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“You won’t do that.”
“Pepper, I can—”
“I know you can afford it. You and your brothers have done well enough for yourselves that you can make problems go away. But you’ve already done so much for me. You can’t pay off or threaten everyone who tries to expose me.”
He sighs and tugs me against his chest, kissing the top of my head. “Are you scared?” he asks, after a moment.
“No.” I don’t say more. I don’t tell him it’s because I trust him. I wouldn’t want to put that kind of pressure on anyone.
25
It’s been a quiet few days here at my apartment in Denver. We haven’t gone back to Hideaway but will need to for a few days this weekend for Jackson’s birthday party.
I make a mental note to double check with Pepper how she feels about big crowds after the whole thing with Conner the other night.
She’s been laser-focused, researching community donation centers for some of Elliot’s things that publicized a need for certain items, such as books, clothing, linens, hygiene products and even memorabilia, which a YMCA two towns over would use for flea market sales to raise money for kids’ sporting gear.
The distraction has been good for her. We have a game this evening and she’s been quiet.
Which I get. I’m not entirely eager to see Conner again either. Put a fist through his face, maybe. But there are rules against that apparently.
While Pepper is in the shower, I open the text chain with my brothers. I've kept the Conner thing from them long enough, but I need help. And the Reeves boys are nothing if not creative when it comes to things like this.
Chase: might have a sell out on my team.
Noah: Fuck. Who?
Chase: Assistant Coach.
Noah: give me a full name.
Chase: he's clean. Coach Riley’s been trying to get him out for years.
Levi: what did he say?
Chase: dropped hints. He was tormenting us.
I don't have the balls to say tormenting her. Because I'll lose my shit.
Noah is typing as a curse from Levi comes through.
Noah: assuming you tried to convince him otherwise?
Chase: Coach and I both did.
Levi: Got to get something on him before he goes to the media.
Chase: It's impossible. The guy covers his tracks like a serial killer.
Levi: what do you mean?
Chase: he's been known to hit on the Ice Girls. Repeatedly, making it very uncomfortable for them. It's a matter of time before there's a report on something more serious.
Noah: harassment is plenty.
I can almost hear my brother's stoic voice in the text.
Levi: what about Lonnie? Does she know about the harassment?
