Page 58 of Racing Heat

Cassie:Yes, always warn me before you pull out. It helps there to not be such a mess.

I laugh out loud at her response, then stop abruptly, looking around and making sure no one is in earshot. Thankfully they aren’t.

Jase:Dirty girl.

Cassie:Oh, you have no idea.

The afternoon should be fun. About an hour or more of a game and then lunch with Cassie. I wonder if it should be at my place but then decide better of it. I should buy her a meal and plan something nicer for her. I don’t want her to think I only want for her for the shagging, though I can’t say I’m not looking forward to finding out just how dirty she can be.

Chapter Twenty-One

~JASE~

The Tampa heat makes me so happy that my car has remote start. The air-conditioning is working overtime to cool it down. I inhale deeply, but the smell of our sex has faded. I see her over in her Jeep, and I wait until her brake lights turn on before I shift my own car into drive.

I wave at her, and she waves back before pulling out of the parking space and out of the lot. I turn the music up and get myself in a game-ready mindset. I know it’s just a pickup game, but something about having her watch me play makes me nervous. It’s just for fun; there’s nothing at stake but inviting her makes me feel like there is. I don’t want to her to see me as weak. I want her to see me do well in the goal. Sure, I’m not what I once was. But I can still play, still keep up with her. I remember back to her comment about me being a whole kid-who-could-drive older than her. Deep down, I wonder if one day that will bother her enough that she’ll walk away from me.

I don’t have time to ponder that much. My phone rings and I can see from the Audi’s display that it’s Danny. I remember the look on his face when Cassie and I were dancing last night. I was hoping he was too drunk to remember. Maybe he’s not.

“Hey, Danny, what’s up?” I say in way of greeting.

“How are you doing today, man? You feeling okay after everything last night?”

I choose my next words carefully, because I’m not sure what he means about ‘everything.’ I wonder if we were more obvious than I thought and if he’s connected any dots.

“Yeah, I’m good. Just tired. On my way to my pickup game right now.”

“Geez, you never stop,” he comments.

“Are you lying low today? I just released Mac and her friends after we worked with Hendrix, so she’s coming your way, I think.”

“Great. I’m out getting some groceries, and I plan on cooking her a nice meal in. Thought it might be fun to do some swimming, relaxing, and just hanging around the house with her. Trying to slow down and be present when we can.”

“That sounds like a great afternoon, man. I hope you get to enjoy every little bit of it. The team is coming into the training center on Monday just to watch some film. Nate is going to go easy on them for a bit. Our next game isn’t until Friday of next week, so he’s trying not to burn them out too much. Especially with this fucking heat wave we having coming our way.”

Danny laughs into the phone. “Are you still not used to this heat and humidity?”

“Fuck no. I never knew how bloody hot this place could be. It wasn’t when I came for my interview.”

“You’ll get used to it, mate,” he throws in there. “Just stop and get yourself a sports drink before or after your game so that you can rehydrate. It’ll be warm, but I know not playing isn’t an option for you.”

“Me, cancel? Nah, why would I?” I ask him. “I can handle the heat. I’m just bitching. Or are you going to give me shit about my injury and age the way Hendrix does?” I think quick on feet because Hendrix wasn’t the one who said it but Cassie.

“I know if I had the chance to swim again, even if it was just for a rec league, I would jump on it. But there aren’t any options like that in my sport. So go and have some fun. Just be careful and hydrate.”

“Will do, sir. Anything else you need?” I ask him. “I’m almost to the game.”

Danny sighs heavily into the phone. “Yeah, man, there was. Did I really see what I think I saw last night?”

“That is one vague statement. You’re going to have to spell it out for me. Remember, we all had a lot to drink last night.” I’m not showing my cards. If he wants to know something, he’s going to have to ask my directly and tell me what hethinkshe saw.

“You weren’t that drunk, from what I could tell. But what I’m referring to is the way you were interacting with Cassie. You were dancing and grinding all over her, and then you both were gone. Are you seriously going to tell me that nothing happened between the two of you?”

“Danny, I don’t want to lie to you, so can you not ask me anything else?”

“Nope, can’t do that.”

“Why not?”