The Baby Blitz (Varsity Dads #3)(18)
Author: Lex Martin

“Olly, it’s me.” Vanessa’s voice settles over me like the call of doom.

 

Why is she here? We said all we had to say the other night.

 

And then it hits me. How I tried to let her down easily by saying if she wanted to talk some more, we could meet up again. I meant back in Charming. Not here at my sister’s brunch.

 

Can this morning get any worse?

 

 

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

MAGGIE

 

 

 

 

 

With my ear pressed to the door between our rooms, I hear everything. How Bash made Michael hang out with me this weekend. How Michael acts like nothing happened between us. How he has no intention of telling my brother about us. Probably because he’s still dating Vanessa.

 

She’s in his room now. “Thanks for inviting me to brunch, Olly. That was so sweet of you.”

 

I could puke.

 

In a rage, I toss on some clothes and fling everything else in my suitcase. How could he? I should march in there and tell my brother what happened, because he’d kick Michael’s ass into the next town if he knew the truth.

 

Angrily, I slam my suitcase shut and admit to myself that I could never let that go down. Last night might not mean anything to Michael, but it meant everything to me. And to find out he was just sowing his wild oats? Cheating on his girlfriend? Leading me on? It’s devastating.

 

For the first time, I thought I was really connecting with a man, with someone I could see in my life. Finding out he’s the worst kind of scum has me trembling.

 

He said it himself. What the hell did I do?

 

Maybe he feels bad for cheating. He should, that lousy rat.

 

That had to be what he meant by those words, right? What else could it mean?

 

Because if he isn’t dating Vanessa, why didn’t he correct my brother?

 

When the voices dim and I realize Michael isn’t coming back to explain why his ex showed up at his hotel room, I’m apoplectic.

 

I feel so fucking stupid. Why did I think he was a different person? He bought me groceries, and I let that erase years of animosity. Was last night merely a way to get back at me? To get the last laugh? I have a hard time thinking he’d sink to that level, but perhaps I’m being naive.

 

Not for the first time, Michael Oliver has pulled the wool over my eyes.

 

Never again.

 

 

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

OLLY

 

 

 

 

 

My mouth drops open. Coach Nicholson just accepted a three-year contract. With another team.

 

Had I been answering my phone last night, I would’ve heard. I have a million messages from my teammates, but I was so wrapped up in Maggie that the rest of the world dimmed.

 

Vanessa’s brow crinkles. “I figured you might want to talk about it.” She and Sebastian and I are seated on the terrace of the hotel’s restaurant. I keep looking around, waiting for Maggie to show up. Hoping she won’t think something more is going on between me and Vanessa.

 

I have no idea what I’ll say to her or Sebastian. I should just go with the truth. That I’m crazy about his sister.

 

Vanessa clears her throat. “My dad says you should come over for dinner this week.”

 

Why would I want to do that?

 

She must see the confusion on my face. “So you guys can talk about what this means for your scholarship, silly.”

 

It takes me a full minute to connect the dots, but when I do it nearly stops the beat of my heart.

 

Her father is the athletic director.

 

And while the incoming coach makes the final decision about how those eighty-five scholarships get distributed to the one hundred and fifteen players on the team, the AD might be able to have some input. I know all of this based on the coaching situation last year.

 

Holy shit. Talking to Maggie is the least of my problems right now.

 

Sebastian gives me a hard look for some reason. “Good thing your girlfriend is looking out for you.”

 

My insides twist like I’ve been knifed by this falsehood. I can’t even take a drink of my coffee because I’m nauseous.

 

Worse? Vanessa beams at him like we’re actually still dating.

 

Am I going crazy? Did Vanessa and I not have a conversation two nights ago where we parted ways amicably? Why is she here playing the devoted girlfriend all of a sudden?

 

I open my mouth to correct Sebastian and clarify things for Vanessa when my parents and several members of the bridal party join us on the terrace.

 

I scan the group, eager to see Magnolia and tell her what’s going on with my situation. Use that as the opportunity to show Vanessa that I’ve moved on. Instead, I spot Greg, who gives me a head nod. I follow him off to the side.

 

“Hey, man.” His voice lowers. “Saw Maggie on the way out this morning. She looked pretty upset.”

 

Oh, shit. Did she leave? Jesus Christ, I’ve messed this up already.

 

He smirks. “She gave me a message for you.”

 

My stomach sinks. This can’t be good.

 

He smacks me on the back, and his smile turns brittle. “She said you should go to hell.”

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Pacing my small bedroom back in Heartland, I can’t believe I’m resorting to this—taking advice from my roommate Johnny. But Ben and Sienna are out of town, my sister is on her honeymoon, and it’s not like I can get advice about this from Sebastian.

 

“You’re so fucked, man,” Johnny says.

 

I freeze with my phone next to my ear. My life must be car-wreck level devastation for him to say those words. “You’re supposed to be my wingman. Why would you say that?”

 

“Were you really planning to tell the AD’s daughter that you’re now sleeping with Bash’s little sister? Are you insane? One word to her father, and he could zap your scholarship into oblivion.” He takes a big puff of what I’m guessing is a fat joint and in his stoner voice says, “Gotta play that shit cool, bro. No need to wreck your career over a woman.”