Wisely, he decides to leave it be without digging too deep.
“Alright, well. If there’s anything else you need, just let me know. As of now, your little hockey boy is free.”
Notmyhockey boy. Notmyanything.Ahockey boy. A boy who plays hockey.
“Thanks, Noah. I owe you one.”
Or twelve, at this point.
“Anytime, Dolly.”
I hang up and feel ten pounds lighter than I did when I started aggressively cleaning every surface in this place. I drop the cloth onto the table and fall into the chair, inhaling a full breath of lemon-scented polish.
Assault charges.
Not the best news, but better than being booked and headed to prison. I don’t know how any of this works, but a broken nose is better than a broken neck. Free and out of a cellis better than wearing an orange jumpsuit and posing for the best looking mugshot.
Maybe this whole thing isn’t as bad as it seems. Maybe my little encounter with an incredibly good looking jackass will not be the end of the world after all.
He’s out of jail and will be able to lace up his skates again. The universe has righted itself.
CHAPTER FIVE
arden
It’s not asbad as it seems. It’s worse.
Even though Noah confirmed that Carter had been released, and it looks like what happened atIceboxwon’t be the end of the world, I still keep internet-stalking the situation to make sure. I shouldn’t have. I should have stopped while I was ahead and pretended Carter was living his own happily ever after on skates somewhere, twirling around and punching people to his heart’s desire.
Noah is a police officer. He can get the inside scoop when it comes to arrests and charges, but there can be much more to the aftermath than a simple arrest if the person involved is famous.
Carter Forkerro is very, very famous. Especially around here.
That handsome mug is plastered on every corner of this city. On every billboard. He’s on murals painted on the walls of coffee shops and bookstores. He’s the blood of this city. He’sshedblood for this city.
Carter Forkerro doesn’t just get arrested and the story ends.
As the news broke, the sports podcasts and television segments started reporting. The fan accounts and hockey pages started posting. There is a lot of talk about Carter being a burden, about him causing more damage than he’s worth.
To translate: there are conversations going on about him being suspended, traded, or worse… Fired. From the league altogether. Like, Carter Forkerro could lose his job.
The city would riot.
Iwould be responsible for one-half of the infamous Dangerous Duo being tossed from the Pittsburgh hockey team.
Shit.
Nobody else might know that fact but me, Spill Guy, and my friends, but that’s a weight I don’t want on my shoulders. Pittsburgh became my home when I ran from the only other home I’ve ever had. It welcomed me. It kept me sane and whole. I made a life here. Made friends. I don’t want to be any part of why this city hits a rough patch. Carter not being on the team would be a big ol’ rough patch for the community.
“Earth to Arden.”
I blink, looking up from my phone. Whitney is leaning against the desk with an arched brow, dressed in the most perfectly-fitting teal scrubs.
“What?”
“I said, the lovely Nancy has advised me for the third time that she’d like someone with a penis to help her.”
I sigh, shaking my head. “Tough luck, Nance.”
