Page 122 of Racing Heat

But then I’m back here in team housing, alone, and the sadness creeps back in. My phone beeps, and I get up to see that it’s August.

August:I’m in the parking lot. Can I come up?

I read and re-read the message. Was this really meant for me?

Cassie:You know you texted Cassie, right?”

The typing bubbles begin immediately.

August:Yes, I meant to text you.

I sigh. What could he possibly want? Maybe the nightmares I’m having are going to come true and he wants me to work in the concession stand at the Blaze.

Cassie:Sure, come on up.

I open the door and lean against the back of the couch that faces the front door. August knocks on it a few moments later.

“Come on in,” I call to him.

“Hey.” He walks in slowly and looks around like he’s not sure if he should be closing the door or leaving it open.

“Relax, August, I’m not going to report you for coming into my apartment. I know how much you love your fraternization policy.”

“Low blow,” he says with a laugh. “I wasn’t worried about that. I just didn’t want to start any rumors and cause you some hell with the other girls.”

“Or Jase?”

“Jase knows I’m here,” he tells me.

“Ah, cleared it with him, did you?” I make an attempt at humor, but it fails miserably.

August just shrugs and doesn’t laugh.

“So, what’s up?” I ask him, hoping to cut to the chase and get this conversation over with.

“I just wanted to pop in and see how you’re doing,” August says, looking around my place. “This is nice, by the way. I’m glad these turned out so well.”

I look around and see the apartment like he must. Pictures of me playing soccer are still hanging on the walls and are displayed on my bookshelf. The team provided most of the furniture. I just brought in the bookcase so that I can display my books and a few odds and ends.

“Yeah, you did good with these, August. I appreciate you letting me stay here for so long. I’m working on getting out of here. I think I might just go live with Jase until I figure out what my next move is.” My arms come up and hug my middle, like I’m trying to protect myself and hold myself together. He’s already taken so much from me. I can’t imagine what else he’s here to take. “So, what are you doing here?”

I’ve never been one for small talk and I’m not really sure what to say to August. We’ve never been alone together, and even when we’re in a group, we’ve never had a conversation, just the two of us. Ironically, the only time we did, he fired me. My signing ceremony with the Blaze included his father, Maxwell Cromwell.

“I wanted to stop in and talk to you about a few things. I’ve felt guilty about firing you over the phone. I should have had the stones to come over here or call you into the office and do it in person. And I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. The mess that it causes—both me firing you and you dating Jase. It’s not that I’m not happy for you, because I really am. I like the two of you together. And other than me firing you, he seems really happy.”

I just nod. I hate how he keeps mentioning the firing. It feels like a gut punch each time he says it.

He sighs and scrubs a hand down his face. “Ugh, I thought this would be easier to say to you.”

“What else is there left to say? Do you need me to vacate housing sooner because you hired someone new?”

He nods. “I am hoping to hire someone. I think she has a lot of potential and great speed, and she makes a huge difference when she’s on the field. I think you’d like her.”

I stare at him, confused. “August, I appreciate that you hired someone, and I get that you needed to fill the position, but she’s not someone I’d like to meet. I’m sorry. I just don’t think I could. But give me a few days and I can get out of the apartment.”

August moves into the living room and sits on the couch. “Come here. Sit down with me for a minute. I want to tell you a story.”

“Okay.” I’m not sure what he’s doing here or whatever this story is that has to do with me, but I do as he asks. After all, he was my boss, and I feel like after my screwup, I owe him this much respect. “What do you want to tell me?”