Page 86 of These Pucking Boys: Part Two

“A few minutes before you arrived. I assumed you knew.”

I shake my head. “No, I had no idea.”

My guilt over this whole thing doubles. Not only did Jake, Lachy, and Ryan get in trouble with the law, but now Jake had to spend money. Not that I don’t appreciate the donation. The school surely needs it, but I don’t like how it came about.

“If it had been anyone else, he wouldn’t be allowed back on school premises, but I won’t bar him from showing up after the dust settles. You don’t seem happy about it, though.”

Heat spreads across my face. I should really try to keep my emotions from being so obvious. “I’m just surprised, that’s all. And I seriously thought I’d get fired.”

Principal Prescott leans back in her chair and smiles. “Not this time, but don’t make it a habit. Promise me there will be no more drama or scandals involving you. I can protect you only so far.”

My stomach coils tightly, making me nauseous. I bet if the press found out I was dating three hockey players, that would be a scandal.

“I understand.” That’s all I can say. I can’t bring myself to make a promise I might not be able to keep.

Katrina waited to make sure I was all right, then she had to leave thirty minutes earlier than usual. Because I missed part of the lecture day and no substitute teacher was called, my students were asked to write an essay, which I have to grade. I want to get those done before I go home.

It takes me around an hour and a half to go through them all, and it would have gone faster if text messages from the boys hadn’t distracted me.

On my way to the car, I text them all to let them know I’m on my way home. Before I get to my car, I have the eerie sensation someone is watching me. I turn around and catch the lens of a professional camera sticking out the window of a black car.

Fear grips my heart in a tight hold. I rush to my car and open the door with shaking hands. It takes me a few seconds to find the keyhole and start the car. It doesn’t help that I’m looking in the rearview mirror to see if the black car is still there. Fuck. It is.

I finally manage to turn on the engine and put the car in reverse. I back up faster than I would normally, then burn rubber exiting the parking lot. I can’t check to see if the black car is following until I merge into traffic. My heart is beating so fast, it feels like it’s going to perforate my chest at any second. I keep glancing in the rearview mirror—more often than is smart—and when I finally spot the black car weaving through traffic, my heart jumps into my throat and gets stuck there.

I accelerate and do something I’ve never been crazy enough to do before—I drive like a local. I can’t go home and lead whoever is following me there. Very few people know my new address. I can’t call anyone, because my phone is in my handbag and looking for it could cause an accident. Besides, whoever I call won’t be able to do anything.

I see the sign for the police station I just left a few hours ago, but to get there I need to take a right at the next intersection, and I’m stuck in the middle lane. There’s barely any room to switch lanes, but I do it anyway, cutting in front of someone. Their horn blares loudly, which only serves to fry my nerves more. Why can’t I catch a fucking break?

As if offended by my question, the Fates decide to amp up the antics. A dumbass pulls out of his parking spot too fast and straight into my car. That wouldn’t have been terrible if I were wearing my seatbelt. My forehead hits the steering wheel, and God damnit, it hurts like a mother.

Dizzy, I lean back and touch my forehead. My fingers brush something wet—blood. Shit. I bet I’ll need stitches. My phone rings, and it takes me a while to find it, not only because I’m shaken by the crash but because my purse slid from the passenger seat onto the floor, and everything spilled out, including my phone.

When I finally grab it, I see it’s Ryan calling. “Hello?”

“Peaches, please tell me that’s not your car I see in the middle of a wreck.”

How could he possibly know I was in an accident?

“What? Where are you?”

Someone knocks on my window and yells, “Miss, are you all right?”

“Hell, it is you! It’s okay, my love. I’m coming. I’m coming.”

CHAPTER 36

RYAN

After we dropped off June at her school, we went straight to the training facility. Coach Haagen wanted to see us ASAP. I totally expected to have our asses chewed out by the boss, and he didn’t disappoint. Our next meeting will be tomorrow with Peter Maguire, our GM. I’m not concerned about my fate or Lachy’s. It’s Jake I’m worried about. Management has been keeping an eye on him for a while, and I won’t be surprised if they strip him of his captain title. That would suck balls. And with the Bobcat’s vultures circling, I bet Peter wouldn’t mind getting rid of Jake—a ticking time bomb, according to the tabloids.

Jake disappears into his room as soon as we get home, and Lachy claims the couch and the TV. My comfort is cooking, but I can’t be in the apartment, hence why I decided to make lamb lollipops for dinner when I don’t have any of the ingredients at home. The shopping trip is quick. I called ahead to make sure the butcher had my order ready to go.

I’m leaving the shop when I hear the crash. There’s a bus blocking my view, but like everyone around me, I’m curious and walk toward the commotion. My stomach plummets when I seea car that looks like June’s. I have a moment of doubt because it’s not on the route to our apartment.

Immediately, I call her. The phone rings and rings, and I’m sure it’ll go to voicemail.

“Hello?” she finally answers.

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