Chapter 79: Sawyer

Maddox and I are siting next to each other waiting in the coach’s office. Today was brutal, but I think coach wanted to push Maddox as hard as possible to see if he’s worth the investment. My boy didn’t disappoint. In fact, he played better today than he ever has. I want to take credit for his enthusiasm, but I know why he’s trying so hard. He’s been up front with me that he wants to be better for Bryn. He isn’t hooking up with some random girl now, so he’s thinking about the future. Like me, he wants to get a good contract on a team, so that Bryn won’t have to worry about money or anything else.

Our girl is going to live like a queen and our son is going to be a hockey prince.

“Boys.” Coach says as he walks in.

Maddox and I sit straighter in our seats and wait for coach to sit, but that’s when I notice he isn’t alone.

“Boys, this is Miss Jackson. She’s a media consultant.”

Maddox and I wave at her hesitantly. Why the fuck are we meeting with a media consultant?

“What’s this about, coach?” I ask because I don’t want to bother with pleasantries if something serious is going on.

“Well, Sawyer. The dean hired her after the news broke today involving you two.”

I look at Maddox and I can tell he isn’t liking where this conversation is going either.

“I don’t follow.” I say, trying my best to sound calm, but what the fuck?

“Well, all eyes have been on you since what happened last year and even more so now that it’s common knowledge that you're being scouted. Announcing your…unique relationship could become an issue, eventually. So it’s my job to rectify the situation and spin things in a way that keeps the both of you in a positive light.” The woman says with an awkward smile.

She’s looking at us as if we’re aliens, probably because she can’t wrap her head around us sharing one girl. It doesn’t seem like anyone can wrap their heads around it. I don’t give a fuck what any of these stuck up assholes think, so this lady can stuff her suggestions in someone else’s life.

“We’re not going to lie about our relationship, and it’s not like we can take back what’s already out on the internet.” Maddox says with a finality that leaves no room for negotiations.

Good boy.

“As my brother in arms said. The damage is done, so it seems to me that your help isn’t needed.” I give the woman a fake smile and then turn my attention to coach as if she was never there.

“Sawyer, it would be in your best interest to listen to what she has to say, son. When you’re signed to a team, you will have someone like Miss Johnson on staff and you’ll have to listen to what they say. You’ll be representing your team, and in turn any companies that will want you to sponsor. This is no small thing.” Coach says.

“Look, no offense, Miss Johnson, but I know how the media works. I also know people like you prefer twisting the truth to fit some lame ass narrative that isn’t even close to the truth. I won’t let you twist my relationship with my wife and child into anything other than what it is. I won’t ask my wife to take down her post either. She felt conflicted about it for a long time and has finally accepted that it’s okay for her to be happy without having to worry about what this would do to our careers. I’m not going to make her feel bad about what we shared with the world. So as I said, I don’t think there is much you can do to spin this story than the way it is.” I lay out for the woman.

“Maddox, this involves you, too. What would you like to do?” Miss Johnson asks.

She sounds frustrated and is looking to him for something to latch onto so she can weasel her way into our lives. I don’t have to worry because I know exactly what Maddox will say. He’s as twisted up in Bryn that the only way someone could separate her from him is if they killed him. The guy is head over heels for my girl, and she isn’t any better.

“Sawyer and I agree on everything regarding Bryn and the baby. I won’t let them be a dirty secret, and as he said, the word is already out. What can you do?”

“Well, we could say that the poly relationship had just been a fling, and it ended as quickly as it started. It will cause a frenzy for a while, but then things will settle down and things will go back to normal. Bryn and Sawyer will be a married couple with a baby on the way and you would be single and focused on your career.” She explains easily.

She makes it sound so easy and as if she can guarantee that everything will go as she wants it to. All that tells me is she doesn’t understand the media well enough. Is she new to this job?

“I’m not agreeing with that. Bryn is important to me. I won’t pretend to break up and be single for the media.” Maddox crosses his big arms and shakes his head. “No way.”

“Maddox, you don’t have to end things with her. You just have to keep it behind closed doors.” She tries again, but Maddox isn’t budging.

“No. Bryn won’t be my dirty secret. She deserves better than that.” I nod my head in agreement and Miss Johnson opens her mouth to say something, but my phone goes off.

I pull it out of my sweats pocket and see our girl calling.

“Speaking of Bryn. Excuse me for a second.” I stand and step outside of coach’s office to answer the call. “Hey baby, what’s up?”

“Sawyer?” Bryn’s voice sounds shaky and my hackles immediately rise.

“Bryn what’s wrong?” My heart is racing as my mind runs through a million horrible things that could be happening to her. “Is the baby okay?”

“I-I don’t know. Sawyer, something happened.” She sounds out of it and almost confused.

“Okay baby, talk to me. What’s going on? I’m worried.”

“I-I was going for my appointment and he was here in the parking lot. The doctor. He was furious when he saw me walking to the clinic with Nolan and went off. Nolan tried to calm him down, but he…he grabbed me and tried to pull me away from Nolan. Nolan pushed him away, and they started fighting-”
Holy shit.

“Someone called the police. We’re at the station now. Can you come get us?”

“Of course, baby. Are you hurt? You said he grabbed you.” I’m trying to sound calm and relaxed, but all I want to do it beat the shit out of that creep.

“I’m okay, just a couple of bruises where he grabbed me, but that’s it. The baby is fine. I’m just shaken up.” She lets out a shaky sigh and I start to slowly relax.

She’s safe. Fuck, that Nolan guy has been there twice looking after her. He may not want to be part of what we have, but he’ll be team Bryn if it means we have him around to be with her. Even just as a friend. Fuck, I owe the guy big time.

“Okay baby, we’ll be right there.”

“Okay.”

“I love you.” I make sure to tell her.

“Love you too. So does the bean.”

That makes me laugh. “He’s much bigger than a bean now.”

“Well, calling it an avocado is just weird.” She says and I hear her voice steady more.

We have this conversation at least once a week and it's become a running joke. The perfect way to distract her.

“See you soon, baby.” Maddox comes out looking pissed, but when he sees my face, his expression changes to worry. “Hang on B.”

“It’s Bryn. She needs us to pick her up from the police station.” I tell him.

He grabs my phone and puts it up to his ear. “Sweetheart? Are you okay? What happened?”

I see Miss Johnson step out of the office looking annoyed as fuck, and that makes me smile. She didn’t get what she wanted to accomplish, which won’t make her look good, but I couldn’t give two shits.

“Okay, we’re coming, sweetheart. I- “

My eyes snap to his and I see uncertainty and something like he’s asking my permission. I nod and he lets out a relieved sigh.

“I love you, sweetheart. See you soon.” He smiles and looks down like he’s shy and I shake my head.

They look at each other with heart, eyes and all. It’s nauseating and entertaining all at once. He ends the call and laughs.

“Shit man. I should be freaked out about having to pick up our girl at the police station, but I’m too happy to hold it in.” He says.

“Okay, okay, lover boy. Let’s go before our girl thinks we got into some trouble of our own.” I slap him on the back and we walk out of the rink together.