If You Love Me: Chapter 46

“Do you have a minute?” Shilpa pokes her head in my office.

“Yeah, of course. What’s up?” In the weeks since Roman and I have been married, the tension between Shilpa and me has dissipated—at least outside the office. She’s careful to keep things professional here. Which means in this moment I can’t read her at all.

She raises a hand. “It’s good news.”

My shoulders come down from my ears. “I like good news.”

“The internal review paperwork has officially been filed and you are completely cleared.”

“That is such a relief.” The rock that’s been in my stomach all these weeks finally dissolves.

“I know it’s been rough and the media will still have their feelings about you being married to Roman, but in the eyes of the league and management, none of the allegations had any merit. Every member of the team believes in you and values your role as their coach.” There’s genuine pride in her voice and on her face.

“That’s really good to hear.” I look away, working to keep my emotions in check.

While it’s been business as usual, knowing that the review is finally filed, and I’ve been cleared of all allegations makes everything feel that much better. Vander Zee and Boxer have been great, but Thomas has been frosty. He’s friends with Donnie, and I’m sure he’s conflicted, but all of Donnie’s allegations just made him look like a chauvinist asshole.

The relief is overwhelming. “The stress has been something else.”

“I imagine it has.” Shilpa rubs her rounded belly. She’s just started to show. She’s due in early fall.

“For both of us.” I motion between us.

She laughs. “You aren’t the first woman to fall for a player, and Roman is a special guy.”

“He really is,” I agree.

“It’ll be easier when he’s not playing next year.” She sighs and leans her shoulder against the jamb, fiddling with the end of her braid. “I know I was harsh⁠—”

I raise a hand. “You’ve already apologized, and you don’t need to explain.”

She looks at me a moment. “Well, then I’ll just say I’m so glad you’re as strong as you are and that you and Roman found a partner in each other. He has a huge heart, and he needed someone to share it with.” Her phone chimes in her pocket, and she glances at the clock. “I have a meeting offsite, but I’ll be at the game tonight.”

“I’ll see you there.”

She leaves me feeling a whole lot lighter. I would text Roman the good news, but I feel like this is better said in person.

Vander Zee knocks on my door twenty minutes later. “Shilpa gave you the news?”

“She did.”

“It came out as I expected.” He drops into the chair across from mine.

“It’s a weight lifted,” I tell him.

“I have some other news,” he adds.

“Oh?”

“Donnie has been relieved of his duties as equipment manager. We felt it best for the team climate that he no longer work with the Terror.”

“He’s been fired?” I might not like him, or the things he put me through, but he has a family.

“He was given a severance package and offered transfer opportunities, but not in the professional league and not in management.”

“I see. Thank you for letting me know.” I would have managed, but it will make the end of this season less stressful for all of us. “I think Roman will probably be relieved to hear that.”

“Agreed. Hopefully, it will ease any worries.”

“I’m sure it will.” As much as he tries to roll with things, this has been just as hard for him because he didn’t have control over the outcome.

“The team will miss him.” Vander Zee taps on the arm of the chair, pensive.

“They will, but Ryker is up for the job. He has the skill set and a good head on his shoulders to go with it.”

“You’re right about that, and Grace and Madden seem to have settled down.” He raps on my desk. “Knock on wood that trend continues.”

“As long as those two can stay away from each other’s shirts and sandwiches, we should be okay.”

Vander Zee snorts a laugh. “Seriously. I still don’t know what to think about that.”

“I don’t think any of us do.”

His phone buzzes in his pocket.

“Get that, if you need to.”

He pulls it out and frowns as he reads the message. “Well, this isn’t ideal.”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s not team related,” he assures me.

“Still, anything I can help with?”

“Tally and the boyfriend had a fight. She was out with friends last night, and apparently, someone saw her talking to some guy, and now the boyfriend is tossing out accusations.” He runs a hand through his hair.

“What kind of accusations?” I ask.

“He thinks she’s cheating on him.” He blows out a breath. “My wife is relaying this through text message, so I’m only getting part of the story. I wish Tally would break up with this kid. I don’t like him. And I definitely don’t like that he’s pulling this shit. Final exams are coming up, and she doesn’t need the added stress.”

This guy sounds like a whole lot of red flags, but I don’t want to overstep. “Sometimes when people are insecure, it’s because they’ve had that experience before,” I hedge.

“I know. But we can’t tell Tallulah that. I don’t get why she’s with this guy. Eline is trying to get her to come to the game tonight. Will Fee be there? It could be a good distraction.”

“I’ll ask.” I send Fee a quick message.

It only takes her a minute to respond. She says she’s in if Tally’s coming, and she’s already messaged her. Within two minutes, the whole thing is arranged.

“She’s always been such an easy kid, and that hasn’t changed, but this boyfriend of hers…” He drums his fingers in agitation. “If this is anything to go by, I’m not sure how I’ll handle it with her younger sister.”

“I feel this in my soul,” I tell him.

“I can’t imagine what it must have been like for Roman last season.” He shakes his head. “I have a lot of respect for that man.”

I only saw what was covered on the hockey sites, but knowing Roman the way I do now, it definitely wasn’t easy for him to see his daughter with his best friend. “He loves them both very much. It helps that Hollis adores Aurora, but it was tough for all of them.”

“Yeah. I just want Tallulah to find someone worthy of her.”

“She will. Sometimes you have to learn what doesn’t work for you before you find what does,” I say.

His phone buzzes, with a call this time. “That’s my wife. I really hope I don’t have to bury this guy for hurting my daughter.” He brings the phone to his ear. “Hi, darling, is our little girl okay? If I take care of him, he won’t be a problem anymore.” He gives me a chin tip and leaves my office.

Poor Tally. It can’t be easy trying to date with a dad as protective as Vander Zee.

I message Roman.

He shows up at my office fifteen minutes later.

“I have news.”

“I-need-to-call-Sam kind of news, or get-out-the-balloons kind of news?” he asks.

I laugh. Hemi’s brother Sam is intense. I don’t know what his job is, but Dallas jokes that he’s a fixer. “The paperwork has been filed. I’m fully cleared.”

“That’s fantastic.”

“And Donnie isn’t with the Terror anymore.”

“That’s even better news, because I had some plans for him that might have made my retirement a challenge. We’re celebrating the hell out of this later.” He closes my office door, turns the lock, and strides across the room. Taking my hand, he pulls me out of the chair. Roman’s arms circle my waist and his eyes spark with desire.

“You shouldn’t look at me like that when we’re in the office.” I lace my fingers behind his neck.

“Stop looking so tempting, then, beautiful wife.” He strokes my cheek. “Thank you for weathering this storm with me. I know this hasn’t been easy.”

“Loving you is worth it.”

He drops his head, and the kiss is soft, a tender promise of what’s to come later.