Page 40 of Over the Moon (Rosewood River #3)

twenty-eight

. . .

Eloise

My dinner with Sebastian and my father had been uneventful, and he definitely wasn’t hitting on me. He was just a friendly guy, who was new to the team, and I think he was trying to make some connections and form relationships of his own.

I smiled when I saw the notebook from Clark on my desk when I walked into my office. I slipped it into his gym bag yesterday, and even though we spent every night together, we continued writing in this notebook and passing it back and forth, which I actually loved.

Hey, Beautiful,

Loved waking up with you this morning, but mostly loved showering with that beautiful body wrapped around mine.

I think we should consider going to HR and getting ahead of this because I can tell this is weighing on you.

I know you want time to think about it, and I’ll support whatever you want to do, but just know I’m willing to do whatever we need to do.

I will not let this fall on you, I give you my word. I love you.

XX,

CC

Clark had shared his conversation with Everly, and he thought we should speak to my father first and then go to Human Resources.

I understood the reasoning; I just wasn’t sure it was a good idea to risk it.

They could easily fire me right then and there and then let him ride out his contract for the rest of the season, then not sign him once he becomes a free agent.

They could make us an example.

And yes, I would be devastated to lose my job, humiliated and embarrassed.

But if this fell on Clark, as well, how would he deal with that?

This was his dream team to play for. He loved his teammates, he and my father were so close, and his heart was here with the Lions.

His family lived just outside the city and attended all his home games.

That would all change.

We’d probably end up moving to different cities, and then where would that leave us?

There was so much to lose, and I was terrified to start that ball in motion.

I stared down at his note and started writing him back when a knock on the door had me looking up.

“Come in,” I called out.

Randall stepped into my office and moved to sit in the chair across from me. “You got a minute?”

“Yes, of course,” I said, noting the way his eyes moved to the notebook. I quickly closed it and slipped it into my top desk drawer before pushing it closed.

“What’s that you’re working on?” he asked.

“Oh, I just take notes on the progress of the athletes. I document everything in the portal for you to see, but I like handwritten notes for my own personal system.”

He nodded. “Never heard of that. It seems kind of silly to me, but if it works for you, I guess you should keep doing it.”

He had a way of always putting me on the defensive, but I didn’t bite this time. “What can I do for you?”

“I heard that Ryan Weston was asking you for some tips on cardio training during the preseason. Something that you did with Chadwick that wasn’t part of my training plan?”

My shoulders stiffened at his tone, and my heart raced as I tried to act unaffected.

“He was asking about the cardio that Clark did, as he integrated both road runs and distance swims in the river over the past three months,” I said, tilting my head to the side.

“Did Ryan come to you about this? I’m confused as to why you’re making it sound like I did something questionable.

I recorded all of Clark’s workouts—the workouts that you requested as well as the addition of his cardio training.

That was something he added, not me. I just advised on how not to overdo one over the other and how to build up mileage and speed,” I said.

He leaned forward. “I have ears everywhere, Eloise. And let’s just be clear, I am the team trainer.

I know your father is the coach, and nepotism got you here, but it won’t keep you here.

You best stay in your lane. I’ll advise the players on their training.

You just focus on bandaging their injuries, okay? ”

I was stunned at how he was speaking to me. I’ve never felt very welcomed by Randall, but this made me feel like we were at war. Like we were on opposing teams.

“I haven’t offered any training advice to anyone.

Ryan asked me about Clark’s cardio this summer because he said he’d like to increase his cardio during the off-season next summer.

I just shared what he’d done as far as building up his runs and swims over a period of time.

Clark himself was standing there, and he offered the information, as well.

It was not in any way undermining what you do as team trainer.

I would never do that. I respect the training plan you have in place. ”

“As you should. I’ve been doing this a hell of a lot longer than you have,” he snipped. “And don’t go running to your daddy about this. If you want to play with the big boys, then you better pull up your big-girl pants and handle it like a man.”

Was this guy for real?

I mean, he was a walking HR violation.

“Listen, Randall, I’m not the enemy. I am happy to be here, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.

But don’t be mistaken, I am more than qualified for the position I’m currently in.

I may have gotten my foot in the door because my father works for the team, but I’m here because I’m good at my job.

I’m passionate about what I do, and I don’t appreciate you undermining my ability, nor do I appreciate the sexist comments you just made.

I don’t need to ‘ handle it like a man .’ I just need to handle it like a grown adult, which I’m happy to do. ”

“Well, don’t get all worked up now. I’m just having a real talk with you. It’s what we do here. Real talk, Eloise. Man to man—or I guess you’d call it, adult to adult?” He chuckled, and it was arrogant and laced with sarcasm. “You’re in the big leagues now, kiddo. You’ve got to get a thicker skin.”

My phone alarm went off, and I was extremely relieved to have a reason to end this conversation. I turned it off and looked up at him. “I have a PT appointment I need to get to. Are we done here?”

“Sure.” He pushed to his feet when I stood. “Hey, how was that dinner with Sebastian? You two seem to be getting awfully cozy. You just want to be careful about rumors starting around here. Once they get going, they can take on a life of their own.”

This freaking guy.

I narrowed my gaze and squared my shoulders as I stood in front of him.

“Sebastian requested to go to dinner with both me and my father to discuss some things that he noticed at the scrimmage. No one is getting cozy, although, from the rumors that I’ve heard swirling around, you might want to worry about your own issues before making something up about me.

But thanks for the warning. Everything you’ve said today has been noted, Randall.

” My voice came out harsher than I meant it to, and I wasn’t mad about it.

He could be a prick to me if it made him feel better.

I wasn’t fragile, nor did I expect special treatment.

I could take it. He was technically my boss, and I could handle whatever he wanted to throw at me.

But I wouldn’t be accused of doing something that I wasn’t doing, nor would I be threatened by a guy who knew nothing about me.

His face turned a shade of red, and I noticed the way his hands fisted at his sides before he chuckled and narrowed his gaze.

“And you didn’t think the team trainer should be included?” He quirked a brow, and I saw the accusation right there in his cold gaze. “Be careful, Eloise. You’re playing a dangerous game.”

“It wasn’t my dinner. I didn’t plan it. I was just invited. I’m not trying to play any games. I assumed you two had a dinner of your own.”

“Well, you know what they say about making assumptions, Eloise. It makes an ass out of you and me,” he hissed.

“I’d say you’re handling that part just fine on your own.” I moved toward the door and then paused and turned around. “How did you even hear about the dinner? About my conversation with Ryan Weston? It seems like you’re keeping pretty intense tabs on me.”

My heart raced. Was he having me followed? Did he know about Clark coming to my condo every night?

“It’s my job to keep tabs on everyone that works with my players. So, I’d make sure you stay in your lane, and we won’t have a problem.”

“Sounds like we already do have a problem, and I have been in my lane the whole time.” I yanked the door open. “So now I’m going to go do my job, if you’re all right with that?”

“I’ve got athletes waiting for me, as well. Good talk.” He chuckled as he stepped in front of me and walked out the door.

I was still stunned as I made my way to the PT room. I worked with several athletes over the next few hours and shook off the conversation with Randall.

He was clearly threatened, but I would just keep my head down and do my job and hope he eventually stopped worrying about what I was doing and focused on his own job.

I made my way to the training room with Benjamin Adams. He was the starting right defenseman. He wanted to show me the way he was doing the leg press to make sure he wasn’t putting any strain on his Achilles muscle.

All the guys were just finishing up their strength workout, and the music was booming.

“The Humpty Dance” by Digital Underground was playing through the speakers, and all the guys were in a circle around Clark, who was singing all the lyrics like he’d written the song himself.

Weston and Wizz were dancing around like fools, and the other guys watched with big smiles on their faces.

Benjamin’s head fell back in laughter as he stood beside me, watching.

When the song came to an end, my gaze locked with Clark’s, and he winked.

It was difficult not to stare, as he was wearing nothing but a pair of sweatshorts. His chest glistened with sweat, and the muscles in his arms flexed as he reached for his water.

I could feel someone’s eyes boring into the side of my face, and I looked over to see Randall watching me.

I hoped he missed that little interaction, although he just accused me of being inappropriate with Sebastian, so hopefully Clark wasn’t even on his radar.

I walked over to him to let him know why I was there and asked if he’d like to observe Benjamin on the machines, as well, just to make sure we were on the same page.

“Yes. Thank you,” he said, and relief flooded that maybe this awkwardness would go away quickly.

We both stood and watched as the group of guys around us cracked a few jokes and finished their workout.

“Hey, Doc, why don’t you join us for happy hour in a little bit at the Lion’s Gate across the street,” Weston said, wiping his face with a towel. “It’s tradition to celebrate the end of training camp.”

“Yeah, Randall and your dad are coming. It’s tradition.” Wizz chugged from his water bottle.

Clark stayed quiet, and I noted the way Randall watched him before turning to me. “You should come. It’s team bonding, and you’re part of the team, Doc. ” Randall accentuated the nickname.

I forced a smile. “Sounds good. I’ll be there.”

Randall’s phone vibrated, and he glanced at the screen and then walked out of the gym.

“All right, let’s go grab a shower so we don’t close the place down with our stench,” Clark said with a laugh before turning his attention to me. “See you there, Weeze.”

I left the training room and went to meet my father, who was just ending a call.

“Please tell me that you’re going to the Lion’s Gate,” I said, as I stood in his doorway. “I just got invited, and I’m not going unless you go.”

He barked out a laugh. “It’s a team thing. You’re going. Sebastian is going, too, which is new, because Wolf never went when he was running the show. But I think Sebastian wants to be more involved than his brother was.”

I closed the door and sat down in the chair across from him. “Randall knows that we went to dinner with Sebastian, and he seemed pretty offended that he wasn’t included.”

Dad arched a brow. “That’s not really our problem. That’s between them.”

“Well, I think he thinks I should have said something. He is my boss, after all.”

“Randall is old-school. He’s stuck in his ways and can be an arrogant prick, so most people tolerate him,” he said, keeping his voice low. “But he’s one of those guys who always keep score of what everyone else is doing, you know? So I’m not surprised he found out about the dinner.”

That’s the understatement of the year.

“How do you think he even found out about the dinner?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady and unaffected.

I did not want my father to know that Randall and I weren’t exactly getting along.

But I was concerned that he seemed to be keeping tabs on me, and I wanted to know if this was normal behavior for him.

My father sighed as if he wasn’t sure he wanted to say more.

But then he leaned forward, his voice quieter than usual.

“I’m fairly certain Randall is having an affair with Talia, his assistant.

It’s none of my business, and I don’t want to get involved in other people’s private lives.

But he appears to be off lately, and maybe he’s just paranoid that people are talking about it. ”

“Okay,” I said, studying him because he clearly had more to say.

“I think he gets a lot of information from her. He’s that guy, you know, the kind of guy who likes to have something on everyone around him. So just keep your head down and stay out of his hair.”

“I thought they had the strict rule about the ethics clause in our contracts?” I asked, because it was fairly hypocritical of Randall to be calling everyone else out when he himself was having an extramarital affair.

“They do. But Randall grew up with Duke Wayburn, who passed the torch down to his son, Wolf, before they passed it to his younger son, Sebastian. So Randall knows he has that friendship in his pocket, which is why I think Sebastian isn’t a big fan of his.

” He shrugged. “But keep all of this in the vault. It comes with the territory, Ells Bells. Office politics are not something new. Just be aware, and don’t give him anything to use against you.

That’s how I’ve survived all these years.

” He chuckled, and my stomach twisted in knots.

Because if he found out about me and Clark, he would most definitely use it against me.