Page 73 of Puck Princess

As soon as she hears my voice, she looks up. Her face is pale and her eyes are red-rimmed. She looked fine when I left this morning. Tired, thanks to her nightmare, but okay. Now, she’s a wreck.

Her expression shatters, splintering into something between desperation and relief.

I barely have time to hold out my arms before she collapses against me, half-crying. “Owen, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“It’s okay.” I pull her closer, looking around for somewhere more private. Aside from Summer, there’s only one other woman in the room, but I want to be alone with Callie right now. I want her to feel safe.

I lead her out of the room, down the hallway, and through an exit door to a central courtyard. There are a few shade trees and some benches. I take her to one of them, never once letting her go.

Once we’re sitting, I smooth her hair back from her face. “What happened?”

She sniffles. “I’m being stupid.”

“You’re not stupid, Callie. You’re upset. Tell me why.”

“I guess—” She sighs. “This is bringing back memories. From my old job… and everything that happened with my ex.”

“Did you have to testify against him too?”

She shakes her head, the sunlight catching the golden streaks in her hair. “They wanted me to, but I never did. I was too afraid of him.”

I’d never say it, but I wish she had.

If she had, he wouldn’t have been able to stalk her. If she had, I’d know who he is.

But none of that matters right now. What matters is that she feels safe.

“It wasn’t just fear, though,” she continues. “I was worried about my career, too. I didn’t want people to look at me and see the scandal. I didn’t want to be seen as the female PT who slept with hockey players and then cried wolf when one was a dick. And now look at me.”

She starts to cry harder, and I pull her against me, hating that at least some of the drama in her life is because of me.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Cal. Miles was a terrible person. Your ex was, too. They treated you like shit, and that isn’t your fault.”

I pull her away from my chest enough that I can see her face. I wait for her to nod, though, even when she does, she doesn’t seem convinced. She’s still pale and shaky.

This can’t be good for the baby.

“You don’t have to go back in there if you don’t?—”

“I have to do this,” she interrupts. “For Summer. She needs my testimony.”

Summer does. She told me as much.

And if that’s true, and Callie still doesn’t want to go back in there, I’ll find some other way to bring Miles down. If walking into that room would hurt Callie, I won’t let her do it.

The trouble is, I don’t think it will hurt Callie. I think it might be one of the only things that can help her.

“You’re a victim, too,” I remind her gently. “If you go in there, it should be for yourself.”

She swipes tears from her cheeks. “I’m so tired of being a victim.”

“No man who does what Miles has done—or treated you the way your ex did—deserves to walk away free. Secrets are how they stay in control. It’s how they hurt more people.”

Her chin wobbles. “I know. And I don’t want that.”

For the millionth time, I want to know what happened to Callie. What dark thing exists in her past. What keeps her up at night.

“You know you can tell me anything, right?” I rub my hand down her thigh, squeezing her knee. “You can trust me with your darkest secrets. Even the ones that hurt.Especiallythe ones that hurt. You don’t have to carry it alone.”

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