Page 46 of Worth the Risk
“Ms. Beauregard, I hear we possibly have a situation with an ex-boyfriend. May I escort you to your car?” he says politely.
“Yes, Hank, that would be wonderful.”
“Are you familiar with the employee-only tunnels to the back parking lot? I assume that is where you’re parked,” Hank says.
“Yes, I am parked back there. I didn’t know there was another option for getting to the parking lot.”
“I don’t suggest it if you’re walking by yourself, as you’d be stuck if someone snuck in and waited. But it’s nice when the weather isn’t cooperating,” he tells me. He leads me to a back staircase, then down to a long hallway that parallels the rink. We walk quietly to the door, before he stops me. “What does your ex-boyfriend look like? I’ll see if he’s anywhere in the lot.”
“A little shorter than you. Blonde hair. Skinny.”
Hank steps out into the lot, scopes the perimeter, and motions for me to follow. “I’ll walk you directly to your car. If he approaches, I’ll detain him so you can leave. Go straight home. You’re staying in your aunt’s apartment, right? Tell whoever is working the lobby about him. Maybe even get them a picture. If he came all this way, he’s not likely to settle on going back home, Ms. Beauregard.”
I was afraid of that. Jefferson and I didn’t break up on good terms. In fact, he completely lost his cool. He threatened all kinds of things, including sexual assault, if I didn’t stay with him. He seemed to have forgotten the entire reason I broke it off with him was because he tried to rape me. I only managed to get away because he was incredibly drunk and couldn’t fully get an erection. He lashed out, slapping me across the face hard, before he fell off the bed and knocked himself out. I had my locks changed while he was at work the following day, and began actively searching for jobs immediately.
Like I told the terrible terrors: Jefferson isn’t a good guy. Just another Southern guy who grew up wealthy and assumed he could get whatever he wanted whenever he wanted, regardless of how he needed to get it.
Considering my father introduced me to Jefferson, and both of my parents were horrified when I explained why I had broken up with him, just shows how out of touch my parents truly are. They saw nothing wrong with him trying to rape me because his family has connections. That’s more important than morality and being a decent human being.
The only way Jefferson found out I was here is probably because of my mother. She’s really the only person who knows where I am. My father couldn’t be bothered, and when I left Georgia, I ceased to exist to him. I highly doubt my uncle would have done this, even with his assumptions about Luca, because he knew how desperately I wanted out of Georgia. He didn’t know everything, but I inferred enough for him to understand I was willing to move to Colorado without a job if need be.
As I thank Hank for walking me to my car, I quickly exit the parking lot and fly into downtown as quickly as possible. I’m thankful the underground resident parking lot is gated, but I still hustle up to the lobby so I can speak to the security staff there. They assure me that they’ll keep an eye out.
Once safely in the comfort of my aunt’s apartment, I’m all too aware of Luca being gone. God, I wish he were here tonight. He’d make me feel safe. Checking the time, I know his game has already started in New York.
After eating a bowl of cereal directly over the sink like a savage, I send Luca a quick text telling him I miss him, and then head to bed. I’m running on only a few hours of sleep over the past few days, and I’m horribly exhausted. I’ll tell Luca tomorrow about Jefferson.
If only I knew things would never be the same after today.
Hannah
The following day at work, I’m a bundle of nervous energy. Not only am I keyed up knowing my ex-boyfriend is possibly roaming around Denver, but Luca got home sometime overnight. I had early morning meetings and commitments, so we had decided while in Boston that he’d get a few hours of sleep in his apartment before I would try to sneak home during my lunch break to see him. Not even two full days apart, and I’m acting like he’s coming home from war.
Just as I’m about to leave, I get a text from my aunt letting me know she’s arrived back at her apartment, a full ten days early. Lovely. Then, to make matters worse, she tells me she’s hoping I can find another place to stay within the week, because a friend of hers is coming for a visit.
Then, my uncle pops his head in my office. “You got a sec, Han?”
“No, I was just about to run back to Caroline’s. She’s back, did you know that?” I ask as I’m rummaging through my purse.
“Oh, no. I didn’t know that. That’s pretty early, isn’t it? I thought she was staying for six months?” he asks.
“I don’t know. She texted me yesterday to say she’d be coming back early, but then just texted to tell me she’s in her apartment. I thought I had a couple more weeks to find a place.”
“She’s kicking you out?”
“Evidently.”
“You know Caroline. Her ability to recognize when she’s not being the most tactful person is paper thin.”
I sigh. “I’m aware. What do you need, Uncle Bennett?”
“Uh, need you to come for a quick meeting in my office, actually,” he says sheepishly, his neck reddening as he absentmindedly scratches at his chin. A sudden pit in my stomach tells me this isn’t going to be a quick meeting, nor will it be enjoyable for me.
“Okay,” I say quietly as I trail behind my uncle back to his office.
When I step through the doorway, I know it’s bad news. Not only is Coach Woodward in attendance, but so is the GM.
“Take a seat, Ms. Beauregard,” the GM says. I sit, interlocking my fingers tightly as I wait for whatever bomb to drop. What player did something awful? Who needs a social media cleanup? Or worse: what did my interns, the terrible terrors, manage to mess up this time?