Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
I shift her around until she’s sitting in front of me just like she did when she talked with Vanessa earlier and then reach for the tablet. It doesn’t take me long to find her brother’s statement. It’s all over the goddamn place.
Jamison Peters has announced his retirement from the Bucks!
New York – Jamison Peters, captain of the New York Bucks, has announced his retirement after eight years with the team to seek rehabilitation for alcohol addiction.
“I’ve been selfish and hurt a lot of people over the years,” he said in a statement released by the Bucks organization just a little while ago. “More importantly, I’ve caused damage that I can’t undo.
Five years ago, my former teammate, Jordan Silvestri, hospitalized me in the middle of a game. I let management, our fans, and the people closest to us believe he attacked me over a woman, but I left out the most important details, the ones that told the whole story. Jordan didn’t attack me without provocation. He hit me in defense of someone we both cared deeply about after I took intimate videos of her without her consent or knowledge and shared them with others.
I deserved what he did, and I deserve your condemnation now.
To the people I hurt, I’m genuinely sorry. I wish I could take it back or undo the lasting damage I’ve caused. To my sister, Sutton, I’m sorry I’ve let you down. To the woman I victimized and to Jordan, neither of you deserved what I did. There are no excuses or justifications for my behavior. I’m sorry.
Finally, to the fans who trusted me and the teammates who counted on me, I’m sorry I misled you. I am not an example to live by or a role model, and my behavior should in no way reflect on the league or the Bucks organization.
I’m stepping away from the Bucks, effectively immediately, to enter treatment for alcohol addiction. But let me be clear: my addiction is not an excuse for what I did, nor is it a reason. It’s the result of years of shame. And the blame for that is solely on me.”
“Jesus,” I mutter, sinking back against the chair. The article goes on to dissect the statement and includes social media reactions from fans, but I don’t read any of that. I don’t fucking care about it. The only thing that matters to me is the woman weeping quietly on my lap as she reads.
She doesn’t say a word when she’s finished. She just powers off the screen of the tablet and then curls up with her head against my shoulder and her palm over my chest. I wrap my arms around her, my head resting atop hers.
I don’t know how long we sit there before she finally speaks.
“I can’t believe he finally told the truth,” she whispers, her voice gritty and raw. “Do you think…” She bites her lip, hesitating. “Should I…?”
“Go see him?” I guess.
She flicks a worried look up at me. “Is it wrong that I’m worried about him?”
“He’s your brother, princess,” I murmur gently, brushing my lips across her forehead. “You don’t just quit loving someone because they fucked up. If you were capable of that, I wouldn’t be here right now.”
She sighs softly.
“Go see him if that’s what you need to do. I won’t tell you no.” I tip her head back, make sure she sees me. “So long as he doesn’t hurt you again, I won’t stand between the two of you. If you want to rebuild your relationship with him, I won’t be the thing standing in your way. The choice is yours.”
“I know.” She reaches up, touching my face. “I love you for that, you know.”
I kiss her palm. “I love you, too.”
“I don’t think I’m ready to see him yet.”
“Then don’t. You’re allowed to take time. You’re allowed to need distance. You make the rules for how you navigate this.” I’ve had five years to process and deal. She’s had days. It’s not going to be smooth sailing and calm seas, not for a fucking while. But she will be okay. I know she will because I refuse to accept anything less.
“Take me to bed,” she says softly. “Make me forget everything but your name.”
I carefully set the iPad aside and then lift her into my arms, carrying her to bed. Neither of us speaks as I undress her, stripping each piece of clothing from her slowly. Every new strip of skin I unveil, I worship with my lips and tongue, with whispered praise and shaking hands.
By the time she’s spread out beneath me, she’s trembling, my name whispering from her lips in a soft litany. I haul her legs over my shoulders, staring down at her.
“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, princess,” I say simply. It’s the truth. Even stretched thin and nearly broken open by everything she’s learned lately, she steals my breath. “I love you.”