Page 138 of Released from the Sin Bin

“I don’t have anything.” I stare at my phone, trying to think of what I can do. I can’t leave him here.

Scrolling through my phone, I hesitate on Jocelyn’s name. It’s too early for her to be awake. The women’s team has off today, but she’s the only one I can think of that could help. She always knows exactly what to do when we’re in a tough situation. And she has money.

I’ll do anything to help Carter. There’s a great chance she won’t help, but I have to try.

A half hour later, Jocelyn whips through the doors with her long hair thrown up and her makeup smudged on her eyes.

“Why am I here?” She angrily sits down on the hard bench beside me.

“I didn’t know who else to call.” I sniff back my tears. “I know you hate me, but I love him.”

“The same way you loved Vic?” She stops me. “I don’t care about Carter, but you lied to me. You lied, and you’re falling into the same shit you were with Vic.”

“He’s not Vic.”

“Willa, look around. We’re at a police station to bail him out of jail,” she shouts and finally looks at me.

I’ve let her down, but it’s not the same.

“Vic was cheating on me and never respected me. Carter would never do that.”

She stands to leave, but I grab her arm to stop her.

“He trusts my judgment and supports me. He makes me laugh. He’s been more of a friend to me than anyone.” I lean my elbows onto my knees and slump my head into my hands.

He never gave up on me. Not like Jocelyn is now.

Jocelyn was my best hope, and he’s already been locked up for too long, but to my surprise, she sits back down.

“I thought you liked him.” I peek out from my hands to see her reaction.

“I only wanted to sleep with him,” she admits with a shake of her head. “I’m not in love with him.”

“I’m sorry I lied to you,” I sit up to apologize. “I didn’t want you to get upset, and I didn’t know how to tell you.”

I hate how I lied to her.

“I was more upset that it was going to be Vic all over again, and I hate not playing hockey with you. I hate how you’re throwing your life away for these guys.” She waves her arm out at the mess we’re in. “But I haven’t been completely honest either.” She turns toward me and lets out a deep breath. “I’ve been sleeping with Coach Higgins.”

“What?” I shriek, slapping a hand over my mouth when several people look our way.

“Carter saw us in the men’s restroom at the banquet. I thought he was going to tell you. I begged him not to,” she sighs. “I thought he told you, and that’s why you weren’t answering my text when I came home and barged into your room.”

Jocelyn and Coach Higgins? My brain feels like a puck being shot back and forth across the ice with ten people scrambling to get control of it. This is wrong.

“I’ve been standing by, watching you spend more time with him, and then,” her hands spread out as she looks at the empty space in front of us, “you’re in bed with him. We’re supposed to be friends.”

“He’s married,” I say, unable to move past her confession. “And our coach.”

“I’m not the only one.” She picks at a fuzzy on her leggings. “He’s a jerk.” She shakes it off. “And I may have embellished my crush on Carter.” The right side of her mouth ticks up as she nudges me. “I only wanted to sleep with him to get back at Jonah. I figured when he told me he was in love with someone, that it was you. I’m not that dumb.”

It takes me a second to realize she’s calling our coach by his first name.

“I hate that you lied to me, but I’m worried about you falling for…” her eyes bounce around the precinct, “this.”

“Carter isn’t a bad guy, but he's in a horrible situation.” I watch the officers coming in and out of the small waiting area we’re in. Carter is back there somewhere in a cell, and he’s alone.

“Let’s get him out.” Jocelyn sighs and pulls me up from the bench. “How bad is it?”

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