Page 62 of Puck Princess

She’s right. I do know it. But I’m so in over my head, I don’t know what to do. I’m lying to Owen. Lying to Uncle Randy. Trying to keep my pregnancy on the downlow. Meanwhile, Spencer is taking over every part of my life and loving every second of it. It’s a mess.

“He should be in jail for what he did to you,” Kennedy says evenly. Hearing it stated so plainly brings tears to my eyes, but I blink them back. She squeezes my shoulder. “I know it’s too late for that, but I don’t want this to happen to someone else. Like you said, he’s manipulative. And charming.”

“I’m scared,” I admit. “What happens if Owen figures out who Spencer is?”

“Which is why you need to come clean in a controlled environment. If he finds out on their own, there will be drama and blood. Owen might not forgive you.”

I nod, knowing she’s right, but I have no idea how to go about it.

When I meet Owen by his car after his meeting, his jaw is clenched and his shoulders are tight.

“How did the meeting go?”

“The Scythes are apparently building ‘the next generation of players.’ Spencer Santos is ‘the future of the team,’ according to the GM.”

A knife of guilt stabs me in the chest. If I’d been honest back when everything happened, Spencer wouldn’t even be on the team.

This is my fault.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” He closes my door and walks around to the other side of the car.

The knife twists.

I should tell him the truth, but I can’t stop thinking about the worst possible outcomes.

What if Owen can’t forgive me for lying? What if he forgives me, but he goes after Spencer and then loses his job and neither of us can afford to take care of the baby?

After the year I’ve had, it’s hard to imagine the best-case scenario. It’s hard to convince myself to rock this precarious little boat I’ve found myself on. So I keep quiet.

21

CALLIE

“Hey there!” Kennedy leans over the kitchen island to greet me as I walk through her front door. “Ridiculously long time, no see, stranger!”

It’s been a few days since Owen and I got back from San Francisco, and I’ve spent the majority of my time at work or at Owen’s place. For the record, none of it has been spent at my new place. Figuring out my long-term living situation is on the backburner for the moment. A future-me problem, if you will.

Current me has more than enough problems.

“I know, I know. But look… I brought peace offerings.” I hold up to-go bags from her favorite sushi place.

She narrows her eyes and pads across the carpet towards me. “No Coast Sushi?”

“Yep.”

“Florida roll, no wasabi?”

“And added cream cheese.”

She smiles. “You’re the best. What did you get for you? You can’t have raw fish, right?”

“Udon soup.” I say, unloading the bags. I feel bad that I’ve sort of blown her off since the day I got back, but when it comes to Kennedy, there is nothing a spicy tuna roll can’t fix.

Also, I knew she was just going to double down on telling me I needed to talk to someone about Spencer, and I needed time and space to think that through. Like, will my world come crashing down the second I open that can of worms? Will I regret it for as long as I live? Will my children’s children bear the burden of this mistake?

That kind of stuff.

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