Page 89 of Faking it with the Billionaire
He leads us back to the locker room, and the minute we’re inside, I sit on the bench, working the laces free.
“How’d it go?” I ask, trying not to worry Bristol, but I want to know what’s going on.
“I’ve been suspended for the remainder of the season.” His jaw is tight, and he helps Bristol out of her skates. “The NHL doesn’t want to make public knowledge the reason for my suspension because it could jeopardize the integrity of the game. The team has scheduled a press conference for this afternoon, and I am expected to give a statement to the press and tell them that I’m taking the rest of the season off to focus on my family.”
“Wait,” Jasper says as he puts his gear on. “You’re out the rest of the season?”
Kyler nods. “It’s only a few more games. We have zero chance of making the playoffs. I’m going to shower and get cleaned up for the press conference. I’d like you and Bristol to be there,” he says, staring at me.
“You want me at your press conference?” I’m surprised, and I’m pretty sure that’s evident on my face. I try to keep my cool, because there’s no reason I need to be there other than for support.
I change into my sneakers, and Bristol does the same, seated beside me. I glance from her to Kyler.
I have so many questions about the man who was threatening Bristol, but I have to wait until we’re alone to ask them.
And more importantly, what happens now that his daughter is no longer in danger?
He’ll expect me to pack up my belongings at his house and move out. There’s no reason for me to continue living with him under his roof. My responsibility as Bristol’s bodyguard is over.
Later that afternoon, I’m standing beside Bristol, her hand in mine. Mitchell picked clothes up for all of us to wear for the press conference. Bristol is in a dress with a gingham print. I’m in a black skirt and a matching blouse. Kyler is wearing a suit.
She clutches my hand and wiggles uncomfortably. “Can we go home?” Bristol whispers, staring up at me.
We’re in the background, on the side, for pictures and for the press to make us look like a family during the interview. He’s standing at the podium, answering questions rattled off by a number of journalists.
When he walked out, we were beside him, but he’s at the podium by himself while we are patiently waiting for him to finish his spiel.
“Thank you all for coming here today,” Kyler says into the microphone. “I know this might come as a surprise, but I’ll be taking the rest of the season off to focus on my family. As you may hear, there were some recent threats to my family’s safety, and while the police have found the suspect, arrested him, and he’s being charged with numerous crimes, I find it in my family’s best interest to take some time at home.”
There’s chatter among the crowd, and then one reporter gets the microphone. “What types of threats were there?” a reporter asks.
Kyler’s jaw tightens. “The kind that threaten a child,” he says.
Bristol squeezes my hand. “What’s Daddy talking about?”
I gesture for her to keep her voice down. Why the hell are Bristol and I here if Kyler is going to talk about the threats? We were trying to shield her from all of it.
More chatter erupts among the journalists.
The microphone is passed to another gentleman. “Are there any other reasons that you’ve decided to postpone your career right before playoffs?”
Kyler laughs. “I’d love to say that the Ice Dragons will be making the playoffs this season, but we have zero chance, given our record.”
A soft rumble of laughter registers through the crowd.
“I can assure you that I will be back next season,” Kyler says.
More noise erupts, and he gestures for the audience to settle. Whether he heard the question or he’s decided to answer before a reporter specifically asked is hard to tell. There are a lot of voices vying for attention.
“No, I haven’t received a contract yet, but I am in negotiations with the current owner of the Ice Dragons.”
Is he in negotiations, or is what he's doing a tactic to help push his career for next year? Will he even want to return to the Ice Dragons after what happened with Fitzgerald’s brother?
Fitzgerald is a certifiable asshole, pulling out his dick and trying to make me uncomfortable. He did manage to do the latter, but I don’t want it to affect Kyler’s chances with the team he wants to be on, where his brother plays.
“Any other questions?” Kyler asks.
More chatter erupts, and then he covers the microphone and gestures for Bristol and me to join him. I assume it’s for a photo, that he’s trying to milk this angle as best he can. The league is giving him the opportunity to protect his career, even if they’re looking out for themselves.
