Page 39 of Puck Prince

It feels like a betrayal of a fellow baby mama. She and I should form a club: Women Impregnated by Owen Sharpe.

Kennedy’s eyes go wide. “Shut. Up.”

“It’s true. She’s had a baby with her every time. One of the times,hewas carrying it.”

Kennedy thinks about that. “That’s some wild shit. But it still doesn’t track.”

“I don’t know all the answers, Ken. I just know he’s hiding things.” Considering what I’m hiding, I’m sitting on a very high, very precarious horse. But that is also not the point.

My phone buzzes with a text from my uncle. Dread fills my stomach like battery acid.

“Oh, God,” I mumble.

Kennedy looks down at my phone and winces. “Uh-oh. You think he pays attention to gossip?”

I click on the text?—

Come into my office first thing tomorrow. We need to talk.

“I am going to take that as a yes,” she grimaces.

Fuck.

My.

Life.

And while we’re at it… fuck Owen Sharpe for ruining it.

I learned after my first day that gym pants and tank tops with athletic shoes work much better than pencil skirts and busty blouses. So, today, on what might be my last day walking into the arena, I’m wearing black joggers and a plum Athleta shirt.

My hair is tied back. No lipstick.

Just business.

I make my rounds, saying hello to everyone as if nothing has happened. As if I’m not all over social media. People smile andnod back, but their faces tell me they’ve seen it all. The whispers follow me down the hall towards the training room.

I should pay attention to the text burning a hole in my pocket right now. My uncle is nice, but he’s got a temper, and it’s not the patient kind.

But, speaking of patients, I’ve got a 7:00 A.M. scheduled for me, for which I’m secretly grateful. Can’t get my ass chewed out by the boss if I’m busy doing my job, right?

Lachlan rolled his ankle leaving a bar two days ago and wants to make sure it’s safe to skate on. Perfect excuse to put off talking to my uncle. At least for an hour or so.

I tidy up my workspace while I wait for Lachlan. Meanwhile, several other guys from the team are working out. I look down at my watch. 7:15. Maybe he forgot. Maybe he’s hungover again.

Maybe I’ll have to go see my uncle sooner than I thought.

I sigh.

“Trouble in paradise?” A guy doing pull-ups hops down and turns around.

“Remind me which one you are again.”

He grins. “Miles.”

“Right. Sorry, I’m still getting to know?—”

“That’s alright. I know who you are. I mean, I think half the world knows who you are now.”

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