I can wait a little longer to have you. Go enjoy your girls night, you deserve it
Emilia refills the rest of our glasses before we all settle into mindless chatter. After a while, I know that I need to broach the subject of Eric with them, especially Hannah, but I make sure to tread lightly.
I turn my attention to Hannah who’s looking right at me. “So, I hate to shift the topic to something not so fun, but I wanted to talk to you girls about something that’s been going on at work.”
They each shift slightly, the air feeling more somber now, even with the wine flowing through us.
I turn my attention to Hannah, whose eyes go slightly wide, body stiffening before she’s resting back into the couch. “Before the game on Tuesday, you said some things about Eric that raised some questions for me.”
“You picked up on that, huh?” She sighs, fidgeting with the blanket in her lap.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to talk about this, but watching you be brave and tell Coach about what’s been going on has me wanting to be brave as well. It’s the only way to start healing and to hold him accountable for his actions.”
Bellamy gets up and crosses over to sit next to her as Emilia slides over and offers their support and comfort.
“The verbal shit he spews has been going on from day one. I tried once to report him to HR, but they basically said that unless I had documented proof there’s nothing they could go off of, because it would be a “he said she said.”
This has my blood starting to simmer with rage, but I hold my tongue, giving her room to speak before I say anything.
“At first, that’s all it ever was, verbal shit. He’d talk down to me, make passes at me, whistle at me, and make cat calls when no one was around. It was normally when I was alone, so I started to only walk around in large groups, making myself small and never being alone. It was fine, until the end of last season when it escalated.”
“What do you mean?” Emilia asks, concern written all over her face.
“It happened during one of our final home games against New Jersey. The team was in the playoffs, so I was scared to say anything and take focus off of that and afraid noone would believe me.” She pauses, and we all sit in silence, while she gathers herself.
“After the game, the staff was cleaning up and putting things away. I had taken a box to the supply room to collect all the tape and equipment, and I was alone. I felt a presence behind me, and when I turned, Eric was walking in the room and closing the door. He had started flirting with me a few weeks prior, but I had turned him down more than once. He obviously wasn’t taking no for an answer, so he felt like he had to corner me. I tried to get around him to leave, but he was too fast and he grabbed me, shoving me into the table and bending me over it.” Tears are falling down her cheeks and her breaths are becoming more ragged, but she doesn’t stop to wipe them, she just keeps going. “He had one of my hands trapped underneath me and the other one pulled behind my back in a firm grip.” Hannah rubs at her wrist absentmindedly, as if she can still feel his hands on her.
“I tried to push him off, but he leaned his whole weight on top of me and started to use his free hand to glide up my sides. I felt so scared, and all I remember thinking was that he was going to assault me. So I did what I had to. I screamed really loud, and started to kick my legs. He shoved my face into the table and told me if I screamed again he would make me regret it.” Shudders rack her body as she tries to keep her composure. “I felt him lift me up as he reached for the button on my jeans, but before he could do anything, the door handle was being turned and he quickly released me. Connor walked in and said he heard something, and Eric played it off and left the room.”
“Did Connor see or say anything?” Lainey asks softly.
“He asked if I was okay, and I lied, because I was so scared that it wouldn’t matter because no one had believed me before. While he told me he didn’t seeanything, he could tell that I was riled up about something. He warned me that Eric was a sleazy bastard and if I ever had issues with him, I could trust him to protect me. And after that day, Connor has basically become a mini shadow for me. I’m just grateful he came in when he did.” By the time she’s done telling her story, I think it’s safe to say there’s not a dry eye in the room.
This monster thinks he can get away with hurting my friend, talking down to me like I’m garbage, and just generally treating women like they are beneath him.
“He has to pay for everything he’s done.” My tone is strong despite the pain and frustration I’m currently feeling.
“I agree. Coach Davenport and Coach Johnson know what happened to Kailyn, but I never told anyone else. We just need a plan, because even according to HR, they need actual proof of an incident occuring,” Hannah adds.
“I cannot believe HR is taking this sick fuck’s side. If someone tells you they are in a hostile work environment, you should listen and actually investigate.” Emilia’s rage is felt across the room, her voice booming in anger. I’m just as baffled and disappointed as her, but if this is how it is, then we have to play by their rules and find another way.
“Like Hannah said, I already talked to Coach, but he hasn’t said anything since the game.” I tell them.
Emilia chugs some of her wine, sitting up like she’s going into full PR mode and ready to tackle this mess. “So, here’s the game plan. We know that Coach Johnson and my dad are aware of everything. Since we have the away series starting tomorrow, we hold off until we get back. If my dad says he will come up with a plan, let’s trust him.”
“And if Eric tries something in the meantime?” Hannah asks.
“We pull them aside when we get back and demand answers.”
“I don’t know him, but please be careful, ladies. From what you’ve described of him, Eric has the potential to try something super sneaky if he finds out that you all are going after him like this,” Lainey adds, and we all nod.
Knowing that Eric has done this to Hannah makes me wonder how many other women, maybe even men, he’s hurt or bullied. How many times has he gotten away with this behavior? We have to stop this asshole before he goes any further and hurts someone even worse.
“Then, it’s settled. Operation Eric Pays is in full force. He may think he won the battle, but he has no idea who he’s messing with. He’s about to lose this war for good.”
Chapter 23
Jake