“But why would you plant the story if you didn’t believe it yourself?” I asked.
“To shape public opinion.”
“Of?”
“You and Ottavia.”
“So you wanted us to look bad? Why?”
“You still don’t get it, eh.” Mr. Capuano sighed. “Let’s go back to the very beginning. What got you into this situation in the first place, Dakota?”
“The mechanical bull video.”
“That, yes, but also specifically claiming you had a girlfriend at the time. Jane, was it?”
“Yes, that’s the name Ottavia used when we met,” I murmured, trying to keep the story straight.
“Cut it out. You’re only making yourself look worse.” Mr. Capuano rolled his eyes with contempt. “But you claimed nothing happened with the girl from the bull video, right? Because you were loyal to Jane?”
“T-that’s right, yeah,” I said, my eyes darting left and right. I felt the walls closing in on me, but I wasn’t sure what exactly he was getting at.
“But if somethingdidhappen with the girl from the video,” Mr. Capuano continued, “then what implications would that have on your relationship with Jane?”
“It’d mean that I cheated on her,” I murmured.
“Yes! Right!” Mr. Capuano clapped and pointed at me. “Ottavia believes you’re loyal. That you might be a flirt, but you’d never stray. Remember?”
“Okay … but what does this have to do with anything?” I asked.
Mr. Capuano grabbed hold of Killer’s computer monitor and spun it around, a YouTube video ready to play. My heart sankwhen I saw who it was; she was the busty blonde I rode the mechanical bull with at that bar in Dallas.
“Press play,” Mr. Capuano said.
Killer clicked a button on his mouse and the video began.
“Hiiii, YouTube! My name’s Kelly, AKA Devils Girl. I’ve been trying to keep things on the down low for a few months, but yes, I’m actually the girl from the mechanical bull video with Dakota Easton. And yes, you are SO welcome, Devils fans!”
She laughed and did a little victory dance.
“So, about the night in question. Let’s see. I was at Stampede with a few of my friends when Dakota walked in. I instantly recognized him right away, because, obviously, I’m a huge Devils fan, and he plays for the enemy, right?”She let out a devious giggle.“Anyway, I went up and introduced myself and told him how happyI was, as a Devils fan, to see a member of the Vegas Sin out late partying the night before Game Seven. Dakota laughed and said, ‘Sorry to disappoint you, but I play better when I’m guilty. Your team is totally fucked tomorrow.’ I jokingly responded with something like, ‘Wanna go back to my place and test that theory? Because I’ll keep you up all night to make sure you’re playing your guiltiest.’ ”
She squealed a happy note.
“Which I amsoproud of, y’all, because I’m not normally that forward with men, but he LOVED my cheesy pickup line. He got this sexy look in his eye, and he pulled me in and kissed me and put his hands all over me. I couldn’t believe it—an opportunity to sleep with a pro athleteandhelp my own team out?! I was so psyched.”
I groaned. This didn’t look good, no—but it also wasn’t anything damning, either.
“It’s her word against mine,” I said. “This doesn’t prove anything.”
“Maybe not,” Mr. Capuano said. “But the pictures and video sure do.”
“Wha’?”
“What’s wrong? You don’t remember her filming?” He snickered. “Keep watching.”
“After a few drinks, we decided to head back to my place. But on the way out, Dakota grabbed me and whisked me over to the bull. He said he wanted to see how well I could ride before he took me home—ohmigod, y’all, I was dying! Obviously, I had to pull out all my best moves to impress him …”
I felt myself sinking lower in my seat.
