“I knew you wouldn’t let him stay. But I figured it would be good to have someone check up on you, and he had information to give you. How did that go?”
“Well…” I take a deep breath, then say, “It appears Coach Samuels has a thing for blackmailing a gymnast for his daughter’s personal gain. It happened to Anna Tanner, and it’s what he’s trying to do to me. I’m going to reach out to her, see if she’d be willing to speak about what happened to her. If so, Nina is going to get us a platform to expose him on, outing Coach Samuels. He’ll get fired immediately once the story picks up national news. At least, that’s the goal.”
Worry pokes at me that somehow people won’t believe us. That they will think we’re two athletes looking for our moment of fame again. On my call with Nina, though, she reassured me that will likely not happen, but that if it does, then we take legal action, because we have the video proof of him threatening to silence me.
“Fuck him,” Quentin curses, his inhale sharp. “I wish I were there to hold you and comfort you. How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay. Of course it’s unsettling to learn what he was trying to do, and that it’s happened before, but oddly enough, I find some comfort in it knowing I’m not alone. And hopefully she’s willing to take him down with me. Men like him don’t deserve to flourish in power while they silence the women who brought him that status. Without his gymnasts winning medals at competitions, he’d be nothing.”
“He’sgoingto be nothing by the time you’re done with him.” Quentin’s voice is crisp and cutthroat. It sends a shiver down my spine, because there’s something about a man being protective and pissed off.
“Let’s hope so,” I say wistfully as a yawn escapes me.
“Go get some sleep,” he urges.
“No, I haven’t talked to you all day.”
“Sounds clingy if you ask me.” He chuckles, making me laugh with him.
It’s crazy to think that was only six months ago when he toppled me to the ground and we flirted all night before we fucked in the back seat of his car.
I thought it would be a one-off. Just a one-night stand and I’d never see him again. But now? The thought of never seeing him again feels like a hot blade sliding through my chest.
“That’s right, I forgot we’re platonic.” I snicker.
“Soplatonic.”
We stay on the phone for a bit longer, talking about our days and whatnot, which we always do when he’s away. And when we get off the phone and I’m alone in our bed, I can’t help but wish he were here to cuddle up against.
But I’ll never admit it.
Chapter 50
Quentin
This is it.
Game Five of the World Series, with us leading the Series three to one. We lost one and won one in Florida, meaning if we win tonight, it is all over.
Not only would we be World Champions, it would be my last baseball game.
Ever.
I’m set to pitch tonight, and while one would expect nerves for such a high-stake game, I feel nothing but peace. Of course there’s adrenaline from the energy of the team, but internally, I’m at peace with whatever happens. Win or lose, I’m already the luckiest man in the world.
The buzz of the fans hums around the stadium as the game is about to begin in twenty minutes. There are rally towels being whipped around already, and I’ve seen the wave go around the crowd a few times. The fans are pumped and ready to see us win and take it home for the first time in ten years.
There’s one fan I care about more, and she’s at home, watching on TV.
I quickly pull out my phone and hit the call on her contact card, needing to hear her voice before the opening ceremonies begin.
“Aren’t you supposed to be playing an important game right now?” she says in greeting.
“In a few minutes. I have some time, so I wanted to talk to you.”
“If I weren’t already pregnant, I would be once you get home tonight,” she nearly whines at the end.
“You’re something, you know that?”
