Page 37 of Racing Heat (The Forbidden Heat #2)

~CASSIE~

The ride back to the apartment is a blur.

The Uber driver thankfully doesn’t talk to me.

I just sit there numb, tears streaming down my face.

It all blew up tonight. Just when we tried to be a normal couple, we got caught.

He got cocky and thought he found the perfect place for us to enjoy a date together.

It looked perfect. There shouldn’t haven’t been any issues.

But clearly he didn’t think it all the way through.

“Here you go, ma’am,” the driver says, turning around. He shoots me a look of pity as I collect my bag and get out of the car.

“Thank you,” I mumble. I have no idea if he heard me or not. I make sure I hit the button to tip him before closing the door and walking away.

I scan the cars in the lot to see if any of my friends are home.

I don’t want to be alone right now. I want to cry and rage to someone who might comfort me.

They’ll just have to get over the fact that I lied to them about what was happening first. Mac’s car isn’t here, though I didn’t expect it to be.

She’s with Danny. But I spot Amelia’s, so I make my way to her apartment. I knock lightly on the door.

She calls, “Coming” from inside the apartment.

The door swings open. Amelia is in sleep shorts and a tank. “Hey, Cassie. Are you okay?”

I shake my head, and a fresh sob comes out. “No, I’m not. I screwed up so bad.”

“Who’s at the door?” I hear Hendrix call.

“Come on inside.” Amelia puts her arm around my shoulders and leads me into the apartment. I sink into her and let her guide me to the couch.

“Cassie, are you okay?” Hendrix asks when she sees me coming into the living room.

I just shake my head.

“Have a seat here. Let me get you some water.” Amelia moves to head into the kitchen.

“Can I have something stronger, please? Maybe wine?” I ask her.

“Sure.” Amelia hurries off.

“Bring the bottle,” Hendrix calls after her. “Looks like it might be that kind of a night.”

I just nod. I’m glad Hendrix is here, but at the same time, I don’t want to admit to her what I’ve done and that she could be losing a coach that she loves having.

Will August fire us both? I have no idea what the ramifications could be.

He didn’t really say, either. There’s no way the conversation we just had is the last of it.

Thinking back, he didn’t demand that we do anything. Just that we went home, and not together. The thought of that causes a chill to run down my spine.

Once Amelia is seated beside me with a glass and a bottle, she turns to me. “Can you talk about it?”

I nod, clearing my throat. “Can I have a sip of liquid courage first?”

She’s brought a bottle of whiskey, and not the wine I requested. “I thought liquor might be better,” she says with a shrug.

“Thanks,” I mumble.

Hendrix pours the drinks and hands me a much fuller glass than they have. “You look like you could use it.”

I nod. “Thanks. But I think you all might need some more too after I tell you about what happened tonight.” Both girls look at me and nod.

I take a deep breath and dive in. “I’ve been sleeping with Jase Ford.

It started a few weeks ago. We’ve been going out to dinner together and having sex at his place.

It felt very relationship-like to me. But tonight, August Cromwell caught us having dinner.

He’s pissed. So, he’ll probably fire me, and I’m not sure what he’ll do to Jase. ”

I look at both of their shocked expressions. I knew telling them was going to be like dropping a bomb. “I’m so sorry, Hendrix. I know you really like Jase, and I may have just ruined that for you too.”

Amelia places her arms around me and pulls me into a tight hug. “It’s going to okay,” she coos. She keeps repeating the sentiment, rocking me back and forth. I sink into her and let her comfort wash over me. It makes me feel the smallest bit better.

My phone ringing from my bag on the coffee table makes me sit me up and stare.

“Who do you think that is? Think it’s Jase? We were told not to go home together,” I sob.

Hendrix picks up my bag. “May I?” she asks, and I nod. She opens it and pulls out my phone. “It’s Mac.” She accepts the call. “Yeah, she’s here with us at Amelia’s. Sounds good. We’ll see you then.” She hangs up. “Mac is on her way.”

My phone is placed on the coffee table. I can see there are a few texts from Jase. I turn the phone over so that I don’t have to see it and I’m not tempted to read them.

“Did Mac know?” Amelia asks.

“Yes, but I didn’t tell her. Danny figured it out that night at the club. I guess he told her, or she figured it out too.”

“What happened at the club that caused Danny to figure it out?” Hendrix lowers herself to the floor across from us.

“We were dancing and ended up going outside and having sex in his car,” I admit.

“Was that the first time?” Hendrix asks.

“Yeah, it was.” I almost wish she wasn’t here, because I know this is hurting her too. Just in a different way. “I’m sorry, Hen. I didn’t mean to do this to you. Or hurt you.”

Hendrix shakes her head. “The last person you should be apologizing to is me. We don’t know what’s going to happen next. But either way, the only person I’m worried about is you. The rest can be figured out later.”

I nod. Leaning back into the couch, I cover my eyes. “How in the hell did I get here?”

“You started thinking with your vagina,” Amelia teases. “I mean, he’s cute and all, so who can really blame you. I always thought he was all broody and closed off. He had that strong, silent thing going on.”

“He’s like that until you get to know him.

” I sigh and look over at her. “I really liked him. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not stupid.

It’s not like I didn’t know that this could happen.

But we got happy in our little bubble, and I convinced myself that somehow I would be okay.

That we would figure it out. I was so stupid and very, very wrong! ”

The door to Amelia’s bursts open and Mac rushes in. “Cassie, honey, are you okay?” She rushes over and wraps me into a hug.

Feeling her embrace wrapped around is enough to do me in. I sob all over again. The girls all wrap their arms around me, and the four of us stay like that until my tears and sobs slow.

“So, you knew?” I ask Mac when we all separate.

“Yeah, I knew. Danny let it slip. I was waiting for you to tell me when you were ready.”

“You’re not mad at me?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “No, I’m not. I can’t believe you fell into the same trap that I did. Didn’t Danny and I teach you anything? You don’t fuck someone from work. It never ends well.” She reaches out and rubs my shoulder. “But I’m sure you already know that.”

I nod. “I’m not sure what’s going to happen now. Did Jase call Danny? Is that why you’re here?”

“Yep,” she confirms.

“How was he?”

Mac smiles lovingly at me. “He seems pretty wrecked, from what Danny could tell. He was going to go over and see him. See if he could talk him through it or something. Apparently, August already sent a meeting invitation out for Jase and the rest of the coaches tomorrow. Maxwell is going to be there too. So, we’ll see. ”

“My fate will be decided by tomorrow night.”

“I’m sure August already has a plan in motion,” Hendrix says with a roll of her eyes. “That bastard will probably end up firing you both.”

“We probably deserve it,” I reply.

“No, you don’t.” Amelia takes a sip of her drink. “He’s not even your coach. You aren’t really under his purview, and your position isn’t impacted by him at all. He can’t decide if you sit or if you play, so this shouldn’t matter. I just hope August sees it that way too.”

I shake my head. “He won’t. He was mad at us when he caught us.”

“Where were you?” Hendrix asks.

“The new sushi place that opened up. August had given Jase the recommendation, so he took me there.”

“How was the food?” she asks.

Mac playfully tosses a pillow at her. “Not the time.”

Hendrix catches it and shakes her head. “I was just curious. I like sushi and the grocery store doesn’t quite cut it.”

That was exactly what I had been thinking, too…before we ruined everything. “It was the first time he’d taken me somewhere local. Normally, we drove at least forty minutes away to have a nice dinner where no one could spot us.”

“Did August have a date?” Hendrix asks.

“Why do you care?” Mac looks at her, grinning.

“Fuck off. Just curious.”

“Yeah, he did.”

“That reminds me of what Danny, and I used to do when we were first dating.” Mac smiles before leaning over and squeezing my thigh. “No matter what happens, we’re here for you.”

“Thanks. I’m just so sorry. I didn’t just break the fraternization policy, but I let the team down.

I mean, what was I thinking? How could I be so stupid?

I only worried about what it would do to him and me.

Or putting you in a weird spot as Captain,” I say, gesturing at Mac.

“How could I think that everything would work out like it did for you and Danny?”

“Well, Danny had to lose his job first. And I took some heat from the girls, which thankfully seems to be winding down.”

“It does and now all that anger will be aimed at me. If I’m even still on the team.” I sob.

Mac and Amelia put their arms around me, holding me tightly while I cry some more. Hendrix keeps my glass full of whiskey.

“Do you want me to go take care of him for you?” Hendrix puts quotes around the words take care of. And I know exactly what she means. “I could do it, you know. Might solve all of our problems.”

“I think that ship has already sailed. No amount of bodily harm is going to keep me from the consequences of my actions.”

“You were just following your heart.” Amelia reaches over and gives me a quick hug. “It’s going to be okay. It has to be, right?” She looks around and we all shrug. “I’m going to make sure it is.” The conviction in her voice makes me smile.

“Thanks, Amelia, but I think I’m pretty well fucked here.”

“At least you got a good fuck in, right?” Mac teases me.

It’s the first real smile I’ve given since August caught us.

“It’s going to be okay. We’re here for you.” Amelia hops up and heads into the kitchen. When she returns, she’s holding a carton of ice cream and spoons. “You just need some ice cream therapy and girl talk to make yourself feel better.”

“There’s no chance you’ll spill all the yummy details of you and Jase?” Mac asks.

I shake my head. “I’m not quite ready for that yet. I just want some ice cream and maybe to pass out.”

“You can stay here if you’d like,” Amelia offers. “Since, you know, somehow I got the three bedroom. I have the extra space if you don’t want to be alone tonight.”

“Thanks. I don’t feel like being alone tonight.”

“Stay as long as you want.”

Eventually, sleep finds me. I wake up from fitful nightmares of August firing Jase before he’s whisked off to the airport and I never get to say goodbye.

I have no idea what my punishment will be, but my brain is working overtime, because in my dreams I’m running the concession stand for the Blaze.

Because according to August, I need to learn the value of a hard day’s work and how to be respectful of people who give you a shot.

By three in the morning, I can’t sleep anymore. I decide to head out to the couch and retrieve my phone. The only text thread I open is Jase’s.

Jase: I’m so sorry. Let me know you made it home safely.

Jase: I have a management meeting in the morning. Not sure what it means for you, but I’ll let you know what I find out.

The last text is the one that breaks me all over again.

Jase: Being with you these past few weeks has been the best time of my life. I’ll never forget it.

It sounds like he’s saying goodbye to me.

I should reply to him and tell him that I feel the same.

Or that I’m still hoping for a miracle and that we’ll be able to be together again.

But to be honest, after my dreams, all hope has left me.

I’m starting to accept the fact that Jase and I are really over.