Page 83 of One Kind Goal

“I can’t believe you have to ask, Sawyer.” Carina’s voice simmered with anger. “The internet is crawling with videos of Nia being toted away from the scene of a fight at that stupid hockey game last night.” When she saw Morgan, Carina daggered a finger at her. “Toted away by her mother. They think she is Nia’s mother and that Nia is either the love child of Austin Rayhill or Sawyer Lundin. It’s a goddamn mess. Exactly what I didn’t want to happen . . . happened.”

Sawyer picked up his phone from the coffee table, having left it out there purposely. He’d done the turtle thing and ducked his head into his shell last night, not wanting to find out Nia had indeed been captured by the media.

He had to face it now though.

Scrolling for a few moments made his knees weak and he slumped into a chair across from the couch. Morgan appeared to be seeing the same things he was on her phone because she’d grown a shade of pale that didn’t look healthy.

Sawyer Lundin and Austin Rayhill Seen Confronting Fan

Hockey and Movie Stars Brawling With Fans in Montreal

What Happens When Injured Hockey Players and Action-Adventure Actors Team Up?

Those headlines were to stories that only talked about Sawyer and Austin and that bastard fan. The ones that came up after that were the ones that made Sawyer’s stomach clench.

Who is This Little Girl?

Panicked Mom Rushes Girl Away From Hockey Game Scuffle

Does She Look Like Sawyer Lundin to You?

Secret Love Child. Which Hottie is Her Daddy?

“Alan and I woke up to a news report discussing a myriad of theories involving Nia’s parentage,” Carina said, making Sawyer snap his head up from looking at his phone. “Nosy people are going to be hunting for the answers to all the questions being posed on the internet.” She flicked her hand at his phone. “It’s only a matter of time before someone finds out you’re here. I won’t let Nia be involved any more than she’s already been.”

“Carina, I—”

“Save it, Sawyer.” She pointed at him now. “Why did you guys have to start something with that fan?”

“We didn’t start shit!” Sawyer shot to his feet.

“That’s not what it says in those stories online. Most of them say you and her brother taunted that fan.” Another finger arrowed at Morgan.

“Not true,” Morgan said. “That guy bumped into me first and was trash-talking about the Anchors.”

“Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter what actually happened.” Carina dropped a few more of Nia’s toys into the tote bag. “People believe what the internet says, and too much of it says stuff about Nia right now.” She shook her head. “I should have known better. I should have known you wouldn’t be able to keep out of the public eye, Sawyer.”

“Carina, I tried my best,” Sawyer said, each item of Nia’s she packed was like a nail in his coffin. “So did Austin. We made it through the entire game undetected. Only when that fan got mouthy, nearly made Morgan fall, pushed Austin to the ground, and punched me did things get out of hand.” He gestured to his bruised jaw. “I didn’t give myself this bruise. That asshole did.”

“Maybe if we all sit and talk calmly about this, we can figure out some damage control strategies,” Morgan suggested.

“I’m handling damage control.” Carina glared at Morgan. “Because I’m Nia’s mother. Not you. Not anyone else. Me. I make the decisions about my daughter.”

“Hey, she’s my daughter too,” Sawyer said. “This situation happened, but we can keep the media from finding out any more details about Nia. The buzz will die down pretty quickly when there isn’t any fuel to keep it going.”

“Where is Nia?” Morgan glanced down the quiet hallway.

“She’s in the car with Alan.” Carina waved a hand toward the front of the cottage then zipped up Nia’s suitcase.

“You were just going to take her?” Sawyer peeked out the window to see a red pickup truck with an extended cab parked next to his SUV. “You weren’t going to talk to me or let me say goodbye to her?”

“She’s upset,” Carina said. “I’m upset. We both need to get back to Rhode Island and away from the stupid spotlight that’s always on you.” She looked at Morgan again and rolled her eyes before looking back at Sawyer. “And great job picking a major movie star’s sister to date. Really, Sawyer. You clearly don’t understand how keeping a low profile works.”

“Don’t talk to me as if I’m an idiot,” Sawyer shot back. “Morgan, Austin, me. None of us are to blame for this, Carina. That fan is the sole problem here. We were minding our own business when that guy gave us no choice but to do something.”

“You had a choice,” Carina said. “You just didn’t choose your daughter.”

“And I was supposed to let some jackass rough up Morgan and shove Austin and clock me? Who knows what else he was planning to do?”