Page 75 of Shootout
Jessie returned to her seat between her brother and me. Rick wedged a chair between Jessie and me, effectively pushing me away. He didn’t glance my way or acknowledge I existed. I gritted my teeth and put my hands on the table in front of me, wanting to plant both fists in that smug asshole’s face.
“Look, you fucking dickhead—” I snarled with undisguised menace.
Jessie shot me a look that begged me to behave myself. Fine, I would, for her.
“Is that who I think it is?” asked Vick in my ear, as if he didn’t know.
“Yeah, Jessie’s ex.”
“No shit. What’s he doing here?”
“It would appear he’s attempting to restake his claim.”
“Oh.” Vick engaged me in conversation as if to distract me, but I barely heard a word he said.
“Hey, babe, I’ve missed you,” I heard Rick say.
“You have no right to miss her,” Wild roared and caught the attention of everyone within hearing distance.
“Jason, let me handle this. I’m capable.” Jessie put a restraining hand on his arm. Wild attempted to shrug it off, but she tightened her grip.
“I know, but—”
She held up a hand, and much to my surprise, Wild shut up, but his body language radiated a threatening vibe. He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Rick.
“What are you doing here?” Jessie swung her attention to Rick. Irritation was written all over her body language so loud it shouted her feelings. I also detected something else, something equally disturbing. A slight tremor. A hesitation.Fuck.Was she still in love with this guy? I’d hoped we’d gotten beyond him. There wasn’t room for the three of us in this relationship.
“I live here now.”
“What the fuck?” I said, unable to maintain my distance any longer. Rick turned to regard me for the first time since he’d walked in the door.
“Who’s this?” Rick addressed Jessie.
She didn’t answer, and my heart sank. Maybe I wasn’t officially her boyfriend, but it’d sure seemed real this past month, and I’d been on the verge of making it real.
“That’s her boyfriend,” Wild shot back. “Rick, meet Banks Slater.”
Rick leaned back in surprise. He knew who I was. I could tell by his expression. Neither of us shook hands. Rick sized me up like any good hockey player sized up their opponent. We were prizefighters looking for an opening to throw the first punch.
Jessie backtracked to something Rick said earlier. “You live here? In Seattle? Why?” She was visibly shaken, and I was sick inside, thinking he still had such power over her. I’d underestimated his influence.
“Tyee University hired me to be their head coach. The old coach had to retire suddenly for personal reasons.”
“You’re going to be living here?” Jessie almost choked.
“I think I said that.”
I caught Wild’s eye over Jessie’s shoulder. He didn’t look happy. Not one bit. And he was clenching and unclenching his fists.
“I have the go-ahead to pick my coaching staff, and I want you.”
Jessie gasped, and one hand flew to her mouth. He rendered her speechless.
My gut clenched as the bottom dropped out of my world.
ChapterThirty
OPPORTUNITIES
