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Dane whistles. “Dude…this place is awesome. No wonder you kept all of us Neanderthals out.”
Molly and I share a look. She already knows what’s coming. She rounded up the troops for me by contacting Dane and making it clear that Aiden needed them.
I had explained to Aiden the dynamics between Dane and Molly, which he seemed to know already. He thought going through Molly was a great way. Not that Dane wouldn’t have come on his own if Aiden asked. Molly is Dane’s keeper. She organizes him and his schedule, which is a feat.
“Thank you all for coming,” Aiden starts. “I’m sure you’ve all seen the reports.”
Hunter nods. “I’m not understanding the big deal, truthfully. We all have rituals. Why is this asshole focused in on you?”
Aiden takes a deep breath and dives in. He tells them about his past and how his mom treated him. He opens up about how much his compulsions run his life. That it’s more than a few pre-game rituals. He also shares with them his plans to start a website to help others in his position who have limited resources or whose families aren’t supportive.
“I’m…speechless, Slate. This is a lot to take in,” Dane says, running his hands back through his hair. “I mean…how the fuck have you kept all of that from us?”
“I’ve had some help,” he says, glancing over at me.
The only part he hasn’t come clean about is me, and that’s because it wasn’t something we discussed before they all arrived. That’s a big lie. One that implicates me and threatens to ruin the relationship I’ve built with Molly. She’s been made to believe I’m Aiden’s girlfriend. The whole world has.
That’s not something we want to get out. When it’s time for things to end, we’ll figure out the story and how to do it, so neither of us suffers.
Not that it can be avoided. The truth is, when this is all done, it’ll shatter me.
“Can you press charges?” Mason asks. “I mean…the bitch abused you. It might’ve been years ago, but the effects are still something you deal with.” His face is like stone. “It doesn’t seem right that she gets to just walk away after all the damage she’s caused.”
“Not that he thinks you’re damaged,” Hunter says, glaring at the side of Mason’s head.
Aiden chuckles. “I know that’s not what he’s insinuating.”
He licks his lips and settles back in his chair. “Blackmail maybe, but I’m not sure I want the media circus that would come from bringing about charges. Let’s be honest, the statute of limitation has most likely long since passed. Plus, if I do, that’s playing into this reporter’s goal,” he admits. “I want her to go away for good. I never want to see her again.”
Everyone nods, understanding why he’d feel that way.
“What now? How can we help?” Dane asks.
“Support me. Tell everyone about my character on the ice and how my life is dedicated to getting better for my team. That the compulsions are something that I’ve controlled so that I can play the best hockey possible.”
“Obviously, we’ll say that,” Mason says.
“Really, I just wanted to tell you all the truth before everyone else hears it. It didn’t seem right for you to all learn these things with the rest of the world. You’re my friends. My circle. You deserve to know the real me.”
Hudson stands up and walks toward Aiden, patting him on the shoulder. “We’ve always known you, man. Rituals. Compulsions. Whatever it is that you battle on a daily basis, it doesn’t define you.”
“He’s right,” Dane says. “We all have our things we battle, but at the end of the day, we’re the same guys you call friends.”
Aiden smiles, and for the first time since the news broke, he looks peaceful.
Whatever his mother set out to do, she failed. She can’t break him. He’s too strong for that. All she’s managed to do is make him that much more of a force. In the end, he’ll come out on top, and she’ll still be the freeloader, looking for her next free ride. The only loser is her.
There’s a buzz signaling someone is here.
“Mike,” Aiden tells the group. “He’s here to spin the story my publicist wants me to recite.”
Dane shakes his head. More to himself than to us. I wonder about him. What’s his story, and why does he seem to be the serious one of the group?
“Just be real, man. I promise you that you won’t regret being honest in the long run. Spinning stories works for a short time, but lies have a way of catching up with you.” This time, it’s Hudson who talks. Do all these guys have secrets?
Something about that thought unsettles me.
Likely guilt surrounding my own lies.
