Page 58 of Face Off
Shit. Camden. He has no idea who his father really is, or why Hayley has never spoken about him. I can only imagine the shitstorm heading her way.
I quickly change, forgoing a shower altogether, and sprint toward the parking garage. Once in my SUV, I dial Hayley’s number. The line rings and rings before going straight to voicemail. Fuck. I put my car into drive and head to her house. God knows what’s waiting for her outside her home.
Hayley
“This is an absolute outrage,” my father yells in a deep, stern voice as he paces my foyer.
He’s been pacing the room as if it will do any good for the last hour, the same time my phone first lit up like a Christmas tree with articles from theArizona Tribuneand other news outlets, stating that I’ve been withholding my son from Boyce for over ten years. That I neglected to tell him about Camden.
It’s a bunch of bullshit. Boyce denied Camden when I told him I was pregnant. Lied to all our friends about what really went down. Almost turned my parents completely against me. All I’ve done is protect Camden. Protect him from being let down time and time again. For having to explain to him that his father doesn’t want him. Believed he was the product of someone else. Boyce was selfish and still very much is.
“Dad, will you please settle down?”
“Settle down? Hayley Richards. That boy has messed with you one too many times, and I have just about had it now. Just like his father, he’s a cheat and a liar.”
“Jess, what can we do to get this under control?” I say to Jess Strome, Cassidy’s cousin Kyle’s girl crush. She called as soon as she read the article and hadagreed to be my lawyer on the case when Boyce first threatened the lawsuit. I’ll have to thank Kyle for that one later.
“Well, for starters, what does Camden know? I know the last time we talked, you haven’t told him about Boyce just yet.”
Shit. I forgot about that.
“That’s still the case.” I mumble a series of curses under my breath. “I still haven’t told him.” It’s something I was going to do after Boyce got that stupid paternity test his lawyer is requiring. I didn’t want anyone putting seeds of doubt into Cam’s head before it’s on paper proving once and for all, Camden is Boyce’s son.
“Okay, well, let’s talk this out then. Are there reporters outside your home yet?”
I look outside my living room window and see a few reporters waiting on the sidewalk in front of my stoop. Looking like vultures waiting for their next victim to fall at their feet so they can feast upon their remains.
“About a handful or so. Camden gets out of school in thirty. There’s no way they’ll be gone by then.”
“Is there someone you can have pick Camden up from school and take him to someplace out of the public eye?” she asks as if she’s trying to come up with solutions right on the spot.
I place Jess on speakerphone as I pull it away from my ear, flicking to the home screen of my iPhone. Brooks has called me three times. He must have seen the news. I open our text thread just as a message comes through.
Brooks: I’m on my way to your place.
I look around my house and internally freak out. I haven’t told Camden about Boyce, and these articles have come to light. I haven’t told Brooks my real last name either. The man I love so much wants to be here to support me, yet my parents stand pacing my living room. My parents. His boss. My boss.
Yeah, I’ve made a mess of this whole thing.
Hayley: Don’t. Reporters are everywhere. I’m on the phone with Jess right now, trying to find out how to shield Camden from this. I still haven’t told him.
Brooks: What can I do to help?
I look to my father and mother. My dad is yelling in hushed tones to his PR team for the Skipjacks. It’s a scandal he wasn’t prepared for. And with my last name being a well-kept secret, except to a few employees who have been with my father since he started the team, it’s even worse.
Hayley: Pick Camden up from school and take him to your apartment. I’ll call and let them know you’re authorized to get him. I’ll meet you there.
“Jess, I’m sending Camden to Brooks’ apartment. Let me know what you find out. That’s where we’ll be till this dies down,” I say as I move toward my bedroom.
My father is hot on my heels. “Hayley, do you really think that’s smart? Brooks needs to remain focused. Not dealing with some scandal that he has no involvement in.”
“Wade,” my mother warns as his face heats with anger.
“Dad, this isn’t up for discussions. I trust Brooks with Camden. He knows the entire situation. Camden will be safe there.”
“It has nothing to do with trust, Hayley,” he yells at me, stopping me in my tracks from throwing stuff into bags. “He’smy best goddamn player, and you’re involving him in a scandal that could distract him from what really matters. You’re going to throw his career in the damn shitter because of some mistake that happened ten years ago. Again, you just couldn’t listen to me when I told you to leave the boy alone. I knew something like this would happen.”
“Wade!” my mother yells as I collapse to my knees in front of my bed, her arms wrapping protectively around me as they’ve done so many times before. “Wade Richards. You stop this, this instant.”
