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“I have to go,” he says. “But please, let me know when you get back? Even if it’s just a text?”
“Fine,” I say, nodding.
He’s right, it’s not just me anymore. It’s also about this baby and I need to think about what’s best for him.
“Be safe? And hug that baby for me?”
“Yeah,” I say. Then I end the call.
Midge still hasn’t returned and I assume she’s made some friends along with those ginger beers in the dining car. I stack the pillows and curl on my side, shoving a blanket between my knees. I have to admit, this is far more comfortable than the bus. And the thing is, it’s not just that I want to believe Derek when he says he’s not trying to buy me or my love, it’s that I do believe him. And I don’t know if that makes me hopeful or just a fool.
CHAPTER47
MEGAN
The article comesacross my newsfeed this morning and before I’m halfway through, I know it’s about Derek. The headline reads:Anonymous Whistleblower Names Names in Stunning College Hockey Shakedown.
It detailed several bombshells including the sudden rise of things called Booster Banks and ‘pay-for-play’ schemes at several men’s hockey programs. The whistleblower essentially cleared over a dozen names and provided damning evidence for one coach in particular from a smaller school in Minnesota. There was a quote from Portland University’s Athletic Director that said it would be re-evaluating its hiring decisions after consulting with the association and its legal counsel.
A smaller article made headlines later, just as we were pulling into Union Station. Derek had resigned from Portland University. It said he was exploring other opportunities with major athletic wear companies. It was vague enough to sound legit.
But then it was time to disembark.
The brisk November wind blows dead leaves through the door of Portland’s Union Station as travelers haul their luggage in, out of the cold. Midge is folding a piece of paper as she crosses the expansive room toward me. When we arrived, she mumbled something about needing to find the business center and I agreed to watch her luggage.
“Ready, darling?”
“Sure,” I say, feeling an uncomfortable sense of dread at returning to my life as I left it. It all feels so up in the air right now. I had to leave the business stuff for the days I was gone, and while Lule said she understood, I have a feeling there will be a lot of work waiting for me when I get back. And that doesn’t even get to the bit that’s twisting my stomach into knots.
I don’t know where things stand with Derek. I know I owe him a conversation at some point. But I’m already dreading it. I’m honestly not sure if there’s anything he could say or do to make things better.
Midge holds the door for me, and I follow her outside to where cabs and rideshare services line up, waiting to pick up passengers. She nudges toward a bench and I follow. I’m not actually sure if she’s ordered a car yet, but she said she had everything arranged. She holds the folded paper in her lap and carefully, deliberately hands it to me.
“What’s this?” I ask.
“I told you I needed a bit more time on your baby shower gift. Well, here it is.”
I cock my head and smile. “Midge, you didn’t have to get me a gift. You’ve already done so much for me.”
She shakes her head. “It’s not about ‘enough,’” she says. “It’s about what’s right.” She presses her hands over mine, over the paper. “This feels right.” Then she nods and waves at it. “Take a look.”
I press my lips into a scolding smile as I unfold the paper.
And I freeze.
It doesn’t make sense. It looks like a contract, and Midge’s name is at the bottom. But my name is right at the center. Just below my address.
“What is this?” I ask, my heart beating a little faster as if it already knows the answer.
“I bought the dick-pink house when I was young and had inherited some money from the death of my first husband.”
I snort at her description of the house. The girls always called it the penis-peach house. And then it starts to sink in.
“You own the house?” How did I never know this?
She nods, a clever smile curling her perfectly lined lips.
“It was a respite for me. A place of my own. But it was too much house for me. So I rented out the basement. And then I realized it was still too much space, and I did some construction, and I rented out the first floor.”
