Chapter 42 Titan Wants To End Our Relationship (Publicly)... What Does Crew Say?
Harper Pov,
Crew disappeared into the bathroom and I heard the water start running. While he was in there, I called Monica.
"Harper," she answered. "How's Crew doing?"
"He's adjusting. Had a rough night but went to a meeting this morning. We're meeting with the Titans at noon." I paused. "Monica, what happens if they fire him?"
"Then he files a wrongful termination suit and we add David Morrison to the list of people who tried to destroy you both." Her voice was sharp.
"But Harper, I don't think they're going to fire him. Not after everything that came out about Richard and Robert Cross. The Titans don't want to be the next organization exposed for corruption."
"So what do you think Morrison's after?" I asked immediately.
"Probably to save face. To make it look like the Titans are being reasonable and supportive while still getting what they want, which is you out of Crew's life."
"That's not happening."
"I know. But be prepared for Morrison to make it sound very reasonable and very necessary for Crew's recovery. He's going to frame it as caring about Crew's wellbeing, not punishing him for his relationship choices."
"How do we fight that?"
"You don't. Crew does. It's his career, his decision. All you can do is support whatever he chooses." Monica paused.
"But Harper, make sure he's actually choosing what he wants, not what he thinks you want. Early recovery is complicated. People make decisions based on guilt or fear instead of what's actually best for them."
"I'll make sure."
After I hung up, I made coffee and tried not to think about the fact that in two hours, we were walking into a meeting that could end Crew's career.
Crew came out of the bathroom 20 minutes later wearing jeans and a dark blue button-down shirt that made his eyes look even clearer than they already were.
"You look good," I said.
He poured himself coffee and sat at the kitchen table, staring at his phone like it might explode. "I should call my agent. Let him know what's happening."
"Marcus already knows. I talked to him last week."
"What did he say?"
"That he'll support whatever you decide. But also, that losing the Titans isn't the end of your career. Other teams would pick you up in a heartbeat."
"Not if the Titans blackball me. Morrison has connections all over the league." Crew set his coffee down. "Harper, I need to be honest with you about something."
"Okay…."
"If Morrison fires me today, I'm okay with that." He looked at me.
"I know that sounds crazy. I know hockey is supposed to be my whole life. But the past thirty days in treatment taught me that I built my entire identity around being a hockey player and that's why losing it terrified me so much. But I'm more than hockey. And if the Titans can't accept that I'm a person with a life outside the rink, then I don't want to play for them anyway."
"You really mean that?"
"Yes, I do." He stood up and took my hands. "Harper, I'm not throwing away my career for you. I'm choosing a life where I'm not constantly afraid of losing everything if I make one wrong move. And if that means playing for a different team or not playing at all, I'm okay with it."
"What would you do if you didn't play hockey?"
"Well, for that, I don't… really know." He smiled. "Maybe I'd go back to school. Or coach. Or work with kids who are struggling with addiction. Something that matters more than putting a puck in a net."
"You think hockey doesn't matter?"
"I'm not saying it doesn't. What I mean is… it’s not as important to me than my life or my health or my relationship with you. And I spent three years acting like it did. I'm done with that."
I hugged him because I didn't know what else to do. This version of Crew—the one who was clear-eyed and honest and not afraid to admit hockey wasn't everything—was so different from the man I'd met three months ago who was drowning in pills and pain and couldn't imagine a life outside the rink.
"I'm proud of you," I said into his chest.
"For what?"
"For becoming this person. The one who knows his worth isn't tied to a sport."
"I'm not there yet. But I'm working on it."
We stood there in Maya's kitchen holding each other until it was time to leave for the meeting that would determine if Crew still had a career to come back to.
And as we walked out the door together, I realized something.
It didn't matter what Morrison said.
It didn't matter if the Titans fired him or kept him or made ultimatums.
Because Crew had already won.
…..
The Titans offices looked exactly the same as they had three weeks ago when I'd walked out after telling Morrison where he could shove his ultimatum.
Crew and I rode the elevator up in silence. He clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly, in an effort to burn off the nervous energy already building inside him.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Not so much. But I'm here anyway." He looked at me. "Harper, whatever happens in that room, I need you to know I've already made my decision."
"What decision?"
"That you're not negotiable. If Morrison tries to make me choose between you and hockey, I'm choosing you."
"Crew—"
"I'm not arguing about this." The elevator dinged and the doors opened. "Let's go see what Morrison's offering."
Rebecca, Morrison's assistant, was waiting in the hallway. She looked uncomfortable when she saw me.
"Ms. Sinclair. I didn't realize you'd be joining us."
"Crew wanted me here."
"Of course. Right this way."
She led us to the same conference room I'd sat in weeks ago. David Morrison was already there, along with Linda Chen from communications and someone new—a man in his sixties wearing an expensive suit.
"Crew," Morrison stood and extended his hand. "Good to see you. You look well."
"Thank you." Crew shook his hand but didn't smile. "Let's skip the pleasantries. What do you want?"
Morrison gestured to the older man. "This is Gerald Hutchins, team counsel. We asked him to join us to discuss the terms of your return."
"My return." Crew sat down and I sat next to him. "So you're not firing me?"
"The organization values you as a player, Crew. We always have." Morrison opened a folder. "But given recent events; your overdose, the suspension, the media attention… we need to establish new parameters for your employment going forward."
"Parameters."
"Conditions," Gerald clarified. "For your return to the team next season."
Crew leaned back in his chair. "I'm listening."
Morrison slid a document across the table. "We're offering you a one-year contract extension at a reduced salary. $3.2 million instead of your current $8 million."
I watched Crew's jaw tighten but he didn't say anything.
"You'll be subject to mandatory random drug testing twice weekly for the duration of the season. Any positive test results in immediate contract termination with no severance."
"That's standard for players returning from substance abuse treatment," Crew said. "What else?"
"In addition, you'll be required to attend counseling sessions with the team psychologist weekly. You'll maintain regular attendance at support group meetings. And you'll cooperate fully with the team's medical staff regarding any pain management issues."
"Fine. What's the catch?"
Morrison exchanged a look with Linda. "We're also requiring that you maintain appropriate boundaries in your personal life. Specifically, we need you to publicly distance yourself from your relationship with Harper Sinclair."
There it was.
"Define 'publicly distance,'" Crew said, his voice dangerously calm.
"A joint statement announcing that you and Ms. Sinclair have mutually decided to take a break while you focus on your recovery and career. No public appearances together. No social media posts acknowledging the relationship. Essentially, you present as single for the remainder of your contract."
"So you want me to pretend Harper doesn't exist?"
"We want you to prioritize your career and recovery over a relationship that has generated significant negative media attention," Linda said.
"Crew, you have to understand that your association with Ms. Sinclair has damaged your marketability. Three of your sponsors dropped you. Your jersey sales are down forty percent. The team has received hundreds of emails from fans concerned about your judgment."
"My judgment."
"You started a relationship with a woman who was being investigated for assault. Who's been all over the news for allegedly manipulating you as part of a revenge plot against her ex-boyfriend." Linda pulled up something on her tablet.
"The narrative around you has shifted from 'talented player struggling with addiction' to 'troubled player with questionable decision-making in his personal life.' We need to change that narrative."
"And you want to do that, by erasing Harper from MY LIFE??!" Crew voice came out cold now.