Page 54 of The Players We Hate
It kept replaying everything I’d learned on this trip to Braysen. Beckham’s suspicions. Reed’s warnings. The wayevery piece seemed to circle back to Wells, Wren, her father, and my sister.
Reed was digging into Wells, I knew that much. If it came down to it, he’d help me. I just hoped it wouldn’t get to that point. I didn’t want to drag anyone else into the mess circling my family and hers. If I could defuse it before it blew up in my face, I had to try.
The pullout mattress creaked as Wren shifted, scrolling half-heartedly through her phone. A sharp buzz cut through the quiet, and her screen lit up with a name she didn’t say out loud. She shot me a quick look, something between guilt and warning, before slipping off the makeshift bed and stepping toward the doorway.
I stayed where I was, but her voice carried back to me anyway. “Hello, Father.”
The word landed heavily. She kept her tone light, casual, like she wasn’t standing in a stranger’s living room in a town hours from where he thought she was.
I tried not to listen, but it was impossible not to miss the sharp edge of his voice bleeding through the line. He was checking in, making sure she was where she was supposed to be. Wren’s tone stayed light, practiced, as she lied about being back at her dorm, claiming she was turning in early. She mentioned turning her location off while we were gone, hoping they wouldn’t notice.
My stomach twisted. She was covering for me, for us, and I knew how risky that was. If anyone connected the dots, if her dad ever caught wind of where she really was, it could all come back on me. With the suspicions about betting and politics, the thought made my skin crawl. One mistake and being with Wren could cost me everything.
My scholarship, my reputation, and maybe even hockey itself.
When she hung up, she caught me watching. “Everything okay?” she asked, like she hadn’t just lied straight to the governor of the state.
“Yeah,” I said, but the word tasted off. She didn’t push. She slipped back onto the pullout, tucking her legs beneath the blanket as her dad’s voice still buzzed faintly through my mind.
I sat there a second too long, uneasy. If she could lie to her dad that quick, what else could she lie about? The thought stuck, no matter how much I told myself I trusted her.
I couldn’t sit in that room any longer. The walls were closing in. I cut through to the dining room, glanced out the window toward the backyard, the floorboards creaking under me.
Reed walked out of the kitchen with a glass of water. He stopped when he saw me, eyes narrowing like he already knew what was running through my head.
“Is she asleep?” he asked, nodding toward the living room.
“Not yet,” I said quietly. “I just needed a minute.”
We stood there in the dim light, the quiet pressing down around us. Finally, I cleared my throat. “I never said thanks. For what you did, for getting that photo taken down as fast as you did. If it had spread any further…” My words caught, the thought of my sister’s face plastered across phones and feeds choking me.
Reed shook his head. “You don’t need to thank me. I’d do anything to take care of her, to make sure she’s okay. That’s all I care about.”
“You better,” I said, my voice low. “Because if you don’t, I will.”
His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t back down. We held each other’s stare.
“I get it,” I added quietly. “You care about her, but she’s my sister. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.”
Reed gave a single nod, the edge in his posture softening just enough to let me know he’d heard me.
Something in his expression eased, just slightly, like the unspoken agreement between us was enough for tonight. He nodded once and slipped around the corner, disappearing upstairs toward his bedroom, leaving me in the hall with my thoughts.
I leaned against the breakfast bar, dragging a hand down my face. I wasn’t afraid of hits on the ice. I wasn’t scared of standing up for my sister. I wasn’t even afraid of what I felt for Wren.
But this? This wasn’t something I could fight my way through. It was bigger than me, bigger than us.
And deep down, I knew I’d have to let her go before it all blew apart.
Chapter Sixteen
Talon
The goodbyes that morning were simple but heavy. I hugged Tatum tight, holding on a little longer than I meant to before kissing the top of her head.
Then came the guys. I missed Beckham and Hayes. I missed when things were simple—street hockey, flag football, killing time outside without a care. Back when we could just hang out without all the other shit hanging over us.
I clapped Reed on the back, and he gave me that steady look, like he already knew what I was thinking.
