Then the asshole winks.
And he walks away like he didn’t just make me come with his words.
When he reaches the door, he looks back. “Oh, do you watch football?”
I’m still too shocked to answer and can only shake my head. It’s a lie. I know it, he knows it—hell, all of The Penalty Perk knows it, but his smirk is unstoppable.
“Maybe you can come watch me?”
Before I can even try to form words, he leaves, just as the sounds of The Penalty Perk come whirling back to life around me. I hadn’t even realized I’d tuned them out, only focusing on him.
Shit.
This is bad.
So bad.
Which is why I start DoorDashing my coffee and I block him on every social media outlet I have, except for my podcast messenger, because what if I’m wrong and it’s not him?
I like talking to DoesMyBreathStink60.
Who isn’t Dawson Sinclair.
I am such a glutton for punishment.
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
Dawson
The Rowe Report: Episode 1009: Overtime with the Thomases.
Jordie Thomas: All I wanted my whole life was to play hockey. I worked my ass off, got where I needed to be, and thrived. But like all professional sports, it’s hard as hell on your body.
Ambrosia Mercer: Oh, absolutely. My dad was always injured. I remember one gruesome one where his elbow came out the other side after a hell of a hit into the boards.
Kacey Thomas: Oh my God! I remember that. He was trying to take someone else out and hit the bench at just the right spot to cause a clean break.
Jordie Thomas: You’re right. They said his elbow pad may have slipped too.
Ambrosia Mercer: It did, and from what he told me, he made sure to upgrade to the ones that attached to the chest guards.
Kacey Thomas: He should have done that from the jump.
Ambrosia Mercer: Say it louder. Maybe he’ll hear it in heaven.
Laughter.
Ambrosia Mercer: So you got injured?
Jordie Thomas: I did, and when I couldn’t play, I fell into a really wicked depression. I was sleeping around, drinking my body weight in alcohol, and just drowning.
Kacey Thomas: I had no clue what was going on because I was blind to the bad stuff. See, what he didn’t know was I had been in love with him for so long. He has been my brother’s best friend for as long as I can remember, so I was enamored with him the moment I saw him and his bushy beard. I didn’t see the bad. I only saw him through rose-colored glasses.
Jordie Thomas: I knew I shouldn’t have started anything with her when I was so messed up, but I did, and then I had to let her go. I was going to ruin her life.
Kacey Thomas: It took me a while to realize you can’t help a person who doesn’t want to be helped.
