Page 44 of Racing Heat (The Forbidden Heat #2)

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.

That stops her dead in her tracks. “You’re not going to ask questions about that time in my life. Please, Jase, I’m asking you to let it go.”

I nod. “Okay, sorry. I won’t ask you any questions about it or make references to it. I just can’t get over the two of you dating. I just assumed that…”

“What is the end of that sentence, Jase?”

I laugh. “You’re just opposites,” I say with a shrug.

“I know, but he didn’t used to be this way. He was different his freshman year of college. Before the Ivy League and before his father pulled him into the family business, August was a different man. He was a lot like how you and Danny are. Maybe that’s why you get along so well with him.”

I nod. “Could be.”

We make our way toward his office. The halls are painted in shades of yellow and blue, making it clear that this is where Blaze business is done.

Logos are present on the elevator doors, as well as at the ends of hallways, with pictures of the team planning in various home games.

I like what he’s done with the place. I like how you can walk the halls and remember special moments from our games.

Hiring Nick was a good idea. He started out taking pictures for Danny’s article, but once August saw his work, he decided to hire him to take photos of the girls during the game.

He’s amazing. I wonder if he could just make money off this and not work for the Times.

It’s not a gig he enjoys, from what I remember.

“His office is just around this corner.” I motion for her to make the slight right and follow the blue-and-yellow stripe that’s on the wall.

“He hides back here like a rat in a maze,” she quips.

“August isn’t that bad. You’re going to have to be nice to him if we want something from him. So, try to keep your snarky comments to yourself.”

“I can do that.” Her voice is tense, and I wonder if she actually can.

I knock on his office door.

“Come on in,” he calls from the other side of the door.

I open the door and gesture for Hendrix to go in first. Slowly, she steps through the door. August is standing behind his cherry wood desk, a laptop open in the middle, with papers strewn on both sides of it. I notice that it’s causal August today. He’s got a black polo and a pair of jeans on.

“Hey, man, thanks for taking the time,” I tell him as I follow Hendrix into the office.

“Sure, no problem. What’s up? Some goalkeeper business?” he asks with a nervous chuckle. I imagine he doesn’t like being taken by surprise like this.

“No, not really,” I reply.

“Well, let’s go have a seat over here.” He gestures toward the small couch with two chairs across from it. A glass table with newspapers sits between them.

“Thanks.” I gesture, and Hendrix follows me over to the couch. We sit and August joins us.

“Do you all want anything? Coffee, tea, some water?” He fidgets for a beat like he’s nervous.

“No, nothing for me,” Hendrix replies.

I shake my head and wave him off. “We came here to talk to you about the future of the team and how we’re missing a key piece of that future.”

“Oh, okay.” He picks up a pen and pad from the table, all ready to take notes. “Who are we missing and where should I go to see her play?”

“You don’t need to go far,” Hendrix starts. “And we have all the film that we need. She’s proven herself ten times over.”

“Yeah, she really has,” I add in. “The team will be able to keep up the pace of a faster offense with her on the field.”

“Great, so who is she?”

“Cassie.” Hendrix says her name and glares at him, like she’s daring him to challenge the remarks we’ve made about her.

August puts the paper down and shakes his head. “No, that’s not something we can do. I’m sorry, but I can’t bring her back. It’s not going to happen. Is that why you’re here?”

“It is, mate,” I tell him. “We just think that the decision was made hastily, and it’s not fair that I keep my position, and she loses hers. There has to be a compromise. Can’t we work something out?”

He sighs and shakes his head. “I can’t bring her back. I’m sorry. I wish we could. But my hands are tied.”

“Did your dad make the decision?” Hendrix folds her arms across her chest and glares at him.

“No, he didn’t. That was all me.”

“Legal?” she challenges.

“No. But I’m sure they would be in agreement with what I had to do.”

I sigh. “Come on. We don’t have another midfielder with her speed. It’s definitely something we’re missing during the games. She made a huge impact on the team in that short time she’s been with us. You have to look at this as an opportunity and not as bending on a decision that you made.”

I hope that helps him, because I’m not sure if this is more about his ego or looking weak to the organization.

“Has Nate talked to you at all about what’s lacking on the field?” I ask.

He nods. “He has mentioned that she left a hole in the team, but he promised me that he’d work to fix the problem.”

“And I’m sure he will,” Hendrix says. “But there’s a much easier fix that will keep us in playoff contention. If we keep losing games, we’re going to keep losing ground. We need to strike while the iron is hot.”

“What are you even saying?” August asks with a laugh.

Hendrix glares. “I don’t know this August very well. I’m trying to appeal to whatever it is you’re like these days.”

August shakes his head and smiles tightly. “Please stop.”

Hendrix chuckles. “Sir, yes, sir.”

“Okay, I think we’re getting off track here,” I chime in. “I just want to make sure we have the best possible chances for the playoffs and a successful team. And that includes Cassie, whether you like it or not.”

“You just want your girlfriend back on the team,” he replies. “Are you two still seeing each other?”

I nod. “We are.”

He shakes his head. “I can’t bring her back then. That’s a non-starter, and you of all people should know why. Please don’t make this harder on me than it already has been.”

“Look, I get it. I know we’ve made a mess of things, but I’m trying to do what’s best for everyone here, and I think that includes bringing her back.

This team hasn’t been as great about drawing boundaries as you think it has.

” I hate taking this approach with him; It feels sleazy.

But I’m not above the low blow in order to bring Cassie back.

“You hang out with us all the time, drinking and having fun. Things could so easily escalate with the amount of alcohol we all consume. How many times have you picked up the bar tab? I’m sure the Blaze wouldn’t be too thrilled with that either. ”

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Really? You’re taking this approach?”

“That’s how bad we want her back,” Hendrix chimes in. “And you and I don’t exactly have a clean history.”

He tenses at the mention of it. “I wasn’t the one who brought you here.

My father found you and wanted you for the team.

To be honest, I’m not sure if he remembers that we had something all those years ago.

Otherwise, you might not be here either.

He was none too pleased with all the distractions that year. ”

I look over and see Hendrix flinch. Being called a distraction seems to have gone over like a gut punch. But she recovers quickly.

“Be that as it may, August, does he know that you hang out with us? Does he know that we’re your only friends and that you’ve already blurred some lines?

Come on, you want this team to be great, well, so do we.

So, get your balls out of your pocket and just bring her back.

You and I both know she’s our best shot at winning again.

Her and Mac’s chemistry is unmatched out there.

That’s the reason you chose two players who have been playing together for the last four years.

If this truly is your team, then make decisions that you want to make, not what you think your father would want, or else you’ll always be living in his shadow. ”

“Guys, I wish I could help—” he begins.

“That’s just it, August, you can help,” I tell him.

“She didn’t deserve that. I’m a dime a dozen, and you know that.

Besides, how does it look? The man keeps his job and the woman gets punished.

She could so easily say I pursued her, and she was the victim.

That wouldn’t look good if she sued the brand-new NWSL team owner, would it? ”

“Fuck, what are you doing to me, man? I thought we were friends. This is a shitty way to go about things.”

“Yeah, we are. But in that meeting, I didn’t have much of a say. And I was more shocked than anything. So, what do you say, August? Wanna make it right?” I hope I haven’t overplayed my hand here.

August leans forward, placing his elbow on his knees as he hangs his head low. I think we have may have gotten him—or really pissed him off. Hendrix and I remain silent, waiting to see how this is going to go over.

“How would it look if we brought her back, though?” he says. “The optics aren’t great.”

“The team doesn’t know we were sleeping together,” I remind him.

“What if they figure it out? I’m sure you aren’t proposing that you’ll leave her alone moving forward.”

“I will if that’s what it takes to get her back. This is her dream, and I hate that I’m the one who ruined it for her,” I reply with a shrug.

“I don’t want to break you two up. Honestly, I’m sure you two are really cute together.” His admission surprises me.

“Oh, August, are you growing a heart?” Hendrix quips.

“Really?” August says. “You can’t be nice to me for more than one second? While you’re the one who’s asking me for a favor?”

“Old habits die hard” is all she says in return.

He nods. “Okay.”

“Okay, what?” I ask him, hope rising in my chest. I can’t wait to see the look on her face when I tell her that she’s back.

“I think we might be able to do something here. You both made some good points.” He shakes his head. “And to be honest, I hated that I had to get rid of her. I’ve stalled the paperwork with HR because I’ve been worried about the team. I just didn’t want to look weak and backpedal on it.”

“I don’t think it makes you look weak,” I tell him.

“You’re just saying that because you’re getting what you want.” August shakes his head and runs a hand through his hair.

“Not entirely,” I say. “But I think we can both agree it’s a good decision. And it doesn’t make you look weak. It might actually make you look more human to the team and the staff.”

August sighs again. His brow is furrowed, and his smile is tight. I can’t tell if we’re winning the battle or not.

“Fine. I’ll meet with Nate and bring her back. As long as he wants her back.”

“I think Nate will be in agreement with this,” Hendrix says with a grin.

“That’s Coach Watts to you.” August tries to sounds stern but fails. A smile covers his face. “Thank you both for coming to talk to me about this. I’ve felt guilty since we fired her. I never wanted to do it, but…”

I nod. “I’m really happy this wasn’t more difficult than I thought it might be.”

He smiles. “Yeah, well, I’m an old softy. This stays between us for right now. I have to talk with the rest of the coaching staff and then Cassie. So please keep this under wraps until then.”

“Will do,” I reply. We all stand, and I extend my hand to August. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing a hell of a job with this team. You’re going to go great things here, August.”

“Thanks, man, that means a lot.”

Hendrix actually shakes his hand. “Thanks for doing this. It’s greatly appreciated. Almost reminds me of the old you.”

I don’t miss the hurt that crosses his face before he nods. “You’re welcome. Both of you.”

We file out of his office, my heart and step feeling a little lighter.

“Told you it would work,” Hendrix says, fist pumping the air.

“Yeah, yeah, you did.”