Bennett (On the Line Book 2)(45)

I knew that look on Liam’s face. It was how he looked before he was about to fly off the handle.

“I’ll do eighty hours too,” I said. “I’m just as responsible for what happened. I had it coming.”

Wren picked up the folder she’d set down in front of her on the table and looked back and forth between Liam and me. “Charlotte deserves better than this.”

She might as well have kicked me in the gut. Her words cut deep down to the heart of all my worries about being good enough for Charlotte.

“Yes, ma’am,” I said.

Wren’s eyes softened as she looked at me. She got up and left the room then, leaving us alone with Orion.

“I don’t even know where to start,” he said the moment the door closed. “You two jackasses embarrassed yourselves, your team, and me today.”

“It was me,” Liam said. “I’m the one who started it.”

“Believe me, I know. You’re a PR nightmare already, and your solution to that is to bang the PR lady to stay in her good graces.”

“That’s not—”

“Did I say you could talk?” Orion yelled.

“No, Coach.”

Orion turned to me. “Bennett, you should’ve told him. That was a hell of a way for him to find out you got his sister pregnant.”

“You’re right, Coach,” I said.

“But you—” he pointed at Liam “—f*cked up bad this time. You’d better blow me away on the ice and do that community service with a smile on your face every second you’re there.”

“I will.”

“If the press gets wind of this, you keep your mouths shut and send ’em to me.”

We both nodded. A knot of tension formed in my stomach at the thought of this hitting the news.

“Any injuries?” Orion asked.

“I think my wrist is sprained,” I said.

“Go home and ice it. You’re going to Chicago in the morning for some one-on-one with my former teammate Niko.”

“Vereshkova?”

“Yes. He’s got an off day and he wants to work with you.”

I nodded silently, but inside I was elated. This was a chance to get recognized by a player from the team I wanted to be on.

“And when Bennett gets back tomorrow night, figure out how to put this behind you.”

Liam scoffed and looked away. Orion stood and I followed him out of the room, knowing Liam and I would be at each other’s throats again soon if I stayed.

Charlotte was sitting on a bench in the lobby of the police station, her elbows resting on her knees. She looked up as I approached.

“Hey,” I said softly.

“Bennett.” She sighed, looking relieved, and stood up. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close.

“I’m sorry, Char.”

“It’s not your fault.”

I pressed my face against her neck, taking in her sweet, familiar scent. “I should’ve done better.”

She pulled back, hands on my shoulders, and looked up into my eyes.

“It’s not your fault, Bennett. You were only defending yourself.”

“I just hate this for you. You missed your appointment and the doctor’s office probably—”

She laughed. “I’ll be finding a new doctor.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re banned from Dr. Lansing’s office now.”

I shook my head. “Shit. I’m sorry, babe.”

“It’s all right. They’re squares.”

“You okay?” I asked, stroking a thumb over her cheekbone. “This had to be stressful for you.”

Shrugging, she said, “I didn’t have to clean out my savings to bail you guys out, so all in all, I’m good.”

“What about the baby?”

Rubbing a hand over her belly, she smiled. “The baby’s good. I felt some kicks while I was waiting for you.”

She looked at someone behind me and I turned. Liam was approaching.

“Let’s go,” she said to me. “I’m not talking to him right now.”

“Charlotte,” I said softly. “Come on, he means well. He loves you.”

“He’s got a funny way of showing it.”

I tipped her chin up so she’d meet my eyes. “I’ve got two sisters. Bet I’d have done the same thing.”

“In a doctor’s office?”

“Eh . . . maybe in the parking lot so I could find a big rock to beat the guy with.”

She looked at Liam. “Are you sorry?”

He shrugged and sneered at me. “I’m sorry you’re carrying his kid.”

“You told me I was like a brother to you,” I said to Liam.

Liam narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, you were.”

I felt that hit harder than any of the rest. He walked out of the police station then, not looking back.



Charlotte

Bennett stared up at my spinning ceiling fan, lying in my bed with his hands behind his head. Liam knew now, and we could spend as many nights together as we wanted with no fear of being caught. But there was no joy in it, because Bennett was a million miles away.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, closing my laptop and turning to him.