Page 62 of Finally Home

“That’s when I started using—when alcohol stopped giving me confidence, I turned to harder stuff. You leaving was a wake-up call for me. I know I might never earn your forgiveness, especially after all the things I did, but I wanted you to know that nothing I did was ever your fault. It was something I should’ve talked to you about and dealt with years ago, and I didn’t.”

Little things I ignored over the years start to click into place. Times he would come home smelling like perfume or I’d find glitter on his clothes. All the forgotten dates and “late practices.” And while his confessions don’t erase all the hurt he caused; they do finally shed some light on why.

He sniffs hard, blowing his nose in a napkin. “Anyway,” he waves a hand in the air, “I didn’t drag you and your pops out to talk about my sob story. I just couldn’t stand the thought of you believing anything I ever did was somehow your fault.”

I quirk a small smile. “Thanks. I never really blamed myself for your actions, but I did blame myself for choosing to stay so long. If I’m honest, I probably was at least a tiny bit to blame. I thought I could use you for the emotional security I should have had in myself.”

The corners of Derrick’s mouth turn down slightly, but in lieu of a reply he grabs the manila folder off the table. “This is the other reason I asked you here. It’s proof that I didn’t leak the tape, and evidence of who really did. I can’t lay all the blame elsewhere though. I knew you wouldn’t like it, took the video anyway, and I was irresponsible enough to keep it on my phone. I thought you deserved to know who leaked it before the police make the arrest tonight.”

Raising an eyebrow, I take the folder and flip it open to look over the report. “Did you hire a private investigator?”

“I did. I was angry with you for leaving, but after the trial, I started my program and got clean. It only took me ten days of misery in detox to realize I was actually angry with myself for turning into my dad. He may not have been an addict, but he did cheat on my mom a lot. And when that video of us was leaked? That made me realize just how stupid I’d been. I put you and your career in a terrible position, and I’ll never be able to make that up to you, but hopefully this is a start.”

There are dozens of pages of information here on Ella Barnes—texts, phone calls, login information for various fake accounts, including the one that leaked the sex tape and the one that hacked my Instagram. But what shocks me the most is how far back some of this goes.

“She went to college at Ridgeview, too?” I gasp.

“I’m pretty sure you’ve been her target for longer than any of us knew. And then you showed up in Seattle and took the job she wanted after she had already been working with the Sirens for a year. I have a feeling that just made it all worse. You’re sweet, brilliant, and so talented, and people like her are envious of that.”

A sick feeling turns in my stomach knowing Rhodes is in Seattle right now and that Jamie, Wes, and Asher still have to work with her every day. Worry starts to bog down my mind until something Derrick said earlier catches my attention. “Wait, did you say arrested?”

He smirks but goes to stand after checking his watch. “I did, but would you mind if we walk back to my hotel while I explain? One of the stipulations for my outpatient treatment program is a super-early curfew, and I don’t really want to break it the first day I spend outside of my room.”

I nod and stop to let my dad know what’s going on, and he offers to follow me and Derrick to the hotel but hangs back so we can still talk.

During the short walk to the Indigo, Derrick explains what happened when he took everything to the police, how he hired a PI to clear his name, and once he figured out who did it, how he took everything to the police. He also tells me more about his time in treatment and his plans moving forward.

I follow him to his first floor room but look around in confusion as something dawns on me. “Wait, you said you’re suspended from the team, right? How did that happen? And how did that lead to you being in a hotel in Charleston.”

He runs a hand through his hair. “I went to management, came clean about my drug problem and told them I was checking myself into rehab. Obviously, I broke the morality clause when I cheated on you, but they also have a seriously strict drug policy. Big Al fought the board on it, but ultimately I was suspended pending contract review. As for why I’m in Charleston? The minute I was free to leave the rehab center I hopped on a plane here. You deserved the truth and mailing all this would have taken too long.”

That makes me snort. “We have this crazy thing called email now. It’s almost instantaneous.”

He just shrugs. “I didn’t think of that. So,” he asks when we stop in front of his hotel room door. “What’s next for the great Wren Reid?”

I laugh lightly, thinking about my answer. “Honestly, I don’t really know. I’ll look for a job, I guess.”

He stares at me with a question in his eyes. “And Rhodes? I saw him at the trial with you.” A blush heats my cheeks. Definitely not a topic I thought he’d willingly bring up, but I can’t stop my lovesick smile. He smiles in return, shaking his head. “He always was better for you than me. I was so jealous of y’all’s relationship for the longest time, but now I think it was just because I knew you would be happier without me. It was just another shortcoming to add to the extensive list.”

My guilt must show on my face because he pulls me in for a tentative hug. I barely manage not to stiffen up, my nerves around him triggering my flight response. “I was the one who pushed you away, Wren. I didn’t let you in, and that’s on me. You deserve every single bit of happiness you can find after all that I put you through, and from the way your face just lit up, I’d guess that’s him.”

Checking to make sure I consent, he leans in and places a light kiss on my cheek. “You’re gonna do great things, Wren. And I’ll always cheer you on from afar. But if you’re ever back in Seattle…”

A relieved breath leaves my mouth in a huff, and I squeeze his hand once. “Maybe someday I’ll come say hi.”

CHAPTER 38

RHODES

Coming off of an away series with nothing but wins under our belt is always a rush, and things have been so incredible with Wren this weekend that I can’t even be bothered to say no when the guys drag me out to celebrate on Sunday night. We head to a club in downtown Seattle, and I share my location with my girl, so she has it just in case.

Better safe than sorry. This place looks seedy as hell.

Our rented party bus pulls up outside of a suspiciously empty-looking warehouse, making Aidan and I glance at each other warily. Cope may be a wild card, but me and Aid would actually like to survive long enough to see our loved ones again.

Copeland shakes his head and shoves us unceremoniously off the bus. “I’ve been here a dozen times,” he murmurs so only we can hear. “It’s perfectly safe. Do you really think I’d risk the wrath of Wren or Crew if one of y’all didn’t come home?” He shivers in mock fear.

Aidan and I crack up at the obvious distress on his face, but I concede. I trust my friend not to lead me into a murder den. Now that I’m on the sidewalk, I can feel the deep bass vibrating the air around us. Inside the club is worse, and we’re greeted with a thick layer of fog that smells of sweat and sex.

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