Keeping quiet would have meant ruining Cillian’s life, after he’s fought so hard to be here, and it makes me physically sick to know that Ezra’s responsible for it.
His teammate.
Someone I trusted.
“Why did he do it, Brooks?” I say quietly, speaking for the first time from behind them.
He doesn’t even turn to look at me, instead hanging his head in his hands once more. “Because he hates him. He hates that Cillian is a better player than he is and that he feels like competition to him. He was proud as fuck that he did it too. That he finally got him off the team. But drugging him and destroying his whole life? That’s fucking crazy, Rory.”
It’s not crazy, it’s absolute psychopath behavior and he needs to be arrested for it.
I exhale shakily.
“What’s going to happen now, Coach?” Brooks asks, his voice barely above a whisper. “I know I’m the captain, and I need to own up to all of this, but my head is just a mess.”
All of this is such a horrific mess.
Dad sits back in his chair, rubbing a hand over his tense jaw, his eyes hard as he sighs. “Well, I’ve got to contact the NCAA and the authorities. What Ezra’s done can’t be swept under the rug, Brooks. He committed a crime, and he’s got to answer for that.”
Brooks doesn’t immediately respond, the creased space between his brow furrowing deeper, like the thought of Ezra facing consequences outside of Prescott hadn’t yet crossed his mind.
There’s no doubt in my mind that my dad is going to do whatever he can to make this right. I truly can’t imagine being in his shoes right now.
Part of me can’t even believe that Ezra would do this. I’m shocked. That he would stoop so low and be so desperate to get rid of Cillian that he would do somethingcriminal. I would’ve never seen this coming. Not in a million years.
I knew they had some tension between them, but I didn’t realize that Ezrahatedhim.
It makes me wonder what other low, fucked-up things he has done that we’re none the wiser to.
“I know,” Brooks finally says with a slight tremble to his voice. “It fucking sucks, but what he did wasn’t right and I can’t stand behind it.”
“You did the right thing, Brooks. Even if it might not feel like it right now. No one deserves to have their future stolen from them. I know Ezra is like your brother, but that’s what a true captain does. They do the right thing, even if it’s hard.You’redoing the right thing, even when it’s hard,” Dad says quietly.
He nods silently.
“I’m sure the NCAA is going to ask for a statement, as well as the police. And the president of Prescott. I need to make some phone calls and start to get this under control before it’s leaked to the press,” Dad says, eyes running over all of us. “Brooks, I’ll be in touch with you soon. I need some time to get this handled. Get some sleep and keep your phone by you. Please don’t talk about this with anyone.”
“I won’t,” he says, rising from his seat. I think he’s going to make a beeline for the door, but he pauses in front of Cillian, staring down at him. “I’m sorry I didn’t call last night. I know you probably don’t give a shit, and I don’t blame you, but for what it’s worth… I am sorry.”
Cillian’s jaw clenches, but he nods, saying nothing in return.
When the door shuts behind Brooks, my dad looks at Cillian. “I’m sorry as well, Cillian. It might not mean much right now, but I will make this right. I promise you.”
CHAPTER 34
Cillian
When I walk into the athletic building the following morning, every eye is trained on me. I barely make it through the door before my teammates are rushing over, pulling me in for hugs, offering their support, clapping me on the back.
It’s overwhelming in a way that makes my chest constrict. These guys didn’t have to go out on a limb for me. They had nothing to go on to prove that I wasn’t guilty of what I was being accused of. But they did anyway. They stood beside me and showed up in ways I never imagined.
Aisling came over to Rory’s last night, and we stayed up half the night talking. Long after my girl had fallen asleep with her head in my lap, my fingers tangled in her hair. She loves when I play with her hair, and after the last few days, exhaustion took over. She was asleep in minutes after lying down.
Then of course, Ais had to spend the next thirty minutes talking about how cute we were, and how she’s happy that I’ve found love.
We talked about everything that happened with Ezra, and she was enraged. And wondering whyIdon’t feel the same.
Of course I’m mad. But I’m not letting it control me. Not the way it used to. I’ve worked too hard to be a better man than I used to be, and hanging on to something I can’t change isn’t going to make that any easier.
