Nick fucking Goldman.
Without thinking I cock my fist and take a swing at Nick once again, only my arm is stopped before I make contact.
“Not. Here.” The words are growled into my ear, and I recognize Adam's voice.
I’m seething. Through gritted teeth I bark out. “What the fuck are you doing here? And why are you talking to this asshole?”
Tony smiles. “Jackson! You remember Nick, don’t you?” he laughs then waves his hand around his face. “Of course, you do,” he claps his hands once. “Listen, congratulations are in order all around! We’re all moving up and we have your girl to thank for it.”
Adam still hasn’t let go of my arm, and I feel Billy and Tommy at myback. “I’ll ask again Tony. What the fuck is going on? We signed contracts; how did this get out?”
Nick laughs this time. “You were right Tony, now that he’s back in this small town, he doesn’t get it anymore. He’s lost his touch.” They both snicker but Nick continues. “You’ll get there again Gage, don’t worry. That cut throat feeling comes right back when you’re placed amongst the pack.”
My eyes bore into him. “What did you do?”
“It was both of us really, Gage. See, I knew once Francesca agreed to help you, you’d rise to the top again. Small town romance and Cinderella stories always get everyone’s attention. The whole boyfriend girlfriend,” he uses finger quotes, “really brought national interest whether you realized it or not. I was afraid you’d get stuck here though, despite you telling me you wanted out. I know the power a good pussy can have on you.”
I lunge for him, but this time, with Billy holding me back, Adam takes front and center. Tommy holds him back, just barely, and Tony actually looks scared with good reason. Adam is just as big as I am.
“Don’t ever talk about my sister like that,” Adam scrapes out. His chest is heaving, and Tommy is losing his grip. I put a hand on his shoulder trying to calm him and pull him back towards me and Billy.
Tony fixes his shirt, smoothing it down. “Anyway, I wanted to tell you I have teamed up with Goldman PR. I’ll still represent you and your contracts. Of course, Goldman is super excited to have a star QB1 on their roster, especially once you use Eastern State as a stepping stone back to the NFL coaching leagues, you’ll be back in prime time, with more contracts than you know what to do with. It’s a win-win for everyone. Honestly, after you and Nick had that fight, you’re lucky you’re being picked up anywhere. I stepped in, talked it out with Nick. He said he wouldn’t press charges if I got you on board. He promised they’re going to work hard for you. The sooner you get on board, get to Eastern State, then the sooner all the big stuff will happen. And I know in time, you and Nick will work out your differences and all that bad blood will be forgotten.”
I cannot believe what I’m hearing.
It was Tony. He leaked the contracts. He broke the NDA andannounced my departure early. He wants this announcement to shake up everything I have going for me. It will disrupt my team; we’ll lose the finals and then I can get to Eastern that much quicker.
All for money.
Chess was right. Tony was stealing from me all along. And now he’s stolen something even more important.
“You both need to leave. Now. Stay off my field and stay out of my town.”
“Jackson, don't be like that. This is what you’ve wanted all along. When you and Francesca decided to fake the relationship, I thought it was ridiculous.”
“It was your idea!” I yell.
“Well, yes, but I didn’t think you’d actually do it. Or that it would actually work. But you sold it, well, I guess you can sell a lot to these townsfolk.” He says it was such condescension I want to smack his mouth. “Anyway, it worked. You got people talking and got the college coaching position you’ve been wanting. What’s the problem?”
“It wasn’t supposed to happen this way,” is all I can say, quietly. I feel defeated.
“Either way, it happened. So go finish up your high school games, pack a bag and get to Eastern and start your new life.” He claps me on the back. “We’ll be in touch.”
He turns to leave, with Nick in tow. “Give Frankie my best,” Nick sneers, then he winks at me and follows Tony. “I told you I’d own you, didn’t I?” My hands are fisted, my teeth clenched. That night we fought, he promised just that. I’m an asshole for letting him get to me then. He won. I just had my biggest loss handed to me.
“I want to fucking kill that guy,” Adam growls.
“Tommy, pretend you didn’t hear that,” Billy says. “You know, justifiable admission or something like that.”
I shrug them off. “I need to find Chess,” I say and begin walking back towards the school.
Chapter 36
Francesca
He’s leaving.
I always knew he would but leading up to today, I felt like he may have had a change of heart. A change of heart towards me, towards the town, towards staying and building a life again. Things between us had changed, became more intense, or so I thought.
