The Accidental Goal

This is Us

I woke up at 8:00 to my phone ringing.  I looked over and Hayley stirred, but didn't wake up.  I got out of bed and answered the phone.

"Hey Al, what is going on this morning?" I ask my agent.

"Hey kid, just wanted to check in and see how Hayley was doing?  Did the police get anything of the security tapes?" he asks me.

"They said the person was wearing a dark hoddie and angled their face away from the cameras. So they must have known the building set up.  My bet is on Jen and she just wanted to scare Hayley," I say sitting on the couch.

"Geez kid, you really know how to pick em," he says.

"Yea I know I feel so guilty and wouldn't blame Hayley for cutting ties with me. She doesn't deserve this.  Her boss wants her to take some personal time until this all blows over.  So now it's affecting her career too."

"We need to clear all this up as soon as possible so you both can move on and away from this woman."

"Just name when and where and I will be there to clear this all up," I say.

"I can have Adrianne set something up for this afternoon.  We can do it at the office.  You and Hayley can come here."

"No Hayley.  I can't ask her to stand there and have people pick her apart.  They already made her deactivate all of her social media.  It's bot happening.  I will be there, but I am protecting her from this."

"It would look better if she was there.  It would make her look less guilty in the press's eyes," he says.

"What exactly is she guilty of?  She broke up with me and stayed away for 2 months to give me space to work things out when I found Jen was pregnant and then when she found out and told me, I was the one the pursued her before I confronted Jen.  Hayley is guilty of nothing.  I am sick of hearing that she is," I say now yelling into the phone.

"I hear you kid, I know the truth, but the press only knows one side right now.  Please just ask her to think about coming with you."

"No it's not an option.  She is not coming anywhere near those vultures."

I hear movement in the living room and look up to see Hayley standing there and I wonder how much she has heard.

"I have to go Al, text me the time and I will be there," I say.

"Kid, just think about bringing Hayley okay.  Trust me it's a good idea," he pleads with me.

"No,  not happening," I say and hang up.

"Morning," she says smiling and sitting beside me.

"Morning," wrapping her in my arms and kissing the top of her head.

"So what is it that you are protecting me from?"

"Al wants me to do a press conference today and wants me to ask you to be there, but I told him I wasn't putting you in that position after what happened last night."

"If this is going to help put an end to everything I want to be there for you and for us," she says holding my hand.

"I can't ask you to do that. It's my mess to clean up."

"You aren't asking me, I am offering and we stand together as a united front. I want to be there to show them I did nothing wrong."

"Only if you are sure. Please don't feel like you have too."

"I am sure. So text Al and let him know and I will make some breakfast and maybe we can sneak in a shower before we have to leave," she says getting up and winking at me.