Page 252 of Wrong Pucking Jersey

“You know she’d never do that.”

“West, I’m not going to continue to let pass by and ruin my chances… or yours, for a matter.”

“It’s not…”

“Like that? Admit it. You’re smitten with her. Something I haven’t seen in your eyes since Jessica died.”

“You’re not any different.”

“You’re right. That’s why… we’re going to stop being scaredy cat boys stuck in the past and be men who know what they want. Even if it means we share.”

“You really want to do this? Will… Mikayla be okay with it?”

“She’s dating four men, West, and don’t try to say Jayce will have a chance with her. I’ll do everything in my power to get him out of her life if he attempts to have romantic relations with our girl.”

“So, no forgiveness.”

“He needs no forgiveness. You heard the cops. Those text messages have been coming from his phone.”

“The phone that has apparently been Oscars all this while since he gave him his old one.”

“Which Oscar denied.”

“As much as I want to choose sides, I feel if I’m not attempting to balance either of them, I’ll make the wrong decision like everyone else seems to be doing.”

“Be honest with me, West. Look me dead in the eye.”

“I’m listening.”

“Jayce and Oscar. Who do you think is the true culprit here?”

There’s that tense silence, then a long sigh.

“Jayce.”

“Yet Oscar may end up being charged with attempted murder, damage of property, and another list of charges that will not only destroy any chance of him entering the hockey or sports world again but will have his ass behind bars. Westley, I may dislike Armani for how he treated our girl post-breakup of their crew, but I’d never wish that on him. He doesn’t deserve a future behind bars because of someone else’s sins.”

“I want to know for sure. Not because I don’t believe what I see with my own eyes and the obvious corruption behind the scenes, but because you can’t stop someone who knows how to play the game well until you out beat them with their own medicine.”

“You want to set him up.”

“I want to see how far he’ll go, Isaac. How far do Jayce and his father will go to get him the future he’s desperate for? Jayce wants this bad. He’s not like the other players on my team who’ve been given an opportunity to do the sport they love as a profession without the weight of everyone’s expectations on their shoulders. Jayce is in a household that has built a legacy for generations. Personally, that’s not a household I’d ever wish on anyone. I experienced it firsthand, and it’s exactly why I made sure Wyatt wouldn’t face the same fate.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Not sure. All I know for now, which I suggest to you as a coach, is to get Wyatt to replace Oscar’s position for now. As for Oscar, we should talk with Mr. Champion, get him a lawyer, and if possible, I want Dimitri involved.”

“Dimitri?”

“He helped Mr. Champion when proving his innocence during that whole fiasco about being gay. He’s been offered a job opportunity to create a new security system for the hockey league.”

“You want him to trace the text messages.”

“Yes.”

“How will he do that when they have the phone as evidence?”

“They have his phone, yes, but they don’t have Wolfgang’s.”

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