Page 91 of One Look

This is bad. Really, really bad.“What can I do?”

Officer King let go of the folder she was holding, and it dropped to her desk with a plop. “Unless you can convince Lucian King, the guy with the mangled face, to not press charges? Nothing.”

I stood from the chair. “Thank you.”

I went straight to Joey. I grabbed his arm gently and lowered my voice. “Tell me what happens if anyone finds out about this.”

He looked around. “We have a code of conduct. This is big. They could be suspended from the team. Indefinitely.”

I worried the skin on my thumbnail. “I figured as much.” I gestured impatiently. “Tell me the worst-case scenario.”

“Kevin’s in position to be an early-round NFL draft pick if he gets his grades up. An arrest like this could ruin his entire life. And football is everything to Mike. He doesn’t really have a plan B yet. This is really bad. Do we have to tell Coach?”

“Are you kidding me?” I hissed. “In this town?Everyone already knows!” I took a calming breath. “It’s fine. Everything is fine. I will take care of this.”

I clamped my teeth together, and with a nod, I left Joey behind to head straight outside and into the crowd of Kings. When I spotted Royal, I mustered my courage and pointed directly at him. “Can I speak with you for a moment?”

A cocky smirk flashed on his face, and he stood tall from where he was leaning against the brick planter. He let me lead him a few steps away so I could talk to him in private.

I swallowed hard and hoped this wasn’t the worst idea I’d ever had. “Royal, I need your help.”

29

WYATT

“He wasblack with little white boots and the cutest, tiniest stripe down his nose.”

I smiled down at a sleepy Penny. “He sounds cute.”

“The cutest.” She pouted as I tucked the covers around her shoulders. “And he was all alone, but when I read himThe Wonky Donkey, he curled into my lap and purredsoloud, Daddy.”

“I’m glad you had fun. I’m sure he was glad to have a friend for the day.”

“But Figaro wants ahome.” Penny looked up at me with big round eyes. I knew exactly what she was getting at, and there was no fucking way we were getting a cat.

“His name was Figaro? Like in Pinocchio?”

“His name was Darryl, but I changed it because he totally looks like a Figaro.”

She named the cat. I was going to kill Tootie.

“So tell me about Cheeto’s adventure today?” I raised an eyebrow at her, and she looked sufficiently sheepish.

“He got out.”

I nodded and kissed her cheek. “I heard. And don’t cats eat rodents? We wouldn’t want to put Cheeto in danger.”

“Figaro wouldnever!”

“I’m sure that’s true. How about this? It’s not a no forever, but a not right now. Can you work with that?”

Her sleepy frown deepened. “I guess so.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “You’re the greatest kid in the world, you know that, right?”

Penny rolled to her side to face me and nodded. “I love you, Dad.”

“Love you too, Pickle.”

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