“I’m assuming to ruin your life?” Billy snaps.
Farrah smacks the back of his head. “From what Tommy and Adam said, they were hanging in the back, waiting for the announcement by the MC. They leaked it to him and asked him to make the big announcement, that everyone would be happy to hear it. Not sure what their end game is except to make you miserable.”
It’s all starting to make sense. “No, Jackson told me Nick said he wouldn’t press charges if he was signed with Goldman, it’s aboutmoney. Tony has been stealing from Jacksons contracts for years. I found it when he asked me to look everything over. Eastern never contacted me directly, they went through Tony. I don’t know how, since everyone knew I was his PR. I have feelers out and was getting good feedback, I was close to getting a preliminary contract with Texas Town College.”
‘You’re kidding! That’s great!” Farrah says, “Then Jackson can stay right here, and you guys can be together.”
“It would have been great, but I don’t know what he signed with Tony. Jackson said it was a contract and an NDA giving him full access to put the announcement out. But they lied about that so I can only imagine what he actually signed.”
I sigh, defeated, again. We were so close.
“Even if there’s a way for him to back out of the contract, I don’t think he will,” Billy says. “I heard his team did him dirty. Turned their backs on him at practice, which is a pretty savage thing to do,” he laughs, and I scowl at him. “I wouldn’t want to stick around after that.”
Farrah gives Billy another smack upside the head. “Don’t listen to him, girl. We all saw what was going on.”
Yeah we all saw it. But me? I was a fool once again, thinking he’d stay. Jackson has always wanted out. Why did I believe it would change this time?
THERE HAS BEEN LIMITED RESPONSE FROM GAGES CAMP AND NO ONE CAN GET A RETURN COMMENT FROM CASANOVA. ARE THEY CALLING IT QUITS? OR CAN A LONG-DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP WORK?
Chapter 39
Jackson
We won the semifinal and now we’re heading to States. I knew we would. This team is outstanding and can overcome adversity. Even when their own coach causes it.
It’s been a rough week. After they walked out on me, I let them sit on it for twenty-four hours. When we came back to practice again, there was tension, but we just picked up where we left off with drills. It was like the last few days didn’t exist.
And I was fine with letting it slide. For now. We had a game to win.
And win we did.
Now I’m home, drinking alone, feeling sorry for myself instead of out celebrating with the rest of the town.
Or with Chess.
My phone rings with a text and I’m diving for it so fast praying it's Chess.
Britt: I hope you’re decent, I’ll be there in five minutes
Me: whether I’m decent or not, I’m sure it won’t stop you from crashing through my door.
Britt: true. But I’d rather not see my brother’s junk which is why I’m giving you a five minute warning.
Shaking my head, I throw my phone on the table. I’m not in the mood for whatever shit she’s going to throw at me but it’s better to allow it to happen then avoid her.
True to her word, five minutes later, her and Tommy are walking through my door. Great, another country heard from. I swing my legs off the couch to the floor, righting myself but still not getting off the couch.
“This is an intervention,” Britt says.
I’m not amused. “There’s only two of you? Shouldn’t there be more people?”
She shrugs. “Really I’m enough by myself to stage an intervention but Tommy saw me walking up the path, so I let him tag along.”
He eyes her, grabs three beers from the fridge and comes to sit across from me, handing them out to each of us.
“Listen, for what it’s worth I was always okay with you and Francesca being together. I just don’t understand why you needed to lie about it, though. She came home hurt and then she perked up when she was with you and acting out this ridiculous scenario. She was happy with you, so why fake the whole thing?” Tommy asks.
“It wasn’t a lie so much as an omission.”
