoughts of worst-case scenarios. I’ve already cost him so much.
When he finishes, he drops his arm, still clutching his phone and runs a hand through his hair with the other.
“Well?” Leo asks, with as much impatience as I feel.
“He’s gone.” Ash’s face brightens. I don’t think I realized how much of the spark in him was missing until now. His gaze locks on me. “He’s fucking gone.”
I let out a whoosh of air. They believed me. I hadn’t even put a voice to that fear, but I acknowledge it now. Ash, Leo, Jack, Meredith, and now Jim…they all believed me, even if they didn’t know it was me, and because of that, he’s really gone.
“Does this mean you’re staying?” Leo asks, hope making his voice climb higher.
Ash looks to me, and I let the relief and hope breakthrough in my smile of agreement.
39
THE UNNAMED SOURCE
ASH
The next fewdays go by in a blur of meetings and phone calls. Gabe is gone, I signed a new contract with the Wildcats, and Bridget and I are no longer discreet, aka we’re kissing anywhere and everywhere.
Her parents were shocked by the article. I went with her to talk to them, and I could see the genuine regret on their faces. They were confused why she never said anything and a little blindsided that they were so wrong about his character. There’s still some hurt there, but my girl is tough. She’ll get through this and I think her relationship with her family will continue to improve over time.
