Page 2

Chapter 1

JORDY

One year later

“Do we seriously have to fly all the way to Jamaica for this wedding? Why couldn’t they just get married here?”

Lenna threw a biscuit at me. “Because that’s what they wanted to do, Jordy. Don’t be a dick.”

I groaned. “But Elena is gonna be there with her new boyfriend and I’ll be all by myself.”

My sister walked around the counter and reached for me. “I’m gonna hold your hands when I say this—you’re a grown ass man. Not a kid. Get a date.”

“But the wedding is in a week! A week!” I protested, “and not only that—Elena is here every damn day. I can barely focus on practice, let alone find a date to a wedding.”

“It’s spring training Jordy, not even real practice. You’ll be fine. Besides, you and Elena have been over for a while now.”

My face fell into my hands. “I’m gonna have to bribe someone to go.”

“Whatever,” Lenna shrugged. ”Just as long as I don’t have to hear you complain the whole time… sounds like a great plan. Now, leave my house. I have things to do.”

My phone buzzed.

Dani: The next time you sneak into my office and take my snacks… I’ll tell the whole team you watch cartoons after watching a scary movie.

I chuckled.

Jordy: Any sane person watches happy things after watching something scary. You are the psychopath that can watch someone get possessed by a demon and be totally fine with it. Some of us like to have happy dreams at night.

Dani: Whatever, just stop coming in here and taking my snacks. Got it?

Jordy : Yes mama.

Dani: You’re so lucky I like you.

Jordy: In reality… I’m only helping you. Your ass was looking—

Dani: If you say big, I’m gonna come through this phone and slap you.

Jordy: Oh, would you look at the time? Gotta run. Bye!

***

I walked in to watch films, which was one of my absolute favorite things to do. Number one, there was air conditioning, and number two, I didn’t have to see Elena.

Clearly there’s a reason they don’t want you to have relations with people you're employed with, especially if they’re a coach.

“Hey, fuck face, what are you doing here so early?” Dani called, walking into the screening room.

“My sister kicked me out of her house, so I decided to come here early today,” I mumbled.

“Ah,” she replied, slipping into the chair beside me. “Are you going to the Mendoza wedding next week? I still have to get a dress—”

“Shit. Hide me,” I said, interrupting Dani and ducking behind her as I saw Elena walking past the windows of the screening room, but it’s too late—I was spotted.

“Hey Jordy! How ya doing?” Elena called to me.

I glanced at Dani screaming internally for help. “I’m great—just hanging out.”

“That’s cool. Are you still going to the wedding next week?” she asked.

I wanted to fucking melt under this table from embarrassment.

“Yeah I am. I’m going with…” Dani scrunched her brows at me, and I knew she’d hate my guts for doing this but, “Dani is gonna be my date.”

Elena looked shocked. “Oh that’s—great. I guess. Okay, well I’ll see you two around.”

I held my breath as she passed the room, then Dani immediately turned around and punched me in the ribs.

“What the hell? I already have a date,” she groaned.

I smirked. “Now, you have a new one.”

She shoved her rolling chair at me, and I blocked it. She left the room, flipping me the bird. I pretended to catch said bird and held it close to my heart to accept her undying love for me.

Before I forgot, I needed to text my sister to tell her the good news.

Jordy: I have a date.

Lenna: Really? Who is it?

Jordy: I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you

Lenna: Cut the shit. Who is it?

Jordy: You’ll see

Lenna: If you weren’t my brother, I’d block your number

I stood, pushing the chair under the table, and headed to the locker room. Instead of sitting here running through old plays, I thought I’d get some extra reps in and get warmed up for practice.

I opened the door and slammed into Blythe.

“Damn man. What the hell are you doing here so early?” he groaned.

“I was just getting ready for extra reps before practice. What about you?” I asked, turning to walk alongside him to the locker room.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I really needed to work off last night’s drinks. I had a great time though. You really should come out with me one day.”

I chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Blythe had always been a great friend, but I didn’t want to get too close. His reputation reeked of mischief and I was trying to keep my job.

“You going to the wedding next week right?” he asked, knowing damn well what my answer would be.

The scent of sweat and mildew coated my senses as I walked further into the room. “Of course I am. You?”

He dropped his bag into his locker and continued talking as I moved across the room to mine. “I am planning on it, but I’m struggling right now with keeping my agent. They keep quitting on me. I can’t seem to find the right one.”

I rolled my eyes, turning to look at Blythe. “Maybe you should, I don’t know, chill the fuck out? You’re kind of insane.”

He took his shirt off. “Nah—nothing about me is a problem. I’m lovable, kind, and a great time.”

“See, I think the great time part is where you’re a little over your head. Your agents want you to calm down.”

“I’ll calm down when I’m ready to.”

The new quarterback, replacing Mendoza, walked in at the height of our conversation with a smile. Brendan Hill was the epitome of good. He was handsome, great with his extracurricular activities, and kept to himself. If anyone was going to replace Shyloh after his career-ending injury, it would be him.

“How ya doin’, Hill?” I asked, being as polite as possible. We were still getting to know each other, and zero part of me wanted to piss him off. Doing that would mean we’d have some animosity on the field and I wouldn’t want that.

“To be completely honest—is this a safe place? Can I share something with the two of you?” Brendan asked.

Quickly, I glanced at Blythe with a side smirk. Hell yes we wanted to know all of his dirty secrets.

We nodded and Brendan sat down in his locker. “I had a date for the wedding next week, and she just texted me that she can’t go with me anymore. Something about a prior obligation and she won’t be going.”

I tilted my head. “Really? I didn’t know you were even invited to the wedding.”

He sighed. “I wasn’t invited, but I was her plus one.”

I gave Blythe a side-eye and notice his wheels turning, wondering who it could possibly be.

Brendan continued, “I mean, Dani seems like a great girl, so I can’t blame her. She probably has something really important going on.”

Oh shit. Dani. Fuck. I messed this up so bad.

“Maybe she had a prior obligation to someone else ?” Blythe offered.

Brendan shrugged, changing his shirt. “Maybe, but we weren’t an item, so it’s okay. I mostly was looking forward to getting away for a little while before the season goes into full swing, but I’ll do something else. Or”—he holds up his phone—“do someone else.”

I walked toward him, eyeing his phone. Of course he would have a supermodel’s number—but wait a minute. He was just using Dani… to go on vacation? That kind of pissed me off.

“Anyways, it’s fine. Hope you two have a blast.”

I nodded, silently glancing at Blythe before focusing on my shoe strings.

Focus. Focus. I always had to focus on tying them.

After the door closed behind Brendan, Blythe stood and walked straight to me.

“Whoa. Whoa. What are you doing?” I asked.

“Do you know something? About Dani—why she isn’t going with him… I feel like you do.”

I made a face. “No. Absolutely not. Why would I know anything?”

His brow raised. “Because you and Dani are friends, and I have an inkling that you are keeping something secret, but that’s okay. I’m gonna find out.”

He walked out the door, leaving me sitting at my locker.

What the hell was I gonna do? Do I tell her?