Page 187 of Puck Prince

“It was bad enough when you got involved with Sharpe. I should have shut it down right then and there, but I didn’t. Do you know why?”

I wait.

“Because I thought maybe it was real. Call me a sap, but I saw something in you two. I saw something that I recognized. You’re aunt and I…” My Uncle Randy pauses, and I know where he’s going. The very idea of the words I know he’s about to say feel like I’m having open heart surgery without any anesthesia.

“Your aunt and I were fire and ice. Everyone we knew and loved told us we were either going to change the world or destroy it. I thought I saw that in you and Owen. Hell, it’s why I didn’t say anything when I found out about the baby. But now… Obviously, I was wrong. I was wrong to put your relationship—to putyoubefore the team.”

“What are you saying?” I ask softly. Even though I already know.

It’ll only be a matter of time before everyone finds out about this. Before it goes viral. My reputation will be ruined. My career will be over. Mylifewill be over.

Uncle Randy can’t even look at me as he says, “I’m going to have to report this, Callie. You need to pack your things.”

I bite my lip to keep from crying. I don’t want to make this any worse on Uncle Randy than it already is. I put him in this position. I didn’t give him a choice.

I turn to walk out, but just before I open the door, he clears his throat. “You broke my heart, Alley Cat.”

With that, mine explodes into a million pieces.

But even as I start to sob as I walk down the hallway, I know I did the right thing. Even if it cost me everything.

55

OWEN

It’s Callie’s first day back, and I haven’t seen her yet.

I’ve seen her car at my complex every day. Which means I’ve had to fight the urge to knock on Kennedy’s door every day and ask if Callie is over there.

Is she inside? Is she okay? Did she move into her new apartment yet? Is she ever coming back?

But I lost the right to know the answer to any of those questions when I left, and things have been unusually quiet on the other side of the wall.

Which means I’ve been a mess.

My game is off. My stomach is off. My sleep is off. I’m justoff. But this isn’t about me. I’ve never played the victim card before, and even if I wanted to, it’s not in my hand right now.

I have no reason to be upset. And I have no reason to be searching for Callie in every hallway of the arena.

But I am.

It’s her first day back at work after the accident, and I’m on edge. I can’t relax.

The way I’m feeling, I’m not sure if I want to see her or not.

Then, when I’m almost to the locker room, I see her.

She’s walking out of Coach’s office, and my heart stops. It’s the first time I’ve seen her since I left her in that hospital room, and I know all at once that I fucked up.

Her hair is done, she’s wearing the green pair of scrubs that cinch in her waist and make her ass look unbelievable, and she has on bright red lipstick. Revenge lipstick. The same one she wore the first day I saw her outside the arena.

My first instinct is to dive into the locker room face first. Actually, my first instinct is to grab her, pin her to the wall, and offer a very physical apology for being the world’s biggest dumbass.

But neither are an option because she looks up and spots me at the same time I notice the tears rolling down her cheeks.

She’s crying.

She discreetly sniffles and tries to turn her face away. She’s really going to walk right past me like she doesn’t see me.

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