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He was right. I knew he was right, but I’d fought so long to make it clear that I was a true women’s advocate. Having a relationship shouldn’t undermine that. It shouldn’t, but it did. For whatever crazy reason, society would only believe me as long as I stayed single. The minute I fell into a relationship,my advocacy was dead in the water. No one—even other women—believed that a women’s advocate could have a sexual relationship and stay true to her cause.
I was a fool for thinking I could pull this off. I was spiraling. I knew it, but I didn’t know how to stop it. I wanted to be the exception to the rule. I’d always wanted to be the one woman who proved it was possible to have it all. I’d given up because it made it easier.
“I’m emailing them.” I backed out of Zachary’s reach and turned my back on all three of them.
They had a whispered conversation behind my back. I ignored them and opened my email. It didn’t take long to find the email addresses of the man who’d interviewed me, the newspaper editor, and the owner. I added all their email addresses and put my fingers to work on the email. I told them in no uncertain terms, that their article was not only false but inflammatory. I assured them that I would pursue legal action if they did not redact the article and issue a public apology for their speculation and malicious intent to undermine my advocacy by bringing attention to a false idea and mentioning my private life in any way. I reminded them that I had approved a copy of the article, and that nowhere in my agreement with them did they say that the article could be changed to suit the paper’s version of the truth.
I might be talking out of my ass, but I was not about to roll over and let them do this to me. To us. My molars ground together until my jaw ached. I read through the email, fixed a few typos, then sent it with a hard jab of my thumb.
“They’re wrong on so many levels.” I finally turned around and found my three men getting dressed. “What are you doing?”
Justin was the first to reach me. He wrapped me up in a warm hug, and his chest vibrated under my ear. “We can’t stayall night. We didn’t think you’d want to have to explain to Abigail.”
I sighed but nodded. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for our night to end like this.”
“It’s okay.” Lennox looped an arm around my waist. “It sucks, but it’s okay. We won’t let it end like this.”
“Do you want us to stay a while longer?” Zachary eased his pants over his hips and zipped them. “We don’t have to go now. We just thought you wanted to be alone.”
“I don’t know what I want,” I answered honestly. “I want you. I know that. But this is my life’s work.” I shook the phone for emphasis. Realizing how that sounded, I winced and pressed my thumb and forefinger into my eyes. “I didn’t mean it like that. Can you stay for a little longer?”
“Of course.” Justin kissed my forehead. “We’re here for you, Lucy. Anything you need. Okay?”
I nodded, my throat too tight to speak. I didn’t deserve them. I’d be crazy to let them go because of the article.
Was it too late? Had the article already done too much damage for me to overcome? Another thought rushed in. What if they found out I was sleeping with three men? Not just any three men either, but three of the best players on my dad’s team?
28
ZACHARY
My phone rang half a mile from the practice rink. I groaned but answered since I knew Coach Liam wouldn’t stop until I gave in. “What’s up, Liam?” The man was sixty years old and as gruff as the day was long. But he was a fair coach and the man over me in the youth league. I answered to him whether I liked it or not.
“Zachary,” Liam growled out my name almost like a curse.
The sound of it tightened my hands on the wheel as I grimaced. “Yeah?” I tried for nonchalant, though I was pretty sure I failed miserably. I should’ve been on cloud nine after getting to have sex with Lucy last night, but that damned article put a damper on everything. I couldn’t get the image of her pacing the floor and chewing her thumbnail out of my mind. It tore me apart, knowing I was part of the problem. If I’d kept my hands off her, none of this would be happening.
Liam cleared his throat. “Look, kid. I like you. You’re good with the kids and the parents respect you.”
There was a but coming, I heard it in the gruff tone and the way he dodged around the conversation. I sure as fuck wasn’t going to bring it up. “Thanks.”
“Is there any truth to that article?” Liam sounded halfway between pissed and resigned. “It’s none of my business who you have a relationship with as long as it doesn't interfere with your team. But this…” he trailed off with a coarse curse.
I’d never heard the man utter anything stronger than hell in the three years I’d known him, so the drawled out “fucking shit” threw me. I wheeled into the parking lot and sat there with the engine idling.
“What article?” Maybe if I played dumb, he’d let it ride.
“Hell, man. It’s all over every major news publication. Pictures of you and Coach Ashley’s daughter eyeing each other like you’re trying to mentally tear each other’s clothes off. That article. I know you’ve seen it. Half the world has by now.” Liam cursed again. “Is it true?”
“Lucy and I met up at the gala. I wanted to introduce her to Caroline since I thought they would hit it off. Lucy brought her daughter, and when she got tired, I offered to walk them out so she could rest.” Truth but not the whole truth. It would have to be enough because there was no way in hell I was admitting to anyone that I took Lucy up to my room. It was none of their business. I couldn’t risk putting Lucy in a bad light. She was torn up enough already without me throwing her under the bus.
Liam blew out a breath that seemed to last forever. I waited for him to bring up the rest, but he kept quiet. Maybe no one knew that I’d taken Lucy to my room. The few hotel staff who’d seen us couldn’t give two shits. Unless someone bribed them. Cold sweat broke out across my forehead. I swept it away. “Look, Liam, I’m at practice. Is there anything else?”
“Anything else?” Liam boomed. “Anything else. Hell, boy. You’ve got yourself in one fine pickle. Parents are going to be on this like white on rice. If there’s any hint of a scandal?—”
“There isn’t.” I did my best to reassure him, even though it felt like a flat-out lie.
Liam grunted. “Fine. Better not be. Because I won’t hesitate to fire you if I find out otherwise. Or if anything else happens.”
