Page 81 of Play For Me

I’m startled to realize she’s asking me, not Devon. “I don’t think it would hurt. It’s likely the incident this weekend was just a matter of sitting on the bus for so many hours, which we can address with additional treatment before and during the next road trip. But it would be good to make sure that there isn’t something more serious going on.”

Devon nods. “I’ll arrange it. You think you can talk her into it?”

I can’t help but grimace and they both laugh. “Not the easiest task with that girl,” Coach says, slapping my shoulder. “But we have faith in you.”

Then her expression grows more serious. “I’ve been getting some calls from the national team. They’ve been keeping track of her progress this year. There will be scouts at our next game. I know they’re looking at inviting her to some camps this summer.”

My heart skips. Getting back to that level is everything she’s wanted. “We’ll keep working hard with her,” I vow, and Coach nods.

After they leave, I finish storing the last of the equipment and head to my car. Normally, after several days surrounded by people, I’d be desperate to get home to my quiet apartment. But right now, it’s taking everything in me to not drive straight to Cecelia’s house.

I know I’m being reckless. That conversation with Devon and Coach Carla should have set off all my warning bells. They sat there praising me for developing such a strong trainer-athlete relationship with one of the players having no idea what’s really going on. And the revelation about the national team’s interest just reiterates the stakes for her season.

But even so, that doesn’t stop me from texting her the second I get into my car. I tell myself I’m just checking in on her knee, but that’s obviously bullshit. Checking on her knee doesn’t require flirting, and asking her if she needs me to come over to ice it is definitely flirting.

I drag myself away from our text conversation long enough to drive home, with every intention of calling her when I get there. Instead, I find two people already waiting in my apartment.

“Buddy!” Jay calls when he sees me. He’s sprawled on my couch with a bag of chips on his chest. Chips I’m positive came from my cupboard. His sister is sitting on the recliner, scrolling on her phone with a mug of tea in her other hand. They’ve clearly been here a while.

“Do you make a habit of this?” I ask. “Just hanging out here when I’m not home?”

“We knew you were on your way,” Em says.

“And you thought I’d want the two of you in my face the second I walked through the door?” I take my duffle bag to my bedroom before going to the kitchen for a glass of water. When I go back to the living room, I find them in exactly the same place, except Jay has now finished my chips and thrown the empty bag on the floor.

“We wanted to talk to you,” Em says. “We’ve been worried.”

I push Jay’s legs off the sofa so he’ll sit up and take a seat on the other end. “And I told you on the phone last night that I was fine.”

“You told me on the phone that you were hanging out with CeCe Ransome,” she shoots back.

I glare at her. “Why the hell is that a problem?”

“It’s not a problem,” Jay cuts in, sending an annoyed glare at his sister before he turns back to me. “I think it’s fucking awesome.” Then his face grows uncharacteristically serious. “But CeCe did mention you saw your mom and you weren’t doing so hot…”

She told me that she had called him. That’s how she knew what to bring over. But after everything that happened last night, the thought of them conferring about my craziness doesn’t feel so great.

“Iwasn’tdoing well,” I say through gritted teeth. “I was a total asshole for twenty-four hours and I barely did my job.” AndI could have gotten her seriously hurt.Fuck. “But Cecelia came over and we talked and I felt better.”

I feltbetterthan better, but there’s no fucking way I’m telling Jay about that.

Instead, I turn to Em. “So you really don’t need to worry, okay?”

She must sense the frustration in my voice, because her expression softens. “I’m not trying to baby you, Sol.”

I snort. Sure she isn’t.

“I’m not! I just wanted to make sure you had someone to talk to if you needed.” She makes a face. “I’m sureshedidn’t offer a sympathetic ear.”

“What the fuck is your problem with Cecelia Ransome?” I don’t bother to keep the anger out of my voice and I see Jay freeze out of the corner of my eye. Em and I usually get along great. I don’t think I’ve ever really raised my voice at her before. But I’ve also never been this annoyed by her before.

Her eyes are wide. “I don’t have a problem with CeCe.”

I roll my eyes. “Obviously you do.”

“I just don’t think she’s the right person for you to be spending time with!” she shoots back, defensive. “I mean, come on, Sol. She’s a total party girl.”

This isn’t the first time we’ve had this argument, but I’m finding it even more annoying now after our night on the road. “You don’t even know her,” I grit out.