Once Upon A Half-Time 1(92)

I had a family to take care of and a wife who deserved more than an apology.

In an instant, I knew exactly what I had to do, how I could fix everything with Elle, save our careers, and end the Rivets’ cheating once and for all.

But first I had to swallow my pride and ask for help.





23





Lachlan





It was the first time I came to a team meeting without any pastries or hauling any equipment.

But this meeting wasn’t at the field, and I called only the men I trusted—Jack and Cole.

…And their wives.

Piper didn’t count. She was my agent—and severely regretting her decision to take me on.

And Leah was as much a part of the team as Jack. Without her PR agency and constant charity work, after-school programs, and coordinated YouTube channel with Elle, the less respectable men on the Rivets would have been chased from the league years ago…including her husband.

I invited both families to my house—as neutral a location as I could manage at six o’clock in the morning. I had to meet them before practice, but texting them at midnight the night before hadn’t made me very popular.

Piper was the first to scold me. “Do you know how hard it is to find a sitter before the sun rises?” She pointed to a particularly unfortunate banana stain on her white blouse. “Toddler tantrum. Before the sun rises, my baby is more of a beast than Cole.”

“Hey!” Cole frowned.

“Sorry.”

Jack wasn’t a morning person either. Leah rubbed his shoulders and offered coffee for the group. She was smiling, chipper, and Piper couldn’t believe it.

“How are you so awake?” she asked.

“My secret.” Leah winked. “Sam cried all night. I didn’t go to sleep. This is still my second wind. More coffee?”

“Please.”

Jack grumbled, his voice thick with sleep or agitation. Probably both. “All right, rookie. What the hell is this about?”

I checked my phone. Elle texted me that she was on her way, but I had no idea if she was angry or upset. It was just as likely she’d flake out on me—and I’d deserve it.

“It’s something big,” I said. “It won’t be easy to hear.”

Jack frowned. “Last time you got this serious, you almost broke my nose.”

“This is more of a gut-punch.”

Piper groaned. “Please don’t punch anyone. It’s hard enough controlling Cole.”

“That’s two insults, beautiful.” He eyed her. “Give me a third, and you’ll be apologizing with your—”

She smacked his shoulder. Somehow, Piper made The Beast smile.

The knock echoed through the house. It was far less enthusiastic than Elle’s usual shave-and-a-haircut. But she was here.

And she didn’t understand why the others had also come.

I pulled her inside, but she stiffened, her voice low. “I thought you wanted to talk.”

“I do. We will. But first we have to do something we should have tackled a while ago.”

“Unless you’re talking about a wedding shower…” Her words wavered. “Please don’t get them involved.”

“They’re already involved. We all are. Did you bring everything?”

“My laptop.”

“Good.” I forced her into the living room. “Tell them exactly what you told me.”

“I don’t think they want to hear this story, Lachlan.”

It broke my heart, and she’d hate me for this, but I wasn’t letting her suffer with this alone. Not when we might have helped.

Elle stayed silent. Jack spoke for her.

“You weren’t fired for stealing,” he said.

She didn’t want to answer. “I was, actually.”

Leah leaned in close. “You’re no thief, Elle. Why did they fire you?”

“Because of what I stole.”

“Show them,” I said. “They have to see it.”

I hated the fear in her eyes, but she opened the laptop and selected the worst of the photographs.

“I’m sorry, guys,” she said. “We’re all implicated in this now. Blame Lachlan.”

Cole shrugged. “We blame him for most things.”

Fantastic.

Elle flipped through the pictures quickly, quietly. She didn’t have to say much. The photographs spoke for themselves, each more damning than the last. She lowered her voice, trying to explain the indefensible.

“The Rivets have been cheating for at least a year. Maybe longer. Peter spied on the teams you were going to play. Coach Thompson used those pictures to prepare for the games. The owners, some of the coaches, Peter, and I are the only ones who know.”

Silence.

I expected it.

Jack’s expression was the first to crumble. He couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. Only stared at the championship ring on his finger.