Page 23 of Off Sides

Dasher left for the plane this morning while I did some paperwork in the office. He knows I’m coming to New York. I gave him my room number as I have a suite there as well. I’m not sure if his friends will room with him or not. If they do, I don’t care. They’re good guys. I think he’s struggling with how the team would say if he took this public.

Poppy pokes her head in, “are you fucking my boyfriend?”

I startle and then look up at her, “no, I am not. I’m helping a friend who is letting you stay in his house until you find a place to stay. I suggest you focus on that instead of what I’m doing.”

She frowns, “it’s my business because he’s my boyfriend.”

This girl is not grasping the word breakup, “your ex-boyfriend.”

Her lips thin, “he will come back to me because I have what he needs, and you don’t.” Fuck this woman. I want to yell at her that I’ve been fulfilling all his needs just fine, but I won’t betray Dasher like that.

“Poppy, if you would like to keep your job I would suggest getting back to it. You’re going to need it to pay rent when you have to leave his home.”

She glares at me and rushes out the door. Good riddance.

Placing the documents Rachel needs for construction on top of my desk, I grab my jacket while calling for Derek. He shows up out front five minutes later, with my bag. Bless him.

“You sure about going to New York?” he asks. I nod, knowing I want to be there for Dasher. He doesn’t say anything else, just drives to the private airstrip. By now, Dasher is in the air, and I will be right behind him.

30

Chapter 30

Dasher

Something is wrong. I’m not sure what, but I have that feeling. The one everyone gets when something bad is about to happen. It started after I got to the airstrip to board the plane. Nothing was out of place. Guys mingling while we wait to board, staff moving bags and boxes.

Tyler has been talking about his kids for the last five minutes and I’m not even following the conversation. I keep looking around for something.

Tyler shakes me, “dude, you good?”

I sigh, “I have a bad feeling.”

He laughs, “that’s nerves.” I dismiss that, “no, not about the game. I just feel like something is going to happen.”

He tells me I’m crazy and I try to relax. Hopefully Raine will help calm me down.

We touch down and grab our carry-ons, the bags will be delivered to the hotel. As we file out, there are cameras everywhere.

A reporter sticks a microphone in my face, “would you like to say anything about the allegations that you’re in a relationship with Raine Herrin?” The fuck.

Tyler drags me away as they keep screaming. What the fuck did I miss on that plane ride? Did Raine do this? Did someone see us at dinner and assume?

No one mentions the scene to me as we ride to the hotel. Even if they tried, I’d probably beat someone in the face I’m so pissed.

Okay, I know that I’m doing things with Raine. Okay, okay, I’m in a relationship with him, but that’s my business to release.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Coach gives us our room numbers and hands me a key, “you probably need to talk to him when he gets here. But listen, nothing changes for us. We stand behind you.”

I give him a grateful thanks and head to Raine’s room, promising to talk to the guys later at dinner. The suite is huge with floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking Central Park. I can see all of New York, or most of it at least.

He’s not here, so I grab water out of the fridge and wait. While waiting, I turn on the TV for noise, pace the floor because I can’t sit still. I’m losing my mind.

It feels like a day but it’s a few hours and then he walks in. He takes one look at me, “what happened?”

I show him the articles that have been posted online—yeah, I looked myself up after the incident at the airfield. I will tell him what happened at the airport.