“The team doesn’t fucking care! You’re the only one hung upon this. You were literally asking about wearing my jersey in public not even a week ago so that can’t be what this is about. What’s really going on?” I throw my hands up and turn my back on her.
“I’m not this person, Chase. I’m not a cleat chaser.” That came out of left field. What is she talking about?
“Whoa, what the fuck?” I stop pacing in front of the window and spin back to face her. “Who the fuck called you that?”
“You know that’s what they’re all thinking! First, I’m close with Miller. Now, you. That guy probably said as much too, didn’t he?”
“This isn’t about what he said. This is about you constantly trying to run away from this.”
“I’m not running away! I’m making the hard choice and doing what’s right.”
“Fuck what you think is right. Don’t I get a say? It’s my life too.” This is a losing battle. I can see it in her eyes. She’s terrified and she’s making a run for it.
“You deserve better than this.”
“Don’t do that. Don’t cheapen our relationship.”
“What relationship? We’ve barely even had a chance.” The words are like a slap to the face.
“And who’s fault is that?” Nothing I say right now is going to make a difference. She’s made up her mind.
“That’s not fair,” she whispers.
I can’t do this back and forth anymore.
“No, what’s not fair is you doing whatever this shit is right now. Hope it was worth it.”
“Can we just take a minute and talk about this later? I don’t want us to say something we’re going to regret.”
“Too late for that.” I sigh.
“I should go.” She picks up her stuff and I walk her to the door, hating that she started this when I leave after tonight’s game for an away series.
She did what I was afraid of, and I can’t exactly blame her forthat. Bree has never wavered from her stance on keeping our relationship a secret. She’s never hidden from me how much this could impact her career.
But this is more than that, and until she decides to open up and truly let me in so I can see everything happening inside that big beautiful, brilliant brain of hers, there’s nothing I can do to win this fight.
This round may be over, but I’m not going anywhere. I’ll fight for us even when she can’t and even if who I’m fighting isher.
After I left Chase’s condo Sunday morning, I cancelled on my breakfast date with Miller and haven’t talked to any of my friends, so I’m surprised to see Taylor standing on my front porch with an overnight bag on Tuesday evening.
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
“Can’t a girl come visit her friend?” she asks, but something about her tone is off.
“Mmmm, come on, I was about to order food.” Waving her inside, I go back to the kitchen where I was perusing the takeout menus.
“The fact that you don’t cook always surprises me.” She sets her bag down at the bottom of the stairs and joins me in the kitchen.
“Why?”
“Well for one, you have this huge ass kitchen, and two, you’re more of a homebody than any of us so it’s just funny.”
“Cooking for one is hard and normally I’m too busy to worry about it.”
I’m not like Ivory. I can cook, I just choose not to. It’s easier that way.
“What were you ordering tonight?” She looks over my shoulder at the options
