CHAPTER
THIRTY
Liam
This can’t be happening.
I hang up and just stare at my phone like it might change what I just heard. But it doesn’t. The screen goes dark, reflecting my face—my jaw is clenched, eyes hard, like I’m one second away from punching a wall.
Fucking Aaron. Putting poison in her ear about me. And I can’t do shit about it. I’m stuck here for three more weeks. Camp isn’t a suggestion. It’s not optional. We’re in full go mode, and I’m obligated to be here. It doesn’t matter that my daughter is the team owner’s granddaughter. Coaches don’t care if your world is blowing up and falling apart. If you’re healthy, you’d better be on the field. You’re under contract; you show up. End of.
And I should be excited to be here, but what I want more than anything … is to be in New York with Alie and Sera. My family. Instead, I’m living in a college dorm room in south fucking Pittsburgh for the next few weeks, while this asshole is trying to rip us apart with his lies.
I exhale and try to calm down, but everything feels tight. Like I can’t get enough air in my lungs. I need to get out of this room and take a walk.
I yank my door open with more force than necessary and let it slam shut behind me.
“Everything good, man?” Saint asks, opening his door across the hall.
“Yeah, I just need to get out of that room.”
“I’ll come with you. I’m feeling a little wound up tonight myself.”
I really don’t want to talk to anyone right now, but I also don’t want to be a total dick. Luckily, Saint isn’t a big talker.
We walk around the college campus in the dark. It’s quiet, and luckily, no one else is around.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, so I take it out, hoping it’s Alie telling me our conversation was a joke, but it’s not. It’s a text in the group chat. Beck telling us that Charlie’s in labor. And I’m happy for them—I am. But I can’t even think about anything else right now, and I don’t want to sound like I don’t care, so I just pocket my phone.
“Girlfriend?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No, just one of my buddies. His wife is in labor.”
“That’s cool.” He nods. “So, you wanna talk about it?”
“I’m good. Just … life stuff.”
Saint’s eyes narrow like he doesn’t believe me, but he doesn’t push it.
Frustration builds, though, and I can’t hold it in.
“Timing just couldn’t be worse right now,” I exhale.
“What do you mean?”
Alie and I haven’t really talked about how to handle the team, and I’m sure there have been some people around the facility who’ve noticed that Alie and I spend time together. I mean, MissSandy sees me every day now. It’s not like we’ll be able to keep this under wraps for long.
“I have a daughter,” I blurt out.
“You have a daughter?” He nods. “That’s awesome.”
“Look, man, I’m gonna tell you something, but it needs to stay between us for now, okay? Well, Griffith knows, but that’s it as far as the team.”
“Yeah, of course.” He holds out a fist, and I bump it.
“My daughter is Seraphina.”
“As in Aliette Grant’s Seraphina? The one I’ve known since she was born, who runs around the field?” He smirks.
