Love Faces Off

Chapter 16

The next week went by quickly. It was chaotic. Raegan was getting ready for graduation and the party Mr. Kwatski was still insisting the team throw her. Raegan never ran into Nick at work. But he would randomly be at some of her favorite places in town. He always left her the same note.

I love you. I miss you. Come back to

me, Angel.

Raegan managed to keep herself super busy during the day. But when she went home to that quiet condo there was no escaping her thoughts. Each night ended the same. A glass of wine, then crying herself to sleep.

Finally, it was graduation day.

The ceremony went off without issues, unless you consider the ceremony having to be stopped until the Thunder players stopped cheering after she crossed the stage. The party the team threw was so nice. She couldn’t believe it. It was real. All the dreams, plans, and hard work had paid off. During the party Mr. Kwatski announced that she was being promoted to Assistant Head Athletic Director of the Tampa Thunder. Mr. Keels had entered into retirement. They had kept it secret so they could surprise her tonight.

Everyone had come around to congratulate her. When it was Nick’s turn he gave her a soft kiss on the cheek.

“Congratulations. All your dreams are coming true.” He said softly to her.

The party started to wind down and people started to leave. Raegan and Pete walked out into the humid evening air, a few players and office personnel followed. It was only 9pm but with the team starting the playoffs next week so late nights were not on the agenda. Raegan presented her ticket to the valet. She felt more than saw Nick come near.

“How are you holding up?” Pete said to her in a low voice.

“About to be expected. How does he know where all my favorite places are?” Raegan asked.

He looked at the ground. She had her answer. Pete was helping him.

Suddenly, a scrawny guy came running up to them. He stuck a phone in Raegan’s face.

“Ms. Moore, any thought about Ted Tidewater’s memoir that is set to be released in 2 months?”

Raegan suddenly felt a chill run down her spine at the mention of Ted Tidewater.

“I didn’t know he had written a memoir.” She replied careful to keep her voice void of emotion. “Why would I have an opinion on it? And how do you know who I am?”

Pete instantly looked on the defense and protective. He moved to place himself between Raegan and the reporter. More players and staff were starting to file out of the restaurant in downtown. Nick came over to get a closer look with Coach Collson.

The reporter just laughed, “You haven’t seen the news tonight have you? Your face is all over the headlines Ms. Moore.”

Coach Collson told Pete, “Lets go. Get her in the limo. NOW!!”

Raegan didn’t move when Pete tried to turn her toward the waiting limousine. Instead she asked, “I’m on the news? Why?” She asked looking around from Pete to Coach Collson

The reporter was the only one who answered. “Tidewater released an excerpt from his memoirs. He blames you for his career being ruined. He claims you two had a consensual s****l relationship. But when the team found out and threatened to fire you, you made a false claim of r**e. He says that your career took off as the team was scared of legal action and he was blackballed from hockey.”

Raegan’s legs tried to give out on her. In a split second the events of four years ago came crashing to her mind. Things that she had buried and tried to forget came rushing back to the surface. Pete managed to keep her upright.

Collson was yelling now, “Get her out of here NOW, Leblanc!”

As Pete gently pushed a shaking Reagan into the limo, the reporter charged again. But Nick thru a block that would have been a 5 minute major in a game situation. As it was, it sent the skinny reporter flying in the air. His phone landed with a loud crack.

He looked at Nick, “Oh, that one is going to cost you big time, tough guy.”

“Bill me.” Nick replied as he jumped in the back of the limo.

For several miles no one said a word. It was a large limo but with the bodies of LeBlanc and Bell coupled with the the tension seemed to suffocate Raegan. After a few minutes, Nick finally asked, “Someone want to tell me what the hell that was all about back there?”

In the limo with them was Coach Collson and Mr. Kwatski. They all just looked at Raegan.

Coach finally answered, “The story isn’t ours to tell. It’s Raegan’s.”

Raegan was still trying to process what had just happened, “What was that reporter talking about? None of you looked very surprised. Well, none of you except Nick.”

Mr. Kwatski spoke this time, “We found out just hours before your graduation. We thought we had 24 hours before anything went public and wanted you to enjoy your night. You have earned it, Raegan. Ted Tidewater has found some fly by night publisher to pay him for his memoirs. Our source said it was a hit piece against the NHL. They did say the Thunder were named but never said anything about you. We had sources looking into it.” He let out a breath, “Then on the 7pm TMZ report, they have a excerpt from the book that….well the reporter summarized Tidewater’s take on the incident. Our lawyers are on it and we will handle this. We have a meeting set for 9am and you need to be there so we can formulate a plan you are comfortable with. But it will be all anyone is talking about for a while.”

Nick had enough, “WHAT INCIDENT!?” He yelled

Everyone looked at Nick like they just realized he was in the car.

Raegan sighed and said, “Well, at this point there isn’t any reason you shouldn’t know. As a player you will be fielding questions on it, especially after what happened tonight.” She paused the said, “Four years ago, Ted Tidewater tried to r**e me in the laundry room during a game…”

(4 years prior) (trigger warning)

This round of the playoffs were brutal. On top of the normal injuries the team had been hit by a stomach bug. People on and off the ice were dropping like flies. This had everyone pulling double and triple duty off the ice. Raegan had been promoted to athletic trainer but on top of her regular routine she had to jump in to help with the laundry. The three young college freshman that were in charge of it had all had to be sent home. Since Raegan had started with the Tampa Thunder as a water girl, then moved up into laundry, she volunteered to handle the chore. Honestly, the three had done most of it before finally being over come with the nausea. It was late in the third period and the team was not doing well. Penalty after penalty was killing any rhythm they were trying to find. In Raegan’s opinion, the problem was Tidewater. The guy had great skills on the ice but his temper was out of control. Coach Collson kept saying that his temperament would improve with time and maturity. Raegan wasn’t so sure. The guy gave her the creeps. His eyes just held something dark. Being the only woman in the locker room had made Raegan’s skin thick. She didn’t blush, anymore, at naked male bodies or get upset by the language, or even the occasional flirtation. She knew they were pro athletes. Pros mess around with the hired help but marry the models. She came in with her eyes wide open and her heart (and body) on lock down. She knew the rules. No fraternizing with the players was an unwritten rule in the med division. Only once had she thought about breaking that rule and it wasn’t with Tidewater. No, it was Pete LeBlanc. They had come close once, but both recognized that is was friendship and not love that was growing between them. They stepped back before damage was done to careers and their friendship.

Tidewater was different. He was aggressive, handsy, and dangerous in a bad way. Raegan had been at this for four years already. She new the drill. She had been hit on and flirted with since day one. After a few rejections a player would back off. Usually be the butt of a few jokes about it and move on. But not Tidewater. At first he seen it as a challenge, then when the players poked fun at him over being rejected, you could tell he took it personal. The look on his face was that Raegan would pay for his embarrassment.

Raegan went straight to head of the athletic division. She explained her concern. They formulated a plan that would keep Raegan from having to be alone with Tidewater. The proper protocol was followed to notified the powers above so that Tidewater could be watched. LeBlanc always made a point to be the last one out of the locker room. Even when Tidewater would try to hang back LeBlanc wouldn’t allow it. Tidewater was a rookie and LeBlanc the team captain. Even Tidewater in his pride had to adhere to the rule of Pete LeBlanc.

But tonight, it was just Raegan in the laundry. The laundry connects to the locker room for easier access to supplies. Raegan had put in some ear buds and was trying to make the most of the mountain of towels that needed folding. She was singing along, totally unaware she was no longer alone.

Tidewater had been ejected from the game. He still couldn’t believe that everyone thought hockey was a rough sport but they eject you over slamming a guys head into the wall. Ridiculous. Coach Collson had been pissed and he was sure he would catch hell tomorrow for it. But what was he really going to do, Tidewater was the star rookie. He was untouchable. As he entered the locker room, he saw her, Raegan Moore. She had her back to him and didn’t see him staring at her ripe ass. She had been toying with him all season. She wanted him, she just wanted to make him wait and work for it. That little b***h liked embarrassing him in front of the whole team. But he would take her down a notch. She wanted it. He knew it. Just like right now she was swaying those hips, daring him to take her. Well, he would wait no more. He was going to have her once and for all. Her little puppy dog, LeBlanc, wasn’t there the keep him from her. Tonight she was his.

All of the sudden Raegan realized someone was behind her. Before she could turn around her head had been pushed down on the folding table.

“No more games, b***h. I’m going to give you want you want.”

“STOP! What are you doing. Get your hands off of me!”

Tidewater bent down and whispered in her ear, “So that’s your game? You want me to take it? Take it I will. I just wish your boy toy LeBlanc was here to see it.”

Raegan tried not to panic. She did the only thing she knew to do. She rared back and hit Tidewater in the nose with her head. At first is worked. He loosened his grip on her, to grasp at the nose the was leaking blood.

“You b***h! You will pay for that!” He screamed through gritted teeth.

Raegan tried to free herself the rest of the way but her head was swimming from the hit. She managed to get a few steps away from him before he grabbed her hair and pulled. He spun her around and landed a hard slap across her face. Then another and another. Her ears were ringing and she could taste blood from a busted lip.

“You want it rough? I will show you rough.”

Raegan begged, “Don’t do this. Please don’t do this. Please let me go. I will scream.”

SLAP.

Tidewater laughed, “Scream all you want, b***h. No one will hear you with that game raging out there. No one is coming to save you.”

He tied her hands with a towel and put them on the hook on the wall. Raegan began to scream like her life depended on it, as far as she new it did. Then he was ripping her clothes off. He held her naked against the wall. As he began to loosen the laces on he uniform pants, Raegan continued to scream and tried to kick but he was to strong. Then all of a sudden something huge flew through the air and took Tidewater down.

Raegan screamed even more when she saw it was Pete LeBlanc. He was plummeting Tidewater with his fist as he lay ground. When he was certain Tidewater was unconscious, he turned to Raegan. He quickly grabbed a towel to cover her exposed body and untied her hands. He held her close and tried to hush her cries.

“Hush now. It’s ok. He can’t hurt you anymore. Help is coming” Pete tried to reassure her.

Raegan was still shaking and crying, “He said no one was coming. He tried…he was going to…how…” she sobbed.

Within minutes medical staff and security was on them.

Present day

Raegan continued, “with 6 minutes left Pete had blocked a shot off his ankle. He was taken into the locker room by a staffer to have it seen too. When they entered, they saw what was going on and Pete sent the staffer for help. When Tidewater woke up he claimed it was consensual and that I had attacked him.”

She gave a sad laugh, “What he didn’t know was that cameras had been installed in the laundry area a year before when a groupie had been found hiding out trying to get to the players. It was a a motion sensor camera that alerts security. But security had checked it on the first motion alert when I was just doing laundry so they had ignored further alerts thinking it was me doing routine work.”

Nick was in shock. He was angry and hurting at the same time. He reached over and drew Raegan into his lap and held her. To hell with who saw or knew. He had to hold her to reassure himself she was okay. She didn’t fight it. She actually just melted and molded herself to him.

Nick turned his anger on the others in the limo. “Why wasn’t this asshole locked up and charge with r**e? Don’t tell me the Thunder wanted to ‘keep it quiet’!”

Everyone just looked at their feet.

Raegan placing a hand on Nick’s face to calm him, “No. The Thunder were adamant about wanting to have him arrested and charged. I was the one that wanted it handled privately. I was a female in a male dominated world. If word go out, my days would be numbered in this league and field of work. I refused to press charges.”

Mr. Kwatski spoke then, “The team immediately suspended him for “team violations” which most assumed had to do with the excessive force call on the ice. He was later traded with a disclaimer that he should not be left alone with any female employees. We offered any and all support to Raegan, no strings attached.”

“I took a leave of absence and the team was there for me until I felt up to returning. Every advancement I have made I have earned. I earned it not blackmailed them for it!!! I took a hard line with players, staff, etc. all professional. Ice in my veins. I thought it was over. I thought it was behind us.” She finally let the tears fall. Nick wrapped his arms tighter around her and held her close.

Nick whispered, “Ice Queen….that’s how you got that name. And Cap is your body guard, protector that’s why you two are so close.”

Pete nodded, “I’m her friend. Ice Queen was a persona she came up with to protect herself from people like Tidewater. She has to assume everyone is like him. It’s the only way she can make it work.”

Nick and Pete’s eyes met. There was a shared understanding. Both men would go to any length to protect Raegan. Their friendship had been growing but now they were forever bonded by their love for Raegan.

Nick Bell was flooded with emotions. The shear infuriating rage he felt for Tidewater. He had no doubt he would kill the bastard if he ever saw him. It was primal and savage but the truth. She was his soulmate and he would protect her.

“So what is the plan now?” Nick asked.

“We have the meeting in the morning with the attorney’s.” Mr. Kwatski said looking at Collson. “And it appears the rumors we had heard about the two of you are true. I’m guessing, Nick, this is why your agent has been calling wanting an emergency meeting?”

Raegan forced herself off his lap. “What emergency meeting? Nick you can’t. “

Nick wouldn’t meet her eyes.

“How did we get here?” She took a deep breath, “Yes, Nick and I have been involved. But I broke it off after the road trip. I didn’t want either of us to lose our careers over it.”

Mr. Kwatski raised his hand to stop her, “Lets all plan on being in my office at 9am tomorrow. Nick, I don’t think your agent will need to be present. I think we can all come to an agreement without going that route. But it is your call and I can’t demand he not come. Just, please consider Raegan’s privacy in this matter.”

Nick agreed. “Let’s get Raegan home to rest. I’m coming in with you to make sure you get settled.” He held up his hand when she started to protest.

“I won’t stay if you don’t want me to. But I want to see you get settled and make sure your friend Carla has it under control”

“She isn’t there.”

“What? Where is she?” Pete asked.

“She is temporarily back in Atlanta settling all her legal matters. She won’t be back for a few months.”

“All the more reason why I’m going to see you home.” Nick said.