Page 61 of He Has Charm (Boston Brawlers Hockey)
“Agreed,” Rafe says. I nod at them both.
“However,” Vogert says, “Mr. Easton may file a complaint and then it would be up to the police to decide whether his charge should be brought for prosecution. He would also have the option of a civil trial.”
Finn blows out a whistle and my heart thuds so furiously I wonder if I’m okay, whether this is normal or whether it’s an irregular heartbeat like my cardiologist told me to watch for.Did my dad’s heart feel like this before it happened?
* * *
By the beginning of practice the next day, the story, including some cell phone video clips, are all over social media and the news and some of the guys are busting my balls, calling me the white Knight. So I shouldn’t be surprised that Ham Jett is waiting for me after practice as I get off the ice. Delaney is with him and I automatically look for Harper, but she’s not here. Disappointment strikes me.
And as I take off my helmet and gloves and hand them to the equipment manager, Ham greet me and I follow him to the edge of the hallway. Thank fuck today’s practice is closed to the press.
“What brings you to Beantown today, Jett? By the way, Harper is doing an excellent job.” I grin, hoping whatever he has to say isn’t going to be too terrible because his smile isn’t the joyful kind. It’s theI’m sorry, my friend, thing are not goodkind. I don’t bother trying to read Delaney’s game face.
“Delaney and I thought it would be better if Harper stayed away from the rink for a while.” I keep my face neutral.
“Is that right?” I steel myself, hoping to hell they’re not going to pull the plug on the agreement that she be my handler. I’ll insist she stays if I have to, though I’m not sure it’ll have any teeth behind it. Plus that would be crazy wouldn’t it?
“You know last night’s incident caused a media kerfuffle,” Delaney says. Jett chuckles.
“You’re going to have to make an official comment,” Jett says. “There are two sides to this story. The version where you’re an overly aggressive bully who didn’t need to punch Easton because he was just talking to the lady—that’s Easton’s version. And the version where you’re a Knight in shining armor rescuing a woman who was being assaulted by an asshole who should know better.”
“I got that. I’ll do whatever I need to do.”
“So far Easton isn’t filing any charges, criminal or civil. I have a call in to his attorney about signing a release if we can come to an agreement about settling the public debate.”
“Fuck. You want me to play nice with this guy—hold him blameless publicly to avoid a lawsuit? Because you know he’d never file the criminal complaint—he’d get buried.”
“You’re right,” Jett says. “On both counts.”
“I have a statement prepared for you,” Delaney says.
“What about Harper? I don’t want to say anything that she’s not okay with.” Delaney nods at me and I see a small muscle spasm in her right cheek which on another person might qualify as the start of a smile. For her, it’s probably the devil pulling some strings.
“Either way,” Jett says, “In my opinion the bigger problem for her is that she is sometimes referred to as your girlfriend and sometimes as your agent ,and the social media debate on that matter is gaining popularity and starting to spread to mainstream media. We just got a call from ESPN and two of the networks about the issue, which, as you know, could be an ethical one for our agency.” I look between the two.
“So you want me to say in a statement to the press that there’s nothing between us except our professional relationship and I would have punched the guy out same as if she were my sister or a stranger?”
“Perfect. I’ll use that,” Delaney says. Jett looks grimmer than I’ve ever seen him.
“Say it if it’s true. If it’s not—”
I interrupt Jett.
“Of course it’s true. I like Harper, but she’s absolutely not my girlfriend. If you hadn’t noticed, I don’t do girlfriends. I’m a very committed bachelor.” I clamp my mouth shut and hope he doesn’t question me further. I want her to be more, but I don’t know what, or whether she’ll want, what I have to give.
I’m skating circles around the issue of what Harper really is to me. It’s a good question met with a fog of confusion every time I ask myself. Especially since fucking Easton laid his hands on her.
Truth is I don’t remember ever being that fucking pissed in my life. Not since my dad died, anyway. I shrug to dispel the uncomfortable questions and put a hand to my heart to reassure myself it’s still beating properly.
“Fine,” Jett says and he sounds like he means the opposite.
“I’ll arrange the press conference for later this evening,” Delaney says. “I’ll text you the time when I set it up. Wear a suit and tie and shave your face. I don’t want you looking like you’re on your way to another barroom brawl.”
When I get home, Harper isn’t there. Later that evening, I make my statement. I tell the press that I intervened because Easton didn’t back off when she asked him to and that my relationship with Harper is strictly professional, that I wasn’t at the event with her that night and that I was protecting a woman in need of standing up for same as I would if she were my sister. We didn’t take questions, thank fuck.
According to the sports reporter commentary and social media following my press conference, no one believes me. If anything, the tide is turning to more people thinking there’s something going on. Fuck.
Of course they’re right.
