Page 159 of Game Misconduct
Not a nod. Not a text. Not a signal from behind the glass.
I gave her everything I had tonight. Shut it all down. Led this team like I’m supposed to.
But it didn’t fix a damn thing.
The scoreboard says we won.
But all I feel is the ache.
The space where something used to live.
You can win the night and still lose the person who made it matter.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Maddox
The buzzof last night’s win hasn’t even worn off when my phone lights up with Peter’s name. I almost let it go to voicemail.
I’m halfway to the gym, windows down, music up, trying to get out of my head. But the second buzz hits and something in my gut turns.
I thumb the call. “Yeah?”
He doesn’t waste time. “It’s out.”
My whole body goes still. Had Jace said something after all?
“What’s out?”
“The Boston thing,” he says, voice tight. “Someone leaked it.”
The air in the car goes razor sharp.
“No names yet, but it’s bad. A blind item on some sports gossip site hit this afternoon, and now X is tearing it apart. They’re calling it Locker Room Loyaltygate.” A pause. “The way it’s worded? Someone knew details. Enough to point fingers.”
I grip the steering wheel like I might tear it off the column.
“You’re not mentioned—yet. But if it spreads, it’s only amatter of time. The rookie’s name isn’t in it either, but the timeline and team details line up too fucking clean to be a guess.”
“Who?” I rasp, throat tight. “Who the hell would say anything?”
Peter sighs. “I’ve already gone down the list. Boston’s front office hasn’t budged. Rookie’s been quiet. Josh could ruin his career if he said anything.”
“Only if Boston wants him to be ruined. He’s the golden boy.”
“What’s his incentive?”
I don’t have an answer for that. And that only leaves one variable.
Sloane.
The silence that follows eats a hole through my chest.
“Sloane knows,” I say flatly. “Not just what happened. The details. What it meant.”
“How the hell does she know?”
“I told her.”
