Puck Princess (Houston Scythes Hockey #2)

24. Owen

24

OWEN

Spencer will never take my team.

Even if his dad does fork over enough money to own the team, I’m not gonna sit back and let the Scythes become some soulless promo for the Santos brand.

Shit went sideways when Miles Solomon left, but the team is finding their way back to a rhythm. We’re playing well together, and we respect each other on and off the ice—a concept Santos will never understand.

But he doesn’t matter. And he will never take this from me.

This is mine.

It’s why I’m heading in early. I want to hit the training room and get on the ice before anyone else does. I need to work off some steam.

After the club opening, Callie went straight back to my apartment and went to sleep, but I couldn’t seem to relax. It didn’t help that, halfway through the night, she woke up crying from another nightmare. She swore it was nothing just like every other nightmare she has, but it doesn’t feel like nothing. It feels like one more problem that is just outside of my control.

I can kill myself on the rink, but I can’t control if I get traded.

I can hold Callie while she sleeps, but I can never get inside her head.

At least one problem is being solved today. Callie and Summer are on their way to the office of the lawyer I hired to rep Summer’s case against Miles. They’re going to give their statements against him to hopefully land his ass in jail. Even if that doesn’t work out, he’ll at least pay a metric shit ton in child support.

If nothing else goes right today, at least that will.

But just as I put my car in park at the arena, my phone rings. It’s Summer.

“Hey, what’s up?” I don’t even get the full question out before she talks over me.

“Owen, you need to get to the lawyer’s office right now. It’s Callie.”

Before she can even explain, I’m already throwing it into reverse. “What happened? Is she okay?”

“She’s okay, except… she’s not okay. She’s kind of freaking out. We haven’t even talked to anyone yet.” She lowers her voice, and I get the distinct impression she’s trying to make sure Callie doesn’t hear her. “I don’t want to sound like a bitch, but I need her statement, Owen. If she doesn't talk to the lawyer, there might not be enough to pin Miles down. Can you come here?”

“I’m already on my way.”

I’m led through the gleaming law offices of Kaylen Richards by a bouncy, smiley receptionist who doesn’t have a good grasp on how much I need her to hurry the fuck up. The second I see Kaylen’s name on a plaque down the hall, I brush past the receptionist with a flimsy apology and sprint towards the door.

Towards Callie.

Summer is standing just inside the door, and I don’t even greet her. “Where is she?”

Summer points to the car corner of the room where Callie is sitting alone. She’s staring down at the floor, her hands clenched between her knees.

I rush over to her. “Callie?”

As soon as she hears my voice, she looks up. Her face is pale and her eyes are red-rimmed. She looked fine when I left this morning. Tired, thanks to her nightmare, but okay. Now, she’s a wreck.

Her expression shatters, splintering into something between desperation and relief.

I barely have time to hold out my arms before she collapses against me, half-crying. “Owen, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“It’s okay.” I pull her closer, looking around for somewhere more private. Aside from Summer, there’s only one other woman in the room, but I want to be alone with Callie right now. I want her to feel safe.

I lead her out of the room, down the hallway, and through an exit door to a central courtyard. There are a few shade trees and some benches. I take her to one of them, never once letting her go.

Once we’re sitting, I smooth her hair back from her face. “What happened?”

She sniffles. “I’m being stupid.”

“You’re not stupid, Callie. You’re upset. Tell me why.”

“I guess—” She sighs. “This is bringing back memories. From my old job… and everything that happened with my ex.”

“Did you have to testify against him too?”

She shakes her head, the sunlight catching the golden streaks in her hair. “They wanted me to, but I never did. I was too afraid of him.”

I’d never say it, but I wish she had.

If she had, he wouldn’t have been able to stalk her. If she had, I’d know who he is.

But none of that matters right now. What matters is that she feels safe.

“It wasn’t just fear, though,” she continues. “I was worried about my career, too. I didn’t want people to look at me and see the scandal. I didn’t want to be seen as the female PT who slept with hockey players and then cried wolf when one was a dick. And now look at me.”

She starts to cry harder, and I pull her against me, hating that at least some of the drama in her life is because of me.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Cal. Miles was a terrible person. Your ex was, too. They treated you like shit, and that isn’t your fault.”

I pull her away from my chest enough that I can see her face. I wait for her to nod, though, even when she does, she doesn’t seem convinced. She’s still pale and shaky.

This can’t be good for the baby.

“You don’t have to go back in there if you don’t?—”

“I have to do this,” she interrupts. “For Summer. She needs my testimony.”

Summer does. She told me as much.

And if that’s true, and Callie still doesn’t want to go back in there, I’ll find some other way to bring Miles down. If walking into that room would hurt Callie, I won’t let her do it.

The trouble is, I don’t think it will hurt Callie. I think it might be one of the only things that can help her.

“You’re a victim, too,” I remind her gently. “If you go in there, it should be for yourself.”

She swipes tears from her cheeks. “I’m so tired of being a victim.”

“No man who does what Miles has done—or treated you the way your ex did—deserves to walk away free. Secrets are how they stay in control. It’s how they hurt more people.”

Her chin wobbles. “I know. And I don’t want that.”

For the millionth time, I want to know what happened to Callie. What dark thing exists in her past. What keeps her up at night.

“You know you can tell me anything, right?” I rub my hand down her thigh, squeezing her knee. “You can trust me with your darkest secrets. Even the ones that hurt. Especially the ones that hurt. You don’t have to carry it alone.”

Now isn’t a good time for a shitty hockey metaphor, but I want us to work as a team. My experience with relationships is thin, but I know how to support my teammates. Sometimes you score, sometimes you assist, sometimes you create a gap and get smashed into the wall—so long as we’re all working towards the same goal, nothing else matters.

Whatever Callie needs from me, I want to be that for her.

Callie’s eyes shift. She’s debating it. Her mouth opens like she’s going to give in. But just as quickly, fear fills her eyes and drags her back from me, deeper into her own head.

She snaps her mouth shut just as the door to the courtyard opens. “Callie? Ms. Richards will see you now.”

There’s only a beat of hesitation before Callie stands and smooths her pencil skirt. I almost smile at how obvious it is that she’s pregnant. Soon, everyone will know, and I can’t wait.

I grab her hand out of the air, turning her to face me. “Are you sure?”

“I’ll be okay, O.” She gives me a tight smile. “You go back to practice. I don’t need the coach riding your ass because of me.”

I make the decision all at once.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

She may not be able to ask for what she needs, but I can still give it to her.

“But Owen?—”

“I’m staying with you. Both of you. Coach already knows what’s up and no one else matters.”

Least of all Spencer fucking Santos.

She doesn’t argue, which is how I know this is what she wants. That and the fact that she’s plastered to my side as we’re led to a private room. Callie’s nerves are contagious. Even though Kaylen’s smile is familiar and reassuring, I’m still on the edge of my seat.

I reach for her hand under the table, and Callie squeezes back, crushing my knuckles.

“This is how we put it to rest,” I remind her.

Callie nods.

And when Kaylen starts recording and asks Callie to give her version of events, she takes a deep breath… and doesn’t leave a single thing out.

She sounds strong and steady, and I’m so proud of her I can hardly stand it.

I’m also losing my fucking mind.

I hold her hand as she talks. Meanwhile, I grip the underside of the chair with my free hand just to keep myself from standing up and tracking down Miles myself. I already had an idea what happened, but listening to Callie talk about what my teammate and supposed friend did to her… It’s worse than I ever imagined.

But I guess that’s why we are here. Summer and Callie are fighting Miles in the best way we can.

Without going to jail, anyway.