Page 190 of Pucking Strong

“But it’s not true. None of this is, right?”

“Of course not.” I hold out her phone. “I’m only sorry you were dragged into it.”

She takes the phone and steps away, wrapping her arms around her middle. “But why are they taking pictures of us? Of Karolina? Can it even be legal?”

“Yes, it’s legal. They’ve blurred her face out of the pictures they published.”

“But it’s so cruel. So irresponsible.”

My frustration rises. “I know.”

“It all just feels so violating,” she goes on. “I didn’t know what to do. I woke up to all these alerts from family and friends. Those pictures are everywhere, Henrik. Someone tried to tag me in them on Instagram. On the way over here, I got a request to do an interview.”

My anger flares. “Say nothing. You will only fuel their fire. Best to let this all die out.”

She shakes her head. “Teddy must hate me.”

“He doesn’t. Or he won’t when he finds out. He knows it’s not true too.”

As if speaking his name is a summons, the front door opens, and Teddy comes charging in. His locs are a mess, half up, half down, and he looks like he sprinted here from the parking garage.

“Teddy,” Karolina cries in welcome, waving with her whole arm. “Look, I got my cast off!”

He rattles his keys down in the tray and kicks off his shoes. “That’s great, honey, but I gotta talk to Morbror for a second!” He jogs into the kitchen, letting out a breath as he lowers his voice. “What the actual fucking fuck is going on?”

I sigh. “I take it you know?”

“Of course I know. My phone went crazy with all my sisters calling at once. They were ready to come down here and barbecue you until I called them off.”

Hanna bursts into tears. “Teddy, I’msosorry!”

His eyes go wide as she stumbles into his arms on a stifled sob. He tries to soothe her, patting her back. “Hey, it’s okay. Hanna, we know this has nothing to do with you, okay?”

“They made me look so awful,” she says through her sniffles. “But I would never—Teddy, I’dneverbreak up a marriage. My dad cheated on my mom and left the family when I was nine. So, I know that pain. You have to believe me—”

“Wedo,” I assure her, stepping closer.

But Teddy holds up a warning hand, keeping me back. Best to just let her have a good cry. Proximity to me will likely only make it worse.

“You saw the article?” I say at him.

“Oh, I saw. The articles, the videos, the stupid fucking photo diaries. Who knew he had such a ‘bad boy’ streak, huh?” he teases, still patting Hanna’s back. “I guess I bring it out in him. We’ll have to get him a motorcycle to go with his leather jacket.”

Hanna makes a sound between a laugh and a sob.

“You need to call Poppy,” he says over her shoulder. “She needs to know, if she doesn’t already.”

I lean my hip against the island, sipping my coffee. I’ve resigned myself to taking it with milk and sugar. Teddy and Hanna won’t prepare it any other way. “At this point, I don’t know what else we can do, other than let it all die down naturally. The fires of controversy always flame out.”

“But this isn’t just idle gossip now. Hen, this is serious. They have pictures and ‘inside accounts.’”

“All meritless,” I growl.

“Idle gossip about us is one thing. Proof that you’re violent? That you’re a dangerous liability? This could ruin your chances at future endorsement deals. Hell, it could get you traded. The Rays won’t want to carry the weight of your new ‘bad boy’ reputation if it will reflect poorly on them. Neither will any brands looking to keep a family-friendly image.”

Hanna pulls away from him, her mascara running as she turns to me. “Oh god, this could get you traded?”

Teddy winces, patting her shoulders. “Still not your fault,” he assures her.

---