Page 96 of A Scoring Chance

What the actual fuck? This sounds like a goddamn Jerry Springer episode, not someone’s life. “I’m sorry to hear that. I’m sure it was a surprise to find out you weren’t a Sutton.”

“Nah, it’s okay. Daddy has way more money than Peter; even Mommy knows that. It’s why she tried to get back with him when she found out I was his, but he kicked her to the curb.” She turns around, her hand covering her eyes as she tilts her chin toward the ceiling. “Are you dressed now? I really would like to see your face when I tell you the good news.”

“Good news? Annamarie, I really need you to explain what’s going on here.”

“Sorry, darling. You need to know the whole story to understand how much I’ve been through to make sure we could be together.”

She takes a step closer to me, slamming the open locker door closed and throwing herself at me. My arms come up on instinct, catching her as she wraps her arms tightly around my neck and smashes her lips against mine.

“Stop. Annamarie, I know you know Ramona and I are together.” I try to pull away from her, but her grip tightens around me. The only way to get her off me is to pry her fingers free of my neck, but I can’t do that without hurting her. No matter how crazy she’s acting, she hasn’t done anything to warrant force yet.

“Whatever. You’ll kick that bitch to the curb when you find out everything.” She laughs maniacally, her head thrown back in glee. The grip around my neck loosens enough that I unravel her arms, keeping both her hands clasped in mine.

“Everything?”

Every time I think I have my head wrapped around what's going on here, she throws me another curve ball. I always knew she had a crush on me, but so did half the female population in Redwood Falls. They’d take bets on who could bag a Hendrix brother first, but they never got into our inner circle. Mostly because the only thing on all our minds growing up was hockey. I know Beau and Cole had a few girlfriends in high school, but nothing serious. A few dates and that’s it. I made sure that they always had condoms and walked their dates to the door. Anything besides that wasn’t any of my business. However, it seems I should’ve been paying closer attention to who was paying attention to me instead of my brother.

“Everything I’ve done to create the perfect life for us. I was prepared to wait longer, but when you hurt your knee, I knew the perfect way to get you back to Redwood Falls.”

“How did you get me back to Redwood Falls?” I have a feeling I already know the answer to this question, but I have to ask.

I was so focused on the fact I wasn’t playing with the team this season that it didn’t even dawn on me how strange it was that I was sent back to town to coach at the hockey club. Did she orchestrate all of that? Was my job even in jeopardy if I told them I wasn’t going? I guess I’ll never know.

“I asked Daddy to send you, of course.” She wrenches her hands free from my grasp and wraps them around my arm, pulling me down onto the bench in front of the lockers. “You were supposed to be coaching the U14 team with Coach James, but you ended up with the U12 team. I could’ve made it work if that bitch and her little brat didn’t get in the way.”

Every muscle in my body tenses at the mention of Ramona and Darius. Annamaire clearly has a few screws loose. The worst part is I’m not entirely sure she isn’t dangerous. There’s no telling what she’ll do when I reject her advances.

“Darius was supposed to be out for the season after taking that hit a few months ago, but that’s what I get for letting a twelve-year-old do my dirty work.” She leans her head on my shoulder, snuggling her body into my arm. My mind races, trying to find a way out of this situation. Once Henry knows what his darling daughter has been doing, he’ll at the very least revoke her access to the team. I’ll also have to find a way to get a restraining order against her for Beauty and Darius. I need to make sure she can’t get anywhere near them because there's no telling what she’ll do.

“You convinced a twelve-year-old boy to hurt another player?”

Annamarie shrugs her shoulders before turning her head toward me, her chin digging into my bicep. “He wanted a PlayStation 5. It wasn’t like I asked him to kill someone. Stop being so dramatic. But enough about them. I need to finish explaining things to you.”

She releases my arm, sliding off the bench and onto the floor, resting her palm on my knee. “I’m going to reunite you with Cole. Daddy said he has no problem getting him onto the team since I recommend they take the meeting with him this week. Daddy doesn’t need to know that I’m the one who put the bug in the Wolverine owner's mind that you’d join the team if they threatened your brother.”

“You did what?” I fight to keep my anger under control, the need to lash out and break something burning its way through my veins.

“I knew you missed your brother. Of course, I’d do everything I could to get you both on the same team. You cannever leave the Timberwolves, but with a few emails sent to the Wolverines, it was easy to set that part of my plan into motion. Men are so stupid. Most of you never know when you're being manipulated.”

“Including me?”

“No, not you. Why else would I have gone to such lengths to be with you? You’re one of a kind. That’s why you have to be mine.” She rolls her eyes before pushing to her feet as she counts things off on her finger. “I heard the others talking about Beau getting a suspension, but I’ll get Daddy to have Coach lift it. I can even get you back on the ice with the team this weekend. Then we can live happily ever after.”

“Annamarie.” I say her name forcefully, watching her smile fall as she turns toward me.

“Yes, darling.”

I should tell her to fuck off and rush out of the locker room, but I can’t bring myself to do it. She meddled in my life, but her meddling brought me to Ramona. Even if that wasn’t her intention, I’ll owe her for the rest of my life. Okay, that's a lot of misplaced logic, but I need to make sure I can get out of her quickly and safely. That’s my number one concern.

“I’m not your darling. I’m not your anything, Annamarie. I love Ramona very much. There’s nothing between you and me.”

Her face drains of all emotion, replaced with a cold, hard stare. “Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?”

“I’m sure. I’m sorry, Annamarie. There’s someone out there for you, but that man isn’t me.” I grab my bag from the floor and head for the locker room door. Just as I’m pushing them open, I hear Annamarie’s voice.

“You’re going to live to regret this decision, Cooper Hendrix.”

Chapter Thirty-One

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