Page 109 of The No Try Zone
I scowl at him. “I just added more stadiums to both of your workouts.”
Lennox grins cheekily. “Don’t threaten us with a good time, Coach.”
“I need a fresh drink,” I mutter.
“Great! Join us.” Ansel loops his arm through one of mine as Lennox does the same with the other.
“I shouldn’t be fraternizing with you two,” I protest, but it’s weak and they know it.
“We can’t let these outfits go to waste,” Lennox says. “Who knows the next time we’ll see you in real clothes?”
“What is it with everyone and my clothes?” I ask, more to myself than anything. “And Lennox, you’re one to talk. You showed up to practice in a kilt the second week.”
He cracks a smile. “Gotta liven the place up every now and again.”
“With nothing on underneath.”
His grin widens. “Aye. Didn’t get tackled much, either.”
I chuckle at the memory and let them take the lead. But I regret it as soon as I realize where we’re going: the bar where I met Sam. “One drink,” I tell them as we take our seats at the bar. “And then I’m going up. I want to review the plan for tomorrow.”
“We’ve got those assholes’ numbers, don’t worry,” Ansel says.
“The whole team’s full of pricks,” Lennox adds.
“So’s their coach.”
“Oh, we know,” Ansel agrees.
We order a round and settle in, watching the college basketball that dominates the screens above the bar. I can’t shake the feeling that something is off.
I mean, of course it is. I’m in the same fucking bar I met the woman of my dreams in, and instead of celebrating that fact, I’m staring down an eleven a.m. divorce proceeding. There is nothing remotely “on” about any of this. It’s all bullshit, and it’s bullshit I made.
I had so many chances to do the right thing. I could have stayed in the room when I woke up, but I ran. I could have given her my real name, but I chickened out. I could have given back the necklace, but I kept it like a lovesick puppy. I could have come clean with Scott and simply figured out a way to make everything work.
I could have told her I loved her.
“You good?” Ansel asks as I chug the last of my beer.
I level a look on him. “I am the opposite of good. But I made this bed, and now I’m lying in it.” I stand to leave, tossing a hundred onto the bar and look at each of them in turn. “Thank you. But after tomorrow, we move forward.”
“Is that what you want?” Lennox asks.
“Not even close.” The confession tumbles out. “But it doesn’t matter what I want. It’s what Sam wants.”
Ansel raises an eyebrow. “I don’t think that’s necessarily true.”
I hold up a hand. “Please stop. Whatever it is that you’re going to say, don’t.”
He stares at me for a good five seconds before nodding. “Okay.”
I get close to the bar’s exit before seeing Sam. It looks like she’s going to the restroom, and one of the Lights’ ruggers is following her. She doesn’t look too happy about it. I pivot around and speed up, watching as Sam rounds a corner and the guy follows.
“I said I wasn’t interested.” Her words ring out loud and clear, even before I can see her.
“You’re just playing hard to get.”
Then I round the corner, and all I know is blind fury.
