I don't even do anything, and they find reasons to make up shit about me—like the time they swore my cleaning lady was pregnant with my kid just because she was my cleaning lady and pregnant. Her husband was thrilled about that.
I'm guessing they do the same thing to Evie. With a voice like that, she's probably fodder whether she likes it or not. And I probably made it worse tonight.
Fuck my life.
"I'll go talk to the press," I mutter, resigned to making up some bullshit story to get them off her back. She will not be getting me off hers, however. I don't care if she did flee like her life depended on it. If I gave up easily, I wouldn't be a professional athlete. No one makes it this far if they aren't relentless.
Maybe I need to rethink my approach, though. I need her to give me a chance, not step over my body like I don't exist again.
"You do that," Coach says, holding open the door for me.
I duck out, catching up with Royce in the hall.
He glances over at me, smirking. "Did Coach find you?"
"Yep. I'm on press detail with you."
"Figured." His grin grows. "They're going to eat you alive out there."
"Yep," I agree, not worried about it. I can handle whatever they throw at me. I always do. "What do you know about her?"
He doesn't ask who I'm talking about. He knows.
"What makes you think I know anything about her?" he asks instead, looking at me out of the corner of his eye.
"You wanted her autograph, motherfucker." I narrow my eyes on him. "You got a thing for her?" I like Royce, but I will fuck him up if he's thinking about making a move.
His laugh bounces off the cinderblock walls. "You read like a fucking book, you jealous asshole. No, I don't have a thing for her. Rain likes her music."
Well, shit.
Royce's brother was born with a heart defect and several other severe medical issues. Paying for his care was the only reason Royce decided to pursue hockey professionally.
"My bad," I mutter.
"It's all good." Royce grins at me. "But he could tell you everything there is to know about her and Kasen. All I know is that she's the next big thing. People are lining up to get a piece of her."
"Kasen?"
"Kasen Alexander." Royce looks at me like I've lost my mind. "You know, her dad?"
Kasen Alexander is her father?
"Ah, fuck me."
"You didn't know?"
I shake my head, muttering a curse. Kasen Alexander is one of the world's biggest stars. By all accounts, he's also one of the biggest pains in the asses in the world. The man literally kidnapped his wife twenty-five or so years ago.
If Evie is his kid, she won't be easy to impress. And he is not going to be thrilled. Doesn't mean that's going to stop me or anything, but damn. I would fall flat on my face for the onewoman on the planet who doesn't need me, my bank account, my protection, or my bullshit. I'm not sure what that leaves, but I guess I need to figure it out, don't I?
I'm not giving up. Not until she's mine.
Chapter Three
Evie
"The show is soldout."