The Sport of Romance: A Multi-Author Box Set

by Cari Quinn

“What the fuck were you thinking?” Jon roared, rounding on her.

  Rob placed a hand on her arm, but she didn’t spare him a glance.

  “And if you’re—” Jon motioned toward her. “—dating, or whatever, why the hell was he even involved in this bachelor auction? This shitstream just keeps getting wider.”

  Keith’s mouth was compressed in a hard line. “We’ll talk more about this later. Right now Sebastian is our priority. If you want to stay, that’s fine, but don’t get in the way. Our lawyer should be here soon, and with any luck, he’ll be able to convince the judge to let Sebastian off with a warning. He’ll be suspended, probably both by the team and by the league. As for you…”

  Sarah bit the inside of her cheek so she could focus on something other than her world falling apart around her. “I understand.” She sank onto a metal bench in front of the desk sergeant.

  Rob followed. “You okay? You’re pretty pale.”

  “I couldn’t let him go through this without me. It’s my fault he was there in the first place.”

  “Sebastian deserves some of the blame for this too. He’s an adult. I have no idea why he was drinking so heavily, but I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

  “Why were all those women with him?” What the hell happened at that auction?

  “I don’t know that either. For now, just let Jon and Keith and the lawyer deal with it, and when Sebastian’s able to go home, we’ll try to figure out what the hell went on tonight. He’s going to be feeling pretty low, both from the hangover he’s sure to have and from the shame of what he did. He’ll need a friend.” Rob’s eyes were more serious than Sarah had ever seen them. “Can you be that for him?”

  She nodded, too choked up to speak. He patted her knee and then sat back with her to wait.

  * * *

  Sebastian really wanted to tell the marching band to keep it down. He needed to sleep, but something hard and cold beneath him edged into his consciousness. That’s not my bed. Struggling to consciousness, one question formed in his mind—Where am I?

  Forcing one eye open, he assessed the setting. A wall of bars was directly in front of him, and the only items in the room were a cot and toilet. Jail? He was in jail!

  In seconds he was lurching for the toilet in the corner. It didn’t take long for everything in his stomach to come up. Afterward, he pulled himself back to the bench he’d been sleeping on and groaned. His head hurt, he was still nauseous, and he wanted to sleep until next year. But why was he in jail? He couldn’t remember anything.

  He’d fallen asleep again, but someone came in and he wrenched his eyes open. A police officer frowned. “Your lawyer believes you were drugged, so I’m sending someone in to take a sample of your blood in a few minutes. Do you consent to a test?”

  “Drugged? That would explain a lot. What lawyer?”

  “You don’t remember talking to him?”

  “No.”

  “Do you consent to the test?”

  “Yeah. If I was given something I wanna know about it.”

  “Okay, sit tight for now.”

  He left and Sebastian groaned. Surely someone had run him over several times. Even when he’d had mono at fifteen he’d hadn’t been this sick.

  Sebastian put his head in his hands. Did Sarah know what was happening? If so, how was she reacting? The worry, coupled with the exhaustion blanketing his body, overwhelmed him and he succumbed to sleep once more.

  The next time Sebastian woke, a lawyer was being escorted into the cell. He helped Sebastian sit up. “I’m Timothy Ducane, counsel for the Storm. I’ve spoken to the police at length, and as you probably already know, I urged them to do a drug test. That test just came back. It appears you were drugged with GHB, which is more commonly known as the date rape drug.”

  Date rape. His mind flashed briefly to Sarah, but he couldn’t focus on anything, so he asked the most obvious question. “Why?”

  “That we don’t know, but the women you were with at the time of arrest are being questioned. You have an arraignment in a few hours and I expect the judge will dismiss your charges once he sees the test results.” He put a hand on Sebastian’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about anything for now. We’ll get you out of this.”

  Sebastian’s eyes closed yet again, and despite his efforts to fight it, sleep claimed him.

  * * *

  Sarah watched helplessly as Timothy came out to speak with Jon and Keith, and it became apparent the waiting was getting to Rob, because he jumped up and stalked over to the men. “Can you at least tell us how he is?”

  The lawyer glanced over. “Pretty messed up, to be honest. I got them to agree to take a blood sample to have it analyzed. Based on the symptoms he was exhibiting, there was a possibility he was drugged with GHB, and I’m sorry to say I was correct.”

  The mention of the popular date rape drug doubled Sarah over, and Rob flew back to her side. Her vision clouded and nausea rose.

  “Sarah? Sarah?” He forced her to look at him. “Sarah? Stay with me, honey.”

  She rocked back and forth, her arms wrapped around her stomach, unable to stave off the shudder working its way over her skin.

  Jon, Keith, and the lawyer were all staring. “Can I tell them?” Rob asked.

  She nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat.

  Rob regarded the men and, his voice grave, said, “She was attacked at Cornell. A friend raped her.”

  Keith approached, squatting next to Sarah. Speaking softly, he crooned, “It’s okay. He’s okay.”

  Sarah prayed Sebastian wasn’t going through the same hell she had. Never landing on one emotion or the other for more than a few seconds, she was alternately enraged and despondent that someone would hurt her sweet, loving man that way. “Was he…” Her stomach pitched. She couldn’t force the words out, but the lawyer seemed to understand what she wanted to know.

  “From what it appears, the police got there before anything could happen. Sebastian doesn’t remember anything. The limo that brought him and his date to dinner was nowhere to be found, and the car was supposed to stay with them all night. They’re going through the limo company to locate the driver to find out if he took them to the observation tower.”

  Sarah hugged herself, unable to believe this had happened to Sebastian. He was such a gentle soul. He didn’t deserve this.

  No one deserves this. And if I hadn’t rejected him, he never would’ve been in this situation in the first place. The guilt threatened to steal the breath from her lungs.

  Sebastian’s arraignment was at seven the next morning, and the judge did dismiss the charges after the Storm’s lawyer gave him Sebastian’s blood test results, showing there was GHB in his system. Sarah’s heart broke for about the millionth time in the past eight hours as Sebastian’s eyes closed, tears leaking from the outside corners.

  He was having trouble keeping himself upright as exhaustion continued to do battle with the drugs still in his system. The judge declared him free to go, and they all left together, Rob supporting his friend with an arm around his waist. Sebastian didn’t even spare Sarah a glance, instead speaking to Rob in low tones. The only thing Sarah could see was that his eyes, even beyond the obvious exhaustion, were dead. Her Sebastian was gone.

  Rob helped him into the passenger’s seat and Sebastian promptly curled into himself. Sarah stepped to the window, but Rob stopped her. “I know you want to talk to him, but he’s really upset and not thinking clearly. Let him get some sleep and I’m sure things will be better.” He glanced over at Keith and Jon, who had trailed them out. “I’ll be in for practice. Should I get him up?”

  “No, let him sleep the drug off,” Keith answered. “I’ll be in touch with the NHL and the NHLPA about what they want to do. The team won’t suspend him as long as he undergoes some counseling, and I’m sure the NHLPA will argue for no recourse, but I’m thinking the NHL may disagree. He did get arrested, after all, and they might not want to let that go. Have him call me when
he wakes and I’ll give him an update.”

  Rob nodded and got into the car as Keith faced Sarah. “You and I need to talk. For now, go home and get some sleep, but I want to see you in my office at one o’clock. Got that?”

  “Yes. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

  “That’s not worth a whole hell of a lot right now, Sarah. Go home.”

  With a heavy heart, Sarah climbed into her car and drove by rote. Once home, she crawled into bed and cried for what Sebastian must be going through. Despite their problems, it killed her not to be there with him. She understood much of what he must be going through, yet he’d shut her out.

  Maybe he couldn’t see past their recent troubles enough to remember she’d dealt with a similar situation. Perhaps in time he would open up and let her help him.

  Her alarm rang at a little before noon and she groaned. She’d been deep in the midst of a heavy sleep and her feet were leaden as she trudged to the shower. She wasn’t sure what to expect and had no idea what to wear. What attire was appropriate for finding out your dreams were over because of your own stupidity? She’d lost or was going to lose everything, so what did it really matter?

  Now wasn’t the time for a breakdown. She could do that later. Now, she needed to get her ass in gear to the executioner, this time in the form of Keith and Doug.

  Standing in front of her closet, she debated between the skirts and sweater sets she’d worn at the beginning of the year and a track suit like she often wore now. With a sigh, she pulled out a skirt and a thick sweater, as if the sheer bulk of the garment would protect her from anything Keith had to say.

  She arrived at Keith’s office, and Karen, her normally sunny demeanor absent, waved Sarah in without a word. Keith and Jon were both there. They looked like hell and she was sure neither had slept yet. Sarah had a sudden sense of déjà vu as she took in the tableau. She’d started her job here, and now it was most likely going to end here. The irony was not lost on her.

  Yes, it might end, but not without a fight.

  “Sit down, Sarah,” Keith said, and her legs gave up the fight to keep her upright. She sank into the nearest chair. “Why don’t you tell us how you came to be involved with Sebastian?”

  Sarah took a few much-needed seconds to breathe deeply and gather herself. Jon tended to react to things emotionally, whereas Keith was more intellectual and business-like. How could she appeal to both personalities?

  Concentrating on Keith’s face, she began. “I know staff isn’t supposed to get personally involved with players, and I want you to know I certainly didn’t enter into the relationship lightly. We fought our attraction for months, but with Sebastian and I in such close proximity, it became increasingly difficult.

  “Around Christmastime we got together. Recently, we’ve been fighting about how open we should be about dating, and Sebastian was very upset with me. I don’t know if we’re even still together, so all of this might be a moot point soon.” She stopped talking and waited for the ax to fall.

  Keith folded his hands on the desk and gazed at Sarah. She tried not to squirm under his scrutiny. “Did you at any time let your relationship with Sebastian influence you with regard to your recommendations?”

  “No, at least not once I realized there was the potential for that,” Sarah answered. “In fact, I’ve been particularly cognizant of the conflict of interest to make sure it never happened.”

  “I believe you. I’m not happy about the relationship itself or your obvious lack of propriety, and I wish you hadn’t hidden it like you did. It makes it much more difficult to trust you, Sarah, and I like to trust the people who work for me. That being said, you’re both consenting adults, and while I could forbid you from seeing each other or I could fire you, I’m not going to do either.”

  Sarah caught movement to the side and swung her stunned gaze over to Jon, who nodded. “I agree. I don’t like it either, but I’m of the same opinion, firing you would not be the best choice.”

  It took every ounce of willpower she possessed not to hang her mouth open like a hooked fish. Jon didn’t think she should be fired? Sarah gripped the arms of the chair, trying to process what was happening. She wasn’t getting fired.

  I’m not getting fired. Oh my God, I’m not getting fired.

  “Oh, thank you so much, both of you. You have no idea—”

  Keith held up his hand. “I’m not done. You’ll be suspended for the next five games without pay. During that time you will be barred from the arena completely. After that, the matter will be considered closed, with a few conditions.”

  Anything. I’ll do anything.

  “One, you will not let your relationship with Sebastian get in the way of doing your job in an objective, responsible manner. Two, any decision directly affecting Sebastian is a conflict of interest and you will be required to remove yourself from the discussion. You can be present, but you will not be able to make a recommendation one way or the other. Three, you and Sebastian need to be discreet. I don’t want this thing to turn into a circus act. By the way, do the players know about this?”

  Sarah bit her lip. The guys weren’t stupid and she was sure some suspected and wouldn’t be surprised. “Rob knows. I think that’s it.”

  Keith nodded. “All right. I expect you to handle the players before you leave today. Do you understand everything I’ve told you?”

  Sarah nodded, still dumbfounded by their decision.

  “Good. Sebastian will be fined for his part in this, but we won’t suspend him. He’s a young, impetuous man and you’re much more experienced. You should’ve known better and not gotten involved with him. As I said, we’ll consider the matter closed unless either of you gives us a reason to re-examine the conditions of the situation.”

  Relief flooded over Sarah. She still had her job. Sebastian might hate her, but she still had her job. She smiled for the first time in weeks and said, “You won’t have to reconsider your choice. I won’t let you down again.”

  Jon’s steely gray eyes settled on Sarah as they got into the elevator after leaving Keith’s office. “He just cut you a huge break.”

  “I know, and I’m grateful, believe me.”

  “This could’ve ruined your career. It could still ruin your career if you’re not careful.”

  “I know that too.”

  Jon gave her a terse nod before she exited the elevator. Sarah headed straight for her office. She found Doug waiting for her.

  “Rob told me what happened. Do I need to help you pack?”

  Sarah shut the door behind her and plopped into her desk chair. “No. I didn’t get fired.”

  “Are you serious?” He let out a long whistle. “So what did they say? Are they forbidding you to date him?”

  “No, they’re not doing that either. Not that it matters, since I don’t think we’re even together anymore. Keith acknowledged that we’re both consenting adults and he could hardly forbid us to date. He suspended me without pay for five games. When I heard that was all management planned to do I could hardly believe it. I’m pretty sure my mouth was hanging open.”

  “What the hell did you say to bring about that miracle?”

  “Not much, actually. It was Keith’s decision. He said firing me was not in the best interest of the team, which is his first priority. He’s going to allow the relationship, if there even is one, as long as it doesn’t interfere with team operations.”

  Doug whistled again. “You dodged quite a bullet there, Sarah.”

  Sarah rubbed her temples. She needed to get better medication than ibuprofen for her constant stress headaches. “I am aware of that, thanks. But now I need to tell the team and then leave. They said I can’t even be on arena property during my suspension.

  “Hey, did Rob tell everybody or is that too much to wish for?” She smiled ruefully. “For once, having someone blab would be a lot easier than me facing them.”

  Doug shifted in his chair. “As far as I know they aren’t aware of the situatio
n. Obviously most of them had heard about the arrest.”

  “Great. What should I say? I have to tell them something, but I’m not even sure if Sebastian and I are together.”

  “Just tell them the truth. You were dating and things got a little rocky, and then this happened and you’d appreciate it if they let you and Sebastian work things out yourselves.”

  “Geez, when did you become so wise?”

  Doug grinned.

  “Don’t answer that.” She tilted her head to the side. “Why did Rob tell you what happened?”

  Shrugging, Doug said, “He said you’d need a friend.”

  “Just when I think I know that kid…”

  * * *

  Whereas last night Sebastian only wanted to sleep, now he was alternating between sleep and wanting to climb the walls. His heartbeat was elevated, which Rob told him was a symptom of the GBH leaving his body. Nausea still gripped him and his head was pounding. But considering what could’ve happened, Sebastian was grateful for the temporary maladies.

  Rob had been forcing him to drink water slowly but steadily all day. Finally the evening after the “date,” Sebastian was able to keep down toast and chicken soup and his head was starting to clear. With it came clarity in emotions and he couldn’t believe how angry he was at Sarah. He didn’t want to blame her for this, but he wouldn’t have been part of that charity auction if their relationship had been public knowledge. Sebastian had never been this fuming mad before, and it scared him.

  When the lawyer called to give him more details about the investigation, Sebastian only got madder. Timothy said the women admitted to drugging him in an effort to get pregnant and extort money from him. Not only was he horrified anyone would do that, he couldn’t believe they’d hatched this plan around a charity event. The whole disaster was wrong on so many levels, and he couldn’t wrap his head around it.

  He was staring at the television without seeing it when Rob walked in with a couple of ibuprofen and yet more water. After handing it to him, Rob sat opposite him on the recliner. “Sarah’s been texting me. She’s worried about you and she wants you to know she’s here for you.”