Page 130 of Penalty to the Heart

“No.” I shake my head.

“See? Just like I figured.” Trent throws a shark-like grin at Piper, one that could almost read, ‘I told you so.’

“Whatever he’s done, we need to give him a bit of grace. He’s going through it right now,” Piper rebukes, still on the defense.

“And due to the ordeal Donovan has been facing, I have shown him such patience. However, there is only so much patience one man can have.”

Piper shrugs away her boyfriend’s remark and stares at me.

“What’s wrong? Is he okay?” she asks, as her big blue eyes stare at me expectantly.

“Actually, I… well… the thing is…”

“Oh, for crying out loud, Roxanne,” Trent admonishes. “What has gotten into you? Out with it already.”

“Very well. I no longer feel I’m the best person to help Caleb. I would be doing a disservice to him and to this club if I continue on as his therapist.”

I straighten my spine when Trent’s scrutinizing gaze feels like it can see right through me.

“You’re giving me whiplash, Roxanne. First, you barge into my office, upset that I had the audacity to suspend him from the team, and now here you are again, only this time asking to be dismissed as his therapist. What changed?”

“Nothing’s changed,” I lie. “I’m just reiterating a sentiment I explained before when I told you that what he needs is a therapist who specializes in grief.”

“You are the best therapist we have. If you can’t fix him, no one can.”

“He doesn’t need fixing, Trent. He just needs someone to understand him,” Piper defends again before she puts her sole focus on me. “I know he’s a hard person to work with. Believe me, he’s given me more than my fair share of headaches. But he’s a genuinely good guy. He’s loyal and sweet when he wants to be. Whatever he did to make you want to stop seeing him, all of a sudden, I’m sure it was just him lashing out. Please don’t abandon him now. Not when he needs you most.”

“Like I said, I’m not sure I’m equipped to help him anymore,” I repeat, my voice sounding robotic to my ears.

My palms grow sweaty, and my heart races in my chest as Piper continues to stare at me with such worry in her blue gaze.

“As you can see, my wonderful girlfriend has a soft spot for Donovan, which I have inherited by default. But just because I like the idiot, it doesn’t mean I want you to suffer his insolence if you think you can no longer handle it,” Trent affirms. “Let me make this clear, whereas Piper’s loyalties lie with Donovan, mine will always lie with you,” he says poignantly. “We’ve been friends for far too long for me to not take into account any of your requests. Having said that, I would be remiss if I didn’t say that I doubt there is a therapist in all of the city of Boston that could connect with the kid like you have,” he continues to say. “Whatever you’re doing is working, Roxanne. I saw it at Rex’s farewell party, as did everyone else.”

“It’s true,” Piper adds. “He’s different. Grown even.”

“Proven by the fact that he apologized to Bellamy Van Rhyne for his lamentable behavior,” Trent interjects.

“Bellamy told you?” I smile, happy that he has genuinely forgiven Caleb.

“He did. Even with all his misfortune, Bellamy made sure I knew how sorry Donovan was about his less-than-stellar welcoming to the team. The Donovan I knew a year ago wouldn’t have apologized for jack shit. I know the kid didn’t do that of his own volition, so you must have influenced him somehow.”

“Man,” I correct. “Stop referring to Caleb as a kid or boy. He’s a full-grown adult. And whatever apology he made to Bellamy, I can assure you it was all his doing. I had nothing to do with it.”

Trent’s grin stretches from ear to ear as his gaze bounces from me to Piper.

“Sweetheart, did that sound like a therapist ready to give up on her patient?”

“No, it does not.” She beams.

“I didn’t think so,” he quips, eyes back on me.

Argh.

He tricked me.

He tricked me, and I fell for it.

“So, now that’s settled, lunch awaits,” Trent says, holding out his arm for Piper to hook hers to.

---