“He tells me he’s handling it and to let it get swept under the rug. He and Murray have worked to keep it buried so far, but it’s not like anything has been settled.” I’m using the team’s attorney for now, but he doesn’t seem to be doing much of anything. Granted, I haven’t taken many of his calls, but they haven’t been helpful or full of good news anyway. “That’s why you’re here. It’s why I’m asking for your help.”
“What exactly do you want me to do?” Aubrey didn’t specialize or practice in cases like mine. I’m not asking her to represent me, but I could use her guidance, maybe her assistance.
“Tell me what to do. I can’t sit around anymore and let the season or my career pass me by. If I can’t talk to her…”
“Oh no. Don’t look at me like that.” I glance to Chance but he raises his hands, staying out of it.
When their son wakes up from his nap, he jumps up before Aubrey even has a chance to offer to get him. I look at her, pleading for help with my eyes.
“It’s unethical. It could push her to move forward with the charges, with a trial. Right now it’s what, a threat?” She runs her hands through her auburn locks in frustration. I understand the feeling. “If you settle, you’ll look guilty. If she goes public, she’ll ruin you.”
“She’s already ruining me.”
“Then what do you have to lose?”
In part, she makes a good point. I’ve already lost everything. If she goes public and I fight, I could win. But would I ever win? I would forever be tainted. No one would look at me the same or quite trust me again. I’d have the history, the label; the suspicion is damning enough.
“Everything. I could really lose everything. She’s taken it away from me now, but it’s temporary. I could still get it all back. If I pay her, she’d have to sign an NDA and if she went public after—”
“It would still ruin you. Even if it caused her legal repercussions, a retraction doesn’t do shit.”
“So, what do I do?”
“There has to be more to the story, right? She chose to target you because you’re a public figure with a lot of money. It couldn’t have been coincidental. I can’t believe someone could be so evil to ruin someone’s life for no reason.”
The silence weighs on the room. She’s contemplating her options, biting her lip and tilting her head back and forth like she’s seeing the situation from every angle. When she sighs heavily, I look up.
“Let me talk to her.”
I let out a breath and a smile pulls at my face, the first grin since I got here and told them everything. “Thank you.”
She smiles at me, but the emotion broadens once CJ enters the room, followed close behind by their weird pet goat. I’m grateful for this family, but man they’re a couple of weirdos.
My feet slap the pavement on the track as I try to run away from my thoughts and my demons. There’s one prevailing thought I can’t seem to shake: I shouldn’t have invited Bria to come to San Francisco with me.
If Paxton finds out, he’s going to freak. Since he now knows the truth about everything, he’s not entirely thrilled with my presence. There are times I still catch wariness in his gaze, but he talked to Coach Murray and understands the situation. The whole situation and the entire truth to back it up. He may be on my side, but he wouldn’t want me road-tripping with his team captain either.
With Bria, I’m putting myself in a position to do things I can’t take back. Things she and I definitely shouldn’t be doing together. Yet, once the idea populated, I couldn’t think of anything else; the invitation flew out of my mouth and now I can’t take it back.
I don’t want to take it back.
And I’m sure as shit glad she’s not bringing any of her friends.
My phone vibrates with a text and I’m shocked to see her name on it. Shocked but also glad, which scares me. How addicted I am to her; how I look for her at practice and her eyes always seem to find mine too. None of this is normal. I tried to fight it, this thing between us, but it’s so much bigger than her or me.
Bria: what’s the game plan for SF?
Tatum: Can you skip class on Friday?
The game isn’t until Saturday, but it’s a long drive and I want to get there and check into the hotel Friday night.
Bria: Sure, my profs are pretty lax already.
Tatum: If you can drive to my place around 2 we’ll leave from here.
I’d offer to pick her up, but the rest of the team doesn’t know about any of this and I know all too well how gossipy these girls are. They’ll start to talk and more rumors will spread. I don’t want to deal with any unnecessary drama and I can’t risk it.
Bria agrees and I send her my address. I’m used to being on the road, so the trip north is no big deal for me. I hope she doesn’t mind road trips or it’s going to be a hell of a drive.
The week passes as smooth as a razor blade trying to cut through gravel. I was eager for Friday and now the day is here and I can’t sit still. I have a few hours until Bria gets here and for a brief moment, my phone ringing distracts me. I hope she’s not canceling on me last minute.
When I see the name on the screen, my stomach fills with dread.
“Hey, Coach.” I try to sound natural, but whenever he calls me lately, it’s been bad news.
“Tatum, how are you?” Murray asks. It’s a normal question to ask someone, but the way his voice is laced with trepidation has me raising my hackles.
“I’m good, Coach. I’m coming up to the game this weekend.”
“I heard.” He pauses. “I’ve gotta be honest with you—I don’t think it’s such a good idea.”
I rear back. “Why?”
“Rumors. Speculation. If people see you at the game but not playing, more people will talk.”
“People are already talking,” I point out, particularly referencing Mitch and the reporter he opened his big mouth to. Murray starts to talk, but I cut him off. “I’m coming to the game, Coach. I made plans and I’m bringing a friend to watch the match. We’ll stay low-key.” It’s not like anyone can see us together anyway.
He sighs heavily. “Fine, but use the luxury suite and try to stay away from cameras and reporters.” That was always my intention anyway.
We hang up and despite the situation, I know he wants me back on the team and he’ll be happy to see me. I’m excited to see the team. Even Mitch, but only so I can yell at him.
I hook my phone to the charger and finish packing my duffel as the hours pass. There’s a knock on my door around one-thirty. When I open it, I’m surprised to see Bria on the other side.
“Hey, sorry I’m early. My class ended at one and I didn’t want the girls to question me. I grabbed my things before class and left telling them I was leaving for my Mom’s house this weekend. Luckily, I could pull it off pretty easily since none of them are in any of my classes today.”
She’s rambling. She’s cute when she’s nervous.
One hand is resting on her suitcase and the other is clutching her purse so tight her fingers are white.