Page 12 of One Pucking Secret
“Mom!” His voice is sweet, a single note hanging between us as he rushes over to give me a hug.
“Hey, buddy.” I manage a smile as I wrap my arms around him, pushing back a tide of emotion. “Have fun at school today?”
“Yeah, we played soccer during PE!” He’s animated now, every inch the athlete his father was born to be. Wyatt’s legacy lives in those nimble feet, that determined spark in his gaze.
“Sounds fun,” I say, tucking an errant lock behind his ear, my fingers lingering on the softness of his skin. But it’s not just his skin or his hair; it’s the shape of his face, the arch of hisbrow—Wyatt’s features echoed in miniature. I clear my throat as I look ahead. “Let’s get you home.”
“Are you okay, Mom?” Jasper tilts his head, studying me with unsettling perception.
“Of course.” The lie tastes bitter, necessity forcing it past my lips. “Just thinking about work.”
He nods, and we continue our walk back to the apartment. I can’t help but be grateful he’s oblivious to the weight of secrets I shoulder. Each step is a reminder of what hangs in the balance—the life I’ve built for him, carefully curated away from prying eyes and the stain of scandal.
When we arrive home, Jasper skips into the living room. With his backpack in one hand, I use the other to close the door softly, leaning against it as if it was the one thing keeping the walls I’ve erected around our world in place. Wyatt’s image has buckled under public scrutiny, tarnished by whispers and judgment, and I’m afraid of what that darkness could do to Jasper’s innocence if my secret is discovered.
“Mom, can we have pizza tonight?” Jasper’s voice floats in from his bedroom as he gets changed out of his school clothes.
“Sure, pizza sounds perfect.” My response is automatic, but inside, the gears are turning, locking down decisions I must live with.
Jasper deserves a life free from the shadows of the past, a future untainted by mistakes that aren’t his. I’ll be the buffer between him and the world if that’s what it takes.
And in that moment, I reaffirm my silent vow—to protect, to hide, to shield. Even if it means keeping him from the man who unwittingly gave him those captivating blue eyes.
It’s deep into thenight now, a time when the rest of the world quiets down, but my mind races faster.
At the kitchen table, I pour over articles, interviews, press releases—anything that can give me insight into Wyatt’s public persona. Each click is a step toward understanding, each headline a puzzle piece in the grand scheme of redemption I am trying to construct.
Wyatt, the enigmatic center forward, has always seemed to skate around scandals effortlessly, leaving the media hungry for more. Yet now, there’s a split in the ice underhis feet—the fans divided, some passionately defending him while others echo the critics’ whispers.
“Relationship with your fans,” I murmur, typing notes into a burgeoning document. “Key to recovery.” My fingers tap rhythmically on the keys, orchestrating a plan from the chaos. We need to thaw his icy exterior, reveal the man behind the athlete. The thought of making Wyatt relatable almost makes me smile. It’s akin to softening a glacier with a hairdryer. But it’s possible—I have to believe it’s possible.
“Community outreach” I type, envisioning Wyatt amid a swarm of kids on a makeshift rink, sharing laughs and life lessons. “Charity events, fan Q&A sessions.” Each idea forms a thread, a connection between Wyatt and the world beyond the arena walls.
And then there’s social media—a whole different beast. Wyatt’s presence needs to shift from sterile updates to something more personal and relatable. “Takeovers, live tweets, candid stories.” Every suggestion feels like a step toward showing a more human side of him, and the challenge sparks something inside me.
I lean back, rubbing the tension from my temples as I survey the strategy laid out before me.It’s comprehensive, bold—perhaps too much so. Doubt nibbles at the edges of my confidence, but I push it away. This isn’t just about Wyatt. It’s about safeguarding Jasper’s future—a future Wyatt may never be a part of—and keeping his world bright, unmarred by the stain of controversy.
If anyone can sway the influencers of the sports industry, it’s me. Perhaps I can also reach out to the team’s media manager to get an idea of what events are coming up that we can use to our advantage. I’m sure the LA Knights have a PR team that can give us a helping hand and some material to shine a better light on Wyatt as well.
I save the document and close the laptop, the sudden darkness enveloping me. In the stillness, I find resolve. Wyatt’s road to redemption starts with this plan—my plan—and I am ready to defend it with all the fervor of a mother protecting her cub.
With a final glance at Jasper’s peaceful form through his cracked bedroom door, I retreat to my own room and let the curtain of sleep fall over me, the blueprint of Wyatt’s future etched firmly in my mind.
Chapter 4
Wyatt
I stride into oneof the conference rooms in the LA Knights’ offices, the scent of fresh paint and leather mingling in the air. Mark’s eyes track me from his seat at the large wooden table, a silent nod bidding me forward. Chloe is there too, standing with a confidence that feels foreign to me—she’s come a long way from her insecure and bookish college days. It’s both refreshing and endearing. Truth be told, it’s been two days since I last saw her, and I hate how much I’ve been dying to know what she’s been up to these past eight years.
“Miss Reed,” I say, the name feeling both familiar and foreign on my tongue.
She turns, and those green eyes are just as bright as I remember, but they don’t linger on me. They flick to Mark, then the team manager before she retrieves her notebook and iPad from her bag.
“Good morning, everyone,” I say tightly as I take my seat at the table.
“Morning,” a few of the members of the LA Knights’ team management chime in, but they lean more on the side of being intimidated yet cordial.
“Shall we get started then?” Chloe asks Mark. It’s business, all business. The ease we once shared is gone, replaced by a cool professionalism that puts walls between us.
