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CHAPTER FOUR

I’M A SURVIVOR

ADELINE

“What do you mean, you’re not coming to the family picnic?” Dad asks, sounding so hurt.

“I just…I’m still unpacking and trying to be ready for Monday.”

“This is important. You have plenty of time to unpack. And I know you, sweetheart—you’ve been ready for Monday for weeks.”

He’s not wrong. I already have a full presentation ready to go for Monday. I know it backwards and forwards and all I need to work on before Monday is finding my nerve.

“I’ll be by to pick you up in an hour,” Dad says and he hangs up.

“Ugh,” I yell, tossing my phone on the bed.

And then I get up and scramble to get ready.

My parents are so pleased I’m here, and I’d be happy to be too, if I wasn’t a nervous wreck.

Every year before training camp, the entire Mustangs team and staff meet at one of the coach’s houses for a huge party.

This year it wasn’t at my parents’ house, so I thought I could get out of attending, but here I am at Coach Crawford’s large estate, stuck under the bright afternoon sun, pretending to enjoy myself as my eyes scan the crowd.

Please don’t let Penn be here. Please let him have better things to do today. Please.

“Come on, sweetheart,” my dad calls, gesturing for me to follow him toward a cluster of people.

I force a smile and trail behind him. I’ll need to remind my dad not to call me sweetheart at work events. We chat for a few minutes before I’m taken to the next group of people.

And then I see him.

My stomach twists, my breath catches, all those things I thought I might be imagining after so much time has passed come rushing back with a vengeance. No, it’s all still there.

He turns just as I try to move away, and our eyes meet. His whole face lights up. Sunshine breaking through the clouds.

“Addy?”

I freeze. He’s already walking toward me, that familiar swagger in his step. His grin stretches wide, so genuine it makes my heart hurt just a little. The rest of me is so happy to see him though. So happy.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” he says, stopping in front of me. “What are you doing here?” His voice is warm, happy, relieved . Not a trace of anger for me bailing on him.

It’s more than I deserve.

Before I can answer, my dad’s booming voice cuts through the air. “Everyone, can I have your attention?”

I sigh, glancing at Penn, and his eyes are steady on mine as the crowd quietens.

“I’d like to introduce someone special to the team,” my dad announces, clapping a hand on my shoulder.

“My daughter, Adeline Evans. While some of you may remember her from when she was younger, a lot of you probably haven’t gotten to know her yet.

She’s back from California and has decided to join the Mustang family.

We are so excited that she’s the Mustangs’ new registered dietitian.

Lorelai, our director of nutrition, will have more to say about Adeline on Monday, but I wanted to be the first to introduce her to you all today.

Make her feel welcome…but I am looking at all you single players—don’t even think of making a move on my little girl.

Got it?” He laughs and I. Am. Mortified.

His words hang in the air like a grenade. There’s a loud cheer, but the only thing that registers for me is Penn’s face. His smile vanishes, his face going blank and then falling as the realization hits.

“Thanks, everyone!” I say, waving and forcing a smile. “I’m looking forward to working with all of you!”

Bright, cheery, and true, but I’ve never felt more fake than right now.

“Penn,” I start, but before I can say another word, he turns and walks away.

My heart sinks. I move to follow him, but my dad catches my arm.

“Adeline, come meet a few more people,” he says, steering me toward yet another group.

“I just need to catch someone,” I tell him.

My eyes dart to Penn, and my dad turns to see who I’m looking at. “Penn? Penn Hudson? What would you want with him?” His eyes narrow on me. “Don’t waste your time on him, sweetheart. He’s a manwhore and lots of trouble that you do not want to get involved in. Trust me on this.”

“You shouldn’t talk about one of your players like that,” I say under my breath.

I smile bright and keep the conversation brief before taking off in the direction Penn went. Weaving through people, I apologize as I rush by.

When I see him, I call his name, but he doesn’t slow down. His long strides put more distance between us, and these sandals are not the best for chasing someone with legs as long as his.

Finally, I catch up with him as he nears his SUV.

“Penn!” I say again, breathless.

He stops abruptly and turns, his expression a mix of disbelief and frustration. “Adeline Evans,” he says, his voice low but sharp.

I flinch. I deserve his tone, but it still stings. “Can you please…not go?”

His jaw clenches, and he crosses his arms over his chest, looking down at me. “Why not?”

I swallow hard. “I didn’t mean to?—”

“You didn’t mean to what?” he cuts in, when I don’t say anything else. “You didn’t mean to kiss me the way you did and then disappear on me?”

“I didn’t mean to ghost you,” I say quickly, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Well…you did.”

Guilt twists in my chest, but I feel a little defensive too. I step closer. “You don’t know what was going on, Penn. You don’t know why I left.”

“I’m listening.” His tone is clipped, but his eyes don’t look as cold.

Maybe that’s just hopeful thinking.

“I wanted to spend more time with you. Even though I shouldn’t have. Kissing you…scared me.”

He blinks, clearly not expecting that. His eyes soften. “It scared you?”

“Yes. For a lot of reasons…one being because I was considering coming to work for the Mustangs…”

His shoulders sag a little with that.

“And you were this…surprise I didn’t expect. I wasn’t ready for you.”

He doesn’t look as angry, but the hurt is still there. “You could’ve told me that.”

“I wanted to. But then my friend got in a car accident, and I had to leave. I left in a hurry and didn’t have your number…”

He gives me a look and I sigh.

“I know I could’ve gotten it, but…from my dad? And the more time passed, along with the fact that I did take the job—surprise!” I hold up my hands and his lips pucker with his effort to not smile. “I just…”

He stares at me for a long moment, the tension between us thick. “How is your friend?”

“She’s good. Had a bad concussion and has to go to the chiropractor often, but it could’ve been so much worse.”

He nods and then runs his hands through his perfect hair. It falls back into place in a way that I’m jealous of. “You lied to me, Addy…Adeline. When were you going to tell me you’re Coach Evans’ daughter?”

I make a face and sag against his car. “I didn’t lie. I just…didn’t tell you everything.”

“Same thing.”

“Not exactly.”

He shoots me another look but sags against his car next to me. “Is that why you said your name was Addy? You were afraid I’d know?”

“I go by both. But…maybe.” I shrug. “I really liked the way you looked at me when you didn’t know.”

He stares at me and a chill skitters over my arms. And then he shakes his head and a choked laugh comes out of him.

“I can’t believe you’re Coach Evans’ daughter. I have so much respect for that man and his coaching, but…yeah…he does not care for me too much.”

I frown. “Why is that?”

He shakes his head. “I wish I knew. It’s kind of been that way since I joined the team.”

That doesn’t sound like my dad, but he did warn me about Penn. I wonder why. Penn might be a player, but a player probably wouldn’t be this disappointed in me. Would he?

“Well…I’m glad I had a chance to talk to you before running into you at the training facility. Training starts on Monday, right?”

He blows out a long breath. “Yeah. It does.”

“I hope we can put this behind us,” I say. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away who I was. Sorry for leaving and not saying goodbye…” My face scrunches up. “Sorry about all of it.”

“Don’t be sorry about all of it,” he says. He lifts off of the vehicle. “That would mean you regretted the kiss.”

I want to tell him I could never regret that, but he speaks before I can, and it’s probably for the best.

“I’ll see you around, Adeline Evans.” His voice is distant and he gives me a little salute before moving to his car door.

I step away and watch as he drives away, lifting my hand in a wave when he glances at me one more time.

Damn. I just thought this was going to be hard. Now that I’ve seen him, I don’t know how I’m going to survive.