Page 118 of Racing Heat

“I thought he graduated from an Ivy League school?” Danny asks.

Hendrix nods. “He did. We had a messy breakup the end of sophomore year because his father didn’t think I was good enough for him. So, he ultimately dumped me when his dad threatened to cut him out of the family money and businesses. In order to sweeten the deal, he got August moved to Brown, and that’s where he graduated from. We didn’t speak after that. I’m pretty sure Maxwell Cromwell has forgotten all about me. I know August hasn’t, but I’m not something he likes to be reminded of. So maybe we use that to get Cassie back on the team.”

“Hen,” Mac says, pulling her into a hug. “That’s why you hate him so much. He threw you away for money.”

“For his future,” she defends.

“Same diff,” she counters.

“I had no idea, Hendrix,” I say. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that. And then we all make you hang out with him. That can’t be easy, can it?” I feel like an absolute shit for the grief we sometimes give her and August for how much animosity there is between the two of them.

“Maybe we could use that information to our advantage,” Danny says. “You tell him he owes you. I mean, it sucks, but the dude might have a conscience, so it might just work out.”

I hate to do that to August. He’s a person too. But I don’t say that. Hendrix trusted us with something personal, and I hate that she’s in pain because of it. She puts off this front like it doesn’t matter, but I think deep down it must.

“Are you sure you want to play that card?” I ask her.

She nods. “If it gets us Cassie back, yes. She’s the best midfielder we’ve got. And she’s become one of my best friends. I can’t lose her like this. Please, Jase.”

I look over at Mac and Danny to see what they think.

“If you’re okay with it, I say it’s worth a shot,” Mac says to Hendrix. “But you have to be absolutely sure you want to play that card. He’s going to realize that it still affects you. Do you really want him to have that power?”

“It doesn’t affect me,” Hendrix insists.

“I think you protest a bit too much, my dear,” Danny teases her. “But it just might work. Appeal to the human side of August.”

“Do you want me to come with you guys?” Mac asks. “Use my position as the captain to make this happen.”

I consider it for a moment. “Nah, I think this should just be me and Hendrix, if it’s alright with you.”

Mac nods. “Whatever gets my girl back.”

“Okay” is all I say.

We spend the rest of our night scheming on what we could say to August to make him change his mind. It’s a solid plan. I just hope it works.

Chapter Forty-One

~JASE~

Hendrix and I agree to see August in his office early the next morning. I message him to make sure that he’s going to be there.

Jase:Hey, man, do you have a few minutes this morning? I’d like to talk to you.

It takes him a bit, but he does reply.

August:Yeah, no problem. I’m here.

“He’s there,” I tell Hendrix as we walk into the office side of the Blaze complex.

“Well, yeah, his car is here.” She rolls her eyes.

“Sometimes his car is here, but he’s gone running around the property or walked for coffee or something,” I tell her.

“He runs?” Hendrix shakes her head. “I didn’t know he bothered with running anymore.”

“He didn’t run when you were with him?” I ask.