Page 113 of Risking the Pucking Defense

“Says who?”

“Well, the franchise for one,” I start. “And there’s almost a ten years’ difference between us.”

“So? That doesn’t mean anything, and you know it.”

“It will to everyone out there,” I say, letting my eyes move to the windows.

“Since when do we care about them?”

I push to my feet again, unable to sit still.

“It’s just all of them, Bea. It’s⁠—”

“The Jeffersons?”

I freeze, my eyes finding hers as fear rushes through me.

“I fucking hate them,” I seethe. “Everything I was forced to endure. The life I was made to live, the dreams I had to give up. I hate all of it. And this…when they find out…”

“You walked away years ago, Hailee. They no longer get to have an opinion on any aspect of your life.”

I blink, my eyes burning.

I wish that were true. I really fucking do.

“I know,” I whisper. “Hayden doesn’t deserve any of this. He should be out there finding a pretty young girl to spend time with. A pop star, an actress, a model. Anyone other than this car crash,” I cry, pointing at myself.

“But he doesn’t want any of them. He’s had a crush on you since he first met you. In the past year, he could have had pop stars, actresses, models…but from what I’ve heard, he hasn’t.”

I groan.

“I’m not saying that he was waiting for you specifically, but on some level, I can’t help but wonder if he was.”

“That doesn’t help,” I mutter.

“Romantic, though, right? Like something out of a book. Maybe he’s learned more than he thinks from all that reading he does.”

“He knows way too much,” I say under my breath as the memory of hanging out with him here the other night comes back to me.

“What was that?”

“Real life isn’t like that,” I insist.

She throws her arms out. “It can be. Look at me. One accidental pregnancy with the playboy hockey player, and now I’m gonna marry him,” she says, wiggling her engagement ring at me.

“We don’t all get stories like that.”

“No, sometimes it’s the forbidden older woman who risks it all for love.”

“Jesus,” I mutter, finally reclaiming my coffee and slumping onto the couch.

“So, what are the possible outcomes here?”

“That I get fired.”

“Or they understand that you’re incredibly hard working and professional in everything you do. The heart doesn’t follow the rules, Hailee. Being with Hayden won’t stop you from doing your job. You won’t use your position to favor him, and they’ll see that.”

“And if they don’t?”