Page 115 of Released from the Sin Bin

“Enjoy the banquet?” Carter laughs at me once we’re out of earshot, but the tension is still rolling through him. “Are there drinks at this thing?” He looks around the space and eyes the bar set up in the corner.

“No one from the team can drink.” I pull him closer to me and steer him to the side. “The team is considered the host, and you need to appear professional.”

“After that, I need something, and I don’t think you’re willing to leave yet.” He moves away from me, eyeing the exit to make his escape. “No one will notice if I’m not here.”

“Coach Renan will, and I will too. You’re not leaving me.” I pull him further to the side in hopes he just needs a minute to cool down.

“I could never leave you.” Carter smiles down at me.

“I’m serious, Carter. You’ve been doing so good the last few weeks. Don’t screw it up.”

He nods with one side of his mouth lifted.

“You can do this.” I squeeze his arm. “I got you.” I’m not just encouraging him. I need to hype myself up to get back out there to mingle too. “We got this.”

Carter’s hand splays over my hip, and his thumb draws a slow circle along my waistline, sensing my unease. “Ok, let’s do this.”

Dean Whalen welcomed me with open arms. It was an awkward hug, but he was excited to introduce me to alumni from his generation. The same went for Kandi’s father, who I had no idea was an alumnus or owner of the San Jose Quakes. Luca introduced him to me as his future father-in-law and they had a good laugh over that.

Carter even laughed with them. That tension he was feeling lifted the further we stayed away from his father and the man whose wife he slept with.

“Will you be ok? I have to run to the restroom,” Carter whispers in my ear and sneaks a soft brush of his lips on my temple after I nod for him to go.

I watch him walk away, lost in thought, trying to figure out what it all means. Are we a couple now? We haven’t had a chance to discuss it, but him at my side the entire night feels like a thing couples do. Is that what he meant?

“You’re Willa, right?”

My jumbled thoughts are broken up by a sweet, soft voice next to me. Carter’s mom smiles at me over the rim of her wineglass.

“I am.” I’m not sure how much Carter has told her about me, if he’s said anything at all.

“Thank you.” She smiles again, but keeps her eyes open over the room. Watching for her husband. “I haven’t seen my son as happy as he is tonight with you in a long time. I’ve missed that smile.”

My heart breaks for her. I can’t imagine what she’s going through or why. How long has she been living in fear? Why would she allow it to happen?

There’s a great sense of fear in her watery eyes as they bounce around the many faces around us.

I don’t hate her. I pity her. She’s scared and trapped in her own life.

She turns to me with her piercing gold eyes. “Thank you for taking care of my son when I couldn’t. He deserves to be happy.”

I open my mouth to respond, but Luca barrels over with a hard scowl and steam coming out of his ears.

“I’m sorry, I know you’re friends or whatever, but I might kill him.” He huffs out a deep breath while bouncing on his heels.

I turn to apologize, but Carter’s mom disappeared as soon as he came by.

“What are you talking about?” It takes me a second for what he said to click, and I stop searching for Carter’s mom. “What happened?”

It’s been a while since Carter went to the restroom, but he’s not back or anywhere in the space they created for the banquet.

“He kicked me out of the bathroom.” Luca shakes his head. “He was being a dick and told me to get the fuck out.”

“Why? Was anyone else in there?” I check for the familiar faces around the room.

Carter’s mom had joined her husband in a group by the bar. Coach Higgins' angry scowl catches my eye, walking toward another group of men from the board. His wife isn’t with him.

My heart sinks from my chest. Why would he kick Luca out so fast unless he was trying to hide something?

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