Page 121 of Hot Damn
I don’t know who Beck is talking to but I guess it’s the guy who tried to stop me from getting in to Nat’s office until he recognized me.
“They’re pulling into the underground dock area now.”
“Is there media outside the arena?” Nat asks, her GM hat firmly in place.
“No, but Ray thought it was better to be safe than sorry. They have Chase Hawkins’s sisters as well.”
“Good. I’ll let him know I have them here.”
“He was heading to pick up Candace after a run.” Beck’s voice rumbles in his chest beneath my ear.
“I know. I’ll message him the change of plans.”
It’s hard to reconcile my friend in a maternal role, but that’s what Nat is to Chase’s sisters. Or maybe it’s more of a big sister role. Kind of like my relationship with Whitney.
“You need to tell her.” I tip my head back to look up at Beck, I can’t bring myself to let him go yet. “She needs to hear it from you.”
“I will. But I want you with me.”
“I think it might be better if it’s just you two first. I’ll bethere for her after. You too. You know that, but this is about the two of you before it’s about the three of us.”
I hate sending him off to do this on his own, hate not being about to offer Whitney my support while she hears this news but I don’t think it’s my place, even if I’m entrenched in their lives now.
They were a family first. And what she’s about to learn doesn’t involve me.
“Okay. If you think that’s best.” Beck’s gaze goes over my head. “Is there a room I can use to speak to Whit privately?”
“Sure, how about the owner’s suite, Cami can wait out?—”
The door bursts open, Whitney barreling in, tears streaming down her face, and I know it has to be almost a replay of my own entry.
“Whit.” “Whitney.”
Beck and I speak and move as one, both of us heading for the teenager crying her eyes out.
She’s a blubbering mess when Beck pulls her into him, her words inaudible as she sobs around them.
It takes a few minutes for her to calm down and during that time Nat does what Nat does best and directs everyone else out of the room. When the door closes quietly behind them, I glance up at Beck and indicate my intention to leave with a tip of my head.
The shake of his has me frowning and staying in place.
“Whitbee, baby, I need you to listen to me. I need to tell you something?—”
“I know,” Whitney wails. “It was me! I told her and she toldthem!”
Beck’s confused gaze meets mine but I’m no help. I haven’t a clue what she’s talking about.
“Told who what, baby?” Beck asks.
“The counselor. At school. She’s not supposed to tell anyone what we talk about.”
I feel Beck go rigid. And if my mind is putting together thepieces correctly, then father and daughter have now both been betrayed by the same authoritative position.
“Whitney, what did you tell the counselor?” The coldness in Beck’s voice sends a shiver down my spine.
“Who you really are. Who I think my mom was.” The sobs overtake her again and my gaze locks with Beck’s.
“I thought it was you,” he murmurs over the top of Whitney’s head. “When Natalie first asked me about Catrina, I instantly blamed you.”
