Page 66 of One Pucking Secret
“Then congratulations.” I nod, keeping my tone light and letting a small, knowing smile slip through. “But if he’s so great, why are you still wasting your time dragging Wyatt’s name through the mud?”
She sneers, her mouth twisting. “After what he did, he deserves it.”
I remain unflustered, letting her anger pass over me. “The reality is, Sonia—you relied on Wyatt’s success to boost your own. And now, you’re realizing your career wasn’t built on anything real.”
Her facade cracks ever so slightly, and I know I’ve struck a nerve.
Sonia’s face falters just slightly, but she recovers quickly with a disdainful scoff, pivoting on her heel. I watch her storm out, blond curls bouncing as she goes, each step a little less confident than the last.
She’s helped into a sleek black car by a tall, muscular man, his head shorn to bristly shadows that gleam under the midday sun. There’s something about the controlled precision in his movements, the set of his shoulders, that tugs at the edge of my memory—insistent yet elusive. But he never turns around, keeping his face hidden, his identity just out of reach.
I’m about to turn back to Lainey, ready to reassure her with a smile that the drama is over, when my phone buzzes sharply against the table. An alert flashes on the screen, boldand ominous: “Breaking News. Wyatt Banks Fails Drug Test.”
The words sear into my mind, and for a moment, reality tilts on its axis. I feel the blood drain from my face, a cold sweat prickling at the nape of my neck. Wyatt, Wyatt—with his unwavering focus, his unbreakable control on the ice.How could this be happening?
“Chloe?” Lainey’s voice cuts through the fog of disbelief, grounding me. “What is it?”
But I can’t answer. My gaze locked on the headline that threatens to unravel everything we’ve been fighting to build.
Chapter 24
Wyatt
The front door swingsopen, and there’s Zach, standing with an easy smile and holding a familiar cup in his hand. The rich pink of strawberry ice cream swirled with white coconut greets me, the scent bringing a flash of summer days and simpler times.
“Your favorite,” he says, handing it over with a grin. “Extra coconut, just the way you like it.”
“Thanks.” The word feels heavy on my tongue, weighted by the knot of doubt twisting in my stomach. The milkshake chill sinks into my palm, real and sweet, but my thoughts swirl in a way I can’t shake.
“How’s Jasper? And Chloe?” Zach’s voice pulls me back, his concern sounding genuine—maybe even is genuine.
“They’re good,” I say, trying to keep it simple. Images of Jasper’s latest drawings and Chloe’s quiet resilience lingering in the back of mymind. I settle onto the couch, feeling the cool leather beneath me.
Zach drops down beside me, leaning forward with elbows braced on his knees. His green eyes are steady as they meet mine. “So… how are you holding up?”
I let out a low breath. “I’ve been better.” I set the milkshake on the table, letting the silence stretch between us. His hand lands on my shoulder, a familiar weight that should feel reassuring but instead leaves me uneasy.
“You know everyone knows you’re clean, right? That this is just a mistake,” he says, his voice solid, as if he’s trying to convince me.
I look up at him, letting his words sink in even as my stomach twists tighter. “Maybe someone’s trying to make it look like more than a mistake.”
He raises an eyebrow, his expression curious. “You think someone’s out to get you? Suspecting anyone?” There’s a slight pause before he adds, “You don’t think Sonia’s behind this, do you?”
The suggestion prickles under my skin, like he’s trying to direct my thoughts somewhere specific. “I don’t know who,” I say slowly. “But it’s hard to ignore when your entire reputation’s on the line.”
Zach nods, his voice dropping to something almost sympathetic. “You heard from Mark yet?”
“Not much. Mark’s busy trying to get the articles pulled,” I reply, forcing myself to stay steady. “Said it’s just a matter of time before everything clears up and to wait for the results.”
He gives a quick nod. “You know Mark’s got this, right? The test results will clear it up, and the truth will come out.”
“Yeah, but it’s hard to stay patient when my career’s on the line.” My frustration seeps through despite my effort to keep it casual.
He squeezes my shoulder, his tone sincere. “Well, I’m here, Wyatt. I’ve got your back, just like always. Anything you need, call me.”
“Thanks.” The word is automatic, but the questions keep creeping up, crowding out the gratitude I usually feel.
He leans back, his tone lightening. “And hey, what’s it like being a dad now? Still can’t believe you’re a father.”
