Page 165 of Studs Up
“That would be great, thanks,” Johnson said.
“Fine, but it’s gonna be black.”
“Maybe we should do this without you, Mr. Reed.”
“No,” Holden said at the same time I did.
I poured two cups of black coffee and gave them the mugs. They thanked me rather stiffly.
No one started until I pulled a chair closer to Holden and sat.
“Tell us about the others,” I said and let my hand rub gentle circles on Holden’s back.
“From our investigation so far, there were seven other players. One high ranking staff member in the soccer federation.”
Holden turned to me with surprise.
“Let me guess,” I said. “He used the staff member to get a spot on the national team.”
Both of them nodded.
“Fuck,” Holden breathed. He sipped his coffee and then turned it between his fingers. His ring sparkled, and it made me so fucking possessive.
“Is that how he was able to sign with a pro team too?” I asked, because that would make a whole lot more sense than him getting a contract on his own. Johnson nodded and took a sip of his coffee.
“Three of them are willing to come forward and testify if it comes to it,” Ellison said. “But you were the ones who knew Mr. Anderson best.”
“We’d like for you to start from the beginning.”
Holden looked at me, and I just wanted everyone to fuck off. But a part of me knew he had to do this, and there wouldn’t be a good time. I gave him a nod, and Holden told the whole story.
…
Did I want to slam the door when they left? Yeah, I fucking did. Did I? Yeah, I fucking did.
Holden was curled on the couch when I came back. He had relived every fear and nightmare for those agents, and it had sucked the little life he had left out of him. I sat down and pulled him into my lap.
He snuggled right in.
“I hated that,” he said.
“Me too.” It would not be the last time, and I felt powerless to prevent it.
I wanted the world to leave him the fuck alone. I wanted the season to be done for him.
“I don’t know if I can do that again,” he whispered.
“You don’t have to make that decision now,” I said. He might have to, and I couldn’t lie and tell him he didn’t. “You have a season to finish and an off season to sleep through. Let’s do that first.” He smiled.
“You want us to lose, don’t you?”
“Of course, I fucking do,” I said. “Do you think I want the decor in here to be Shit Holden Won?”
“I don’t know, that sounds like the perfect decor.”
I rolled my eyes and was treated to a little laugh before he rested his head on the curve of my neck.
He was quiet for so long that I thought he had fallen asleep, and I had committed to not moving.
