Page 33 of Racing Heat (The Forbidden Heat #2)

Chapter Thirty-Two

~CASSIE~

Iroll my neck and shoulders. I’m deliciously sore from the antics of last night and the strength training workout the team just did.

“You should foam roll a bit if your neck is bothering you,” Amelia says as we are all walking out of the training session.

“On my neck?” I reply. “I can never make that work right.”

“It works if you use the smaller one. I have one, if you’d like to borrow it.”

“Thanks. Maybe I’ll come over later and pick that up.”

“Are we brunching today, ladies?” Mac asks as she joins us.

“We better be,” I reply. “I didn’t just work my ass off in there to not get to eat some yummy French toast.”

Mac throws her arm around my shoulder. “Great. Amelia you in?”

“Sure am,” she replies as she pulls her dark brown hair from the low ponytail. “Is Hendrix coming?”

I look around. “I think so. She usually comes out for brunch.”

“Oh, did Jase not schedule her for more one-on-one training so she can learn from yesterday’s mistakes?” Mac quips.

“No, he doesn’t have her scheduled for any trainings today.” I know because when I left his house this morning, he was planning on a lazy morning.

Mac’s head turns to me a bit too quickly for my liking. “Really? Did you talk to her already this morning?” She’s studying me, her brows bent in confusion, eyes focused on me like she’s trying to dissect every move that I’m making.

“Yeah, I thought she mentioned it last night or something.” I attempt to lie about it, hoping it works.

“Okay,” she says slowly.

I’m busted. She clearly doesn’t believe me.

I sigh internally. I hate hiding this secret from her.

This is Mac—my best friend, my roommate all through college.

We came into college as coach-assigned roommates and left the college as sisters.

I’ve never kept anything like this from her.

I don’t like lying, but I don’t think I have much of a choice.

Danny knows, but I can’t tell if he’s shared it with Mac and this is her way of fishing.

I just wish she wasn’t doing it publicly.

“Cas, you good?” Mac has stopped walking, along with Amelia.

I shake my head. “Sorry, I was just making my mental checklist for laundry and all the crap I need to do today. Apartment could use a cleaning.”

She nods slowly. “Okay. You look a little tired too. Are you not getting enough sleep?”

Her remark makes my blood run cold. I’m pretty sure she knows something.

Either Danny let it slip, or she figured it out another way.

We were alone in his office when she was down on the field.

I made sure of it. I was even able to hide the sweet purple rose without her noticing.

It was just Mac and I when I was in the locker room, and she wasn’t near me.

The lockers are set up by number. She’s seventeen and I’m eight, so thankfully I had some space between the two of us.

“I think it’s just low blood sugar.” I smile. “I’m ready for something to eat.”

She giggles. “I can relate to that. Hendrix!” she calls over her shoulder. “The brunch train is leaving. Are you coming with?”

“You know it,” Hendrix’s voice booms from somewhere behind us.

“Anyone else?” Mac walks backward and looks at the rest of the team.

No one else takes her up on her offer to join us for brunch, not that I expected any of them to.

And I’m sure she didn’t either. The team spends a lot of time together, and we all get along well.

But small groups have been formed, along with bonds.

It doesn’t mean we all have to hang out together all the time.

It’s just nice that there’s no drama surrounding the small groups that have formed.

“Shocker,” Amelia says quietly.

I look over at her and giggle. “Yeah, I didn’t think so either. But she has to ask, you know? The politics of it and all.”

“Yes, we wouldn’t want to step out of line.” Mac’s eyes are on me when she says it. Either I’m being paranoid, or she’s onto me. “Driving separately or together?”

Her quick change in subject throws for me a minute, but I manage to not make it any more awkward. “Separately is fine. I have some errands to run anyway.”

We all pile separately into our cars and head to Riff’s, our normal brunch spot, which we found through trial and error of the restaurants around Tampa.

It’s one of the perks of where we’re located—there are so many restaurants with a large variety of food to try.

I’m in heaven with all my choices. It’s one of the perks of living in a town where a lot of tourists visit.

Once I’m in my Jeep alone, I pick up my phone and shoot Jase a text.

Cassie: Good morning, stud. Just saying hi. All done with training. Heading out for lunch.

We didn’t really talk about the next time we would see each other. I left with a promise that I would reach out. That I wouldn’t ghost him like I had the last time. I wanted to keep that promise.

Jase: Hey, love. Do you need a massage? Are you sore?

I grin at his message.

Cassie: I am sore actually. My neck is bugging me. Could you come and crack it later?”

I start making my way to Riff’s, hoping he answers before I get there so I can reply without any suspicious eyes on me.

I’m tempted to let him know that I think Mac is onto me, but I don’t.

I want our conversation to remain light.

And I don’t know anything for sure, anyway.

We didn’t get a lot of sleep last night before leaving his bed at nine this morning, so I don’t want to jump to any conclusions.

Jase: I would love to help you crack that neck. Text me later and we can meet up.

Cassie: Can’t wait.

Pulling into Riff’s, I feel like I’m on a cloud.

I haven’t felt like this about a man in a long time.

It’s complicated and we’re definitely set up for disaster.

I’m not so as naive that I think we’ll end up like Mac and Danny.

I just hope that when the dust settles, both of us still have a job. And I still have all my friends.

I was a little angry that Mac had kept this from me and hadn’t let me help her.

She shut me out and tried handling it on her own.

It dawns on me that that’s exactly what I’m doing.

Telling her now isn’t an option. Hendrix and Amelia are my friends, but I’m not going to risk it.

Sure, I’m close with them, but not as close as Mac and I are.

I head into the restaurant and see my friends standing at the host’s table.

“You okay?” Mac asks me.

“Yeah, I’m good. Why?”

“You just took forever to get out of your Jeep.” Her voice drops to a low octave, and she steps us away from everyone. “We can ditch and go somewhere to talk. I’ll help you come up with an emergency.”

I almost take her up on it, but I decide against it. “I’m good.”

She just nods, and another pang of guilt sucker punches me in the chest. It seems like I’m telling lie on top of lie today.

Finally, we’re all seated, and each of us has a mimosa in hand.

“Thank fuck for this.” Hendrix takes a big gulp of hers. “It’s been a long freaking week.”

“It’s Sunday,” Amelia points out, laughing.

“Well, I’m counting today as the last day of the week. We start on Mondays in my book.”

I nod in agreement. “Tomorrow is a new week, and we have a chance to be better than we were yesterday.”

“How very poetic of you,” Amelia teases.

“Yes, it sounds very Coach Ford of you.” Mac rolls her eyes. “I was surprised that Watts had him do the speech. I mean, he did well. He just doesn’t usually address us.”

“He always looks so angry,” Amelia adds.

“Does he?” I ask.

“He’s just a big ole teddy bear,” Hendrix tells us. “I actually really like him. He’s a good coach. Really seems to care about all of us. And he has some great ideas for drills and strategies. One of the good things that August was able to find.”

“What is the deal with you and him?” Mac asks her. “You’re always giving that man shit. And he signs our paychecks, so is that really smart of you?”

Hendrix grimaces and takes another sip of her drink. “You’re really trying to make it a two-pitcher day, aren’t you?”

“Oh god, no!” I chime in. “I can’t have four.”

“Yeah, two each is enough,” Amelia agrees.

Hendrix shrugs. “Well, then there will be no stories of me and August.”

I watch her for a second. “You have history with him?”

Hendrix nods. “Yeah, I do. And that’s all I want to say about that.”

I watch her for a moment, nodding. I can respect that she has a secret she wants to keep. I know a thing or two about that.

“Not until you’re ready, but if you ever are, promise me you won’t leave me out.” Mac winks at her.

“If I ever tell anyone, it’ll be the three of you and in private. Not here in public when it could get back to him.”

We all nod in agreement. Mac’s phone chimes and I can tell right away that it’s Danny. Her face lights up and she giggles as she types a message back to him.

“You should wait until you’re at least buzzed to answer him,” Amelia says. “Could make your responses so much more fun.”

“Ha. Yeah, he would appreciate that. He was talking so dirty to me last night.” Her face flushes red, and before she can say another word, Hendrix jumps in.

“Well, he can’t have you right now. It’s a girls’ brunch.”

She nods. “Oh, he doesn’t want me right now. I guess the guys are talking about hanging out. Danny asked if he could bring me and you guys. August is okay with it if you all are too.”

Damn it. I was hoping I would have another private night with Jase. I guess I’ll have to share.

“What was that look for?” Mac asks me. “Do you not want to hang out tonight?”

“No, it’s fine. Tonight, should be fun. I’ll just need a nap before we go out.”

Hendrix and Amelia are nodding in their agreement.

“I can tell him it’ll just be me or that you can’t make it,” she suggests.

“Nah, I’m in,” I reply. “It’ll be fun. It’s been a hot minute since we all hung out.”