Page 50 of Restricted List (New York Stars #2)

forty-nine

Rory

“What a game,” I say, plopping into the chair of the conference room Lucia is using as an office out here.

Harlow speaks from her perch on the table. “It’s too early in the season for them to be giving me a heart attack already.”

Ella sits on the floor, having actually joined us for this away series. “It’ll make a great post for the blog, though.”

Harlow nods as Lucia spins around with Sage in her arms.

The quiet moment is disrupted by the boom of a deep voice, coming from the direction of the clubhouse.

“What’s that?” Lucia asks.

“I don’t know,” I answer nervously, afraid to find out it’s what I’ve been fearing.

We all walk into the hallway to see what’s going on, only to find most of the team filing out of the clubhouse—some into their street clothes, some still half-dressed in their baseball uniform, all completely sweaty, telling me they didn’t get a chance to shower before they sprinted out of there.

Jeff Novak, one of the Stars’ outfielders, seems to be the last one leaving, so I shout to get his attention. “Novak!” He turns around and finds us standing outside of the conference room. “Why are you guys running like the clubhouse is on fire right now?”

“Because your dad is about to tear your boyfriend a new asshole.”

My heart falls out of my chest.

He just called Cole my boyfriend, which means my dad finally figured it out.

“Thanks, Jeff,” I say weakly. He nods before turning around and walking down the other end of the hall. “Fuck!” I yell, tears threatening to spill out of my eyes. “Goddammit!”

“Let’s not repeat those words, Sagie,” Ella says before turning to me. “Get in there, Rory. Go defend your man.”

“I’m going with you,” Harlow asserts.

“Why do you want to go into that shitshow?” I ask.

“Because that’s my brother he’s berating, and I’m fucking pissed about it.”

Lucia looks at both of us. “Ella and I have Sage. Go.”

We don’t take another second to think before we run down the hallway and into the clubhouse.

As soon as we open the door, I hear Cole’s voice. “Skip…”

“Don’t ‘Skip’ me right now, Pierce.” I’ve never seen my dad so angry. “The audacity you have to act like you’re helping me when you’re the one that’s been fucking my daughter the entire time.”

“Hey!” I shout, alerting everyone to my and Harlow’s presence. Our friends are all still here, seemingly to help Cole. “Do not talk down to him. He’s not just ‘fucking’ me. We’ve been dating since Josh and Ella’s wedding.”

“Stay out of this, Rory.” His voice is stern, and while that voice would scare the shit out of teenage Rory, adult Rory isn’t backing down.

“No.” My tone is firm, letting him know that I’m not going down without a fight.

“It’s okay, Rory,” Cole says weakly. “I can handle this.”

“I know you can, but I won’t let my dad stand here and berate you and do nothing about it.”

“This isn’t your fight, Rory,” my dad says, trying again to get me to back away.

“The hell it isn’t.” I storm right up to him, now standing beside Cole. “I’m just as involved in this as he is.”

He groans and pinches his brow. “I just can’t believe this.” He looks at Cole. “My daughter? The one person I told all of you to stay away from?”

“It’s a stupid rule, Skip.”

A look of surprise flashes across my dad’s face when he realizes Knox is the one who said that.

“You aren’t involved in this, Spencer.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” He walks over to stand behind Harlow, wrapping an arm around her shoulder to comfort her when he sees how upset she is. “Cole is my girlfriend’s brother and probably my closest friend. You’re insane if you think I’ll stay quiet through you screaming at him.”

“You’re going to defend him? The man that’s been lying to all of you for the past several months?”

“Wrong again, Skip.” Josh is speaking this time. “We all knew.”

“Who do you think helped them hide this?” Lane adds.

“All of you?” my dad questions, annoyance clear in his voice. “You all fucking knew?”

“Yeah,” Ari shrugs. “Love knows no bounds, right?”

“He doesn’t love Rory.”

Cole speaks softly but composed. “I’ve been falling in love with Rory for four years. The only reason I didn’t tell her how I felt after I met her is because of your fucking rule. But your rule hasn’t stopped me from loving your daughter with everything I have. You can do whatever you want to me, but it won’t change a damn thing. I love Rory, and I’m going to keep loving Rory. Hopefully, for the rest of my life.”

“Un-fucking-real.”

“What’s unreal about it, Skip?” Knox asks, face laced with irritation. “Is it unreal that he could be in love with your daughter? Because I’ll tell you now that Cole was miserable for years at the thought of never getting to tell her.”

“It’s unreal because I’ve spent my life around baseball players—they don’t fall in love. He’s just going to fuck around when he gets to the next city, and my daughter will be the one left heartbroken.”

Cole looks so hurt at my dad’s words, but I don’t get a chance to say anything before Knox is at it again.

“I fell in love. Josh did, too. You don’t seem to think we’re going to fuck around on Lo and Ella.”

“You two are different.”

“Are you fucking serious, Paul?” Harlow’s voice is pure venom. “You’re really going to try to say that my brother wouldn’t be a great partner for your daughter?”

“Do you not know the reputation he had with the Huskers? He couldn’t seem to keep his dick in his pants.”

“So that means he’s not good enough for her?” Lo’s voice echoes around the room, getting louder with every syllable. “Because he used to sleep around, he doesn’t deserve to be with Rory?”

“Players don’t change their ways, Harlow. Even your brother. Rory deserves more than that.”

“He’s just like I was!” I shout. “Guess what, Dad? I used to sleep around, too. Is he still not worthy of me? We’re not any different.”

My dad winces but doesn’t relent. “I know what’s best for you, Rory.”

I scoff. “No, you don’t. If you did, you’d know how amazing Cole is. How wonderfully he treats me. I’m a goddamn queen to him. I fucking love him, Dad.”

“Help me here, Lane,” he pleads. “Put yourself in my shoes. You have a daughter.”

“My daughter is two, Skip. Leave her out of this.”

“Is anyone going to try to see things from my point of view?”

“No,” Knox asserts. “Because your point of view is backward, and you fucking know it. You’ve always liked Cole, but now that you find out he’s dating your daughter, he’s a terrible guy? When I started dating Harlow, Cole never once made me feel like I couldn’t be with her. The care he has for those around him is exactly what you should want Rory to have.”

My dad sighs. “I’m through with this. You’re benched until further notice, Pierce. I’m moving you to the restricted list.”

Cole deflates. “Yes, sir.”

“You can’t do that, Dad!”

“I can, and I will. Going against his field manager’s rules is team misconduct. The restricted list is where he belongs.” He stalks to the door before giving one last parting quip. “Don’t come to the stadium tomorrow. We’ll get by without you.”

He throws the door open and lets it slam behind him.

And just like that, my worst fears have been confirmed—the career Cole worked his whole life for is in jeopardy because of me.