Page 121 of Falling Offsides

AUGUSTE

The hallwayoutside the apartment is a crime scene of flowers. Petals everywhere… and the echo of Courtney’s apartment door slamming shut faster than I could stop her from running.

Confused doesn’t cut how I feel as I stare at the dark mahogany wood Samson’s pawing at, wishing I could see through it. See her.

I need to put eyes on her.

So damn bad that my hand reaches inside my pocket for my phone, only to come up empty. Because while Lizzie was working the kink in my shoulder, I put it on charge in the bedroom. It was about to die from all the time I spent testing the doggie cams this morning and setting the closed network up.

Then of course, I had to keep checking it was working because I didn’t get a single notification telling me Court had logged on. So no phone means I’m flying blind here. Means I have no idea what in the fuck is going on.

I’m trying to process what just happened—Courtney was mad one second and the next she was crying and suddenly she’s running.

“So, I’ll book you in for next week,” Lizzie says, pausing next to me while I continue staring at Courtney’s door. “I would recommend you work on keeping your shoulder loose with the team PTs. Even when it feels good, keep working on it so you avoid injury again.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Chick is kind of wild, huh?” Lizzie chuckles next to me. “Guess now I know why she was staring me out when I arrived.”

“She what?” I glance at Lizzie, finding a shit-eating grin on her face.

“Your girl was staring me out when I walked in,” she repeats.

“Narcissistic much?” The words come out low and biting.

“Whoa there… okay…” Lizzie takes a step back, face screwed tight, hazel eyes narrowed. “Serious to God, you hockey bozos really are useless with feelings. Your girl got the wrong impression, Broussard. She did the math wrong on why I’m here.”

Huh?“Are you saying she thought we…” I gesture between us.

“Ding, ding, ding.” Lizzie rolls her eyes. “How would you feel about another dude walking into her place? Not knowing who or why?”

My jaw clenches hard at the thought.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

I glare at Courtney’s door behind her. “So Court’s jealous?”Why?

“Bingo! Although, at this point I’d say she’s embarrassed, probably feeling guilty. It’s a cycle, okay?”

“A cycle?”

“Listen, the sports world from the female standby perspective is not pretty. At any one time there’s a queue of women trying to seduce you guys, and it’s really fucking hard to stay on the up all the time. Impossible not to get insecure…” Lizzie swallows, shaking her head down at the floor. “It’s a cycle and it’s hard. You get jealous, then mad, when you realize you got it all wrong it’s humiliating and you feel so guilty for assuming the worst in someone you love.”

Lizzie blows out a breath with a faint smile. I’m totally seeing her in a new light and understanding why Ansel is still so protective of her even though they’re just friends.

“So, ummm,” she clears her throat, “you’ll let me know when you want to book in for next week?”

I nod, but ask her, “Do you think Gray has a slot for me instead?”

A broad grin cuts her face. “For sure, a new client came in yesterday, we can trade.”

“Thanks… for the advice and… yeah…”

“You’re welcome, smart guy,” she croons with an exaggerated flip of her long ponytail over her shoulder as she spins and heads for the elevator. “Oh, and stop overusing the gun, it’s going to inflame the tissues on your neck. Try a gentle massage… maybe an oil rub.” She winks back at me.

The doors ping and as they start to close, Lizzie lunges to stop them. “FYI, Bruce, you’re gonna have to knock.”

I know that, but I’m afraid that I’ll make Court feel worse than shealready does. Even though I don’t want that, I’m acutely aware that I need to man up and face the fallout of my actions.