The sportscasters ask the usual questions about the game and how he feels going into the playoffs, especially since it’s been a tumultuous season.
“Being in a relationship with the coach’s daughter must put pressure on your game,” one reporter says.
“That’s not a question,” Flip bites out, his frustration obvious.
“There are some rumors floating around about your past relationships. Would you like to debunk them?” another tosses out.
Flip sighs and runs a hand through his wet hair. “Haven’t I done that enough this season? This has nothing to do with the game.”
“Does your girlfriend know about your ex-wife?” another reporter asks.
It feels as if ice has been injected into my veins. Ex-wife? I laugh shrilly at the preposterousness. “Oh, come on, this is next-level ridiculous.” My stomach bottoms out as the color drains from Flip’s face. “That’s impossible.” I glance at my friends, hoping to see my disbelief reflected at me.
“This is bullshit,” Rix says with certainty. “I would know if my brother had been married.”
I glom onto Rix’s conviction and try to make it my own.
Hemi, Hammer, Essie, and Shilpa all look as shocked as I feel and Rix sounds, but it’s Dred’s face I lock on to.
Because she doesn’t look surprised at all.
“No comment,” Flip grinds out.
Dred’s eyes slide closed, and she sighs, despondently.
“Dred?” I croak.
All eyes move to her.
“You should let him explain,” she says softly.
“So it’s true?” Flip was married. He fell in love, committed himself to someone, and ended it.Why? Who? When?Why is Dred the only person who knows?
“That’s not possible.” Rix’s disbelief mirrors my own.
“Was ityou?” I feel sick.
“No, it was long before me. It’s not my story to tell,” Dred replies.
Dred has always been Flip’s strongest ally. His best friend. The one person he trusts more than anyone else.
More than me.
Flip was married and divorced, and he never shared it with me. Even he doesn’t believe in lasting love. It’s devastating in a way I can’t quite process to learn this about him in such a public way. To find out this secret along with everyone else.
He was my first.
I’m supposed to be his last.
Why wouldn’t he tell me?
Why did he give his heart to someone else and take it back?
Does this mean he can never give me his?
CHAPTER 48
FLIP
