“Yes, sir,” I reply, getting in line with the rest of the team.
“It’s going to be okay, Hen,” Mac says, appearing on my right.
“We’ve got you. Nothing is going to happen to you,” Cassie says from the other side.
“Watts looks so pissed,” I say to both of them.
Dana turns around from her spot in front of me. “Maybe that’s because it’s only one season in, and you and your little group of friends has turned the whole Blaze organization into your own personal dating app.”
I openly gawk at her. I mean, she’s not wrong. But I don’t know how to respond to it. So, I just keep looking forward.
“Mind your business, Dana,” Mac says in my defense.
“Don’t,” I warn her.
“I’m not letting them tear you down like this,” Mac says in response.
Watts blows the whistle, thankfully, and we all take off running. I thought this would be better, all of us running out there, not all stuck in close quarters. But I hear the girls whispering as they run past me. I’m slower than most of the team so there is no way I can keep up with Mac and Cassie. They have run ahead. I make my way off to the side so that I’m not in the middle of the pack.
“Did you know about this?” I hear Watts say to Jase as I run past them.
Shit, I’m sorry, Jase,I think as I go by.
I panic as I run along, looking over my shoulder and seeing the patio where the press conference was held has been cleared. I wonder if they are in the conference room talking. More importantly, I wonder if it worked.
I hope for August’s and Drew’s sakes that is it has. I just never expected that it would lead to Maxwell outing us in such a public forum. I wonder if any members of the press were there and did they hear him? And would they write articles about it? Of course they would, how could they not? It’s too juicy of a story to keep under their lids.
The run takes me about as long as it usually does. I don’t finish last; the other goalies are behind me. I can’t hear what they are saying because they are talking so low, but I would bet I’m the topic of conversation.
“Alright, team,” Coach Watt says, clapping his hands as he welcomes us all back from our run. “We start playoffs next week and I need to make sure that everyone is focused. So, this new piece of information that we have learned about your teammate is not open for discussion. I don’t want to hear the gossiping about it. We need to remain focused.”
He stares at everyone, waiting for someone to challenge him. Thankfully, no one does.
“Okay, that’s it for practice right now. Mac, call it out. After that ending, Hendrix, I would like to see you for a moment,” he says, staring me down.
I move into the huddle and shout Blaze on three with my teammates and then quickly make my way over to Coach Watts. I notice that Coach Andie is standing with Jase.
“How long has this relationship been going on?” Watts asks me.
I sigh and tell him everything. Since there is no point in hiding it, I let him know all about college and how things endedthere. How I hated him and treated him in ways that should have gotten me fired and then talked to him about how things started here.
“Maxwell Cromwell hates me, Coach. He doesn’t think that I’m good enough for his son. I think that’s why he outed us like that. I think he was hoping that because he can’t control August, that he’s decided to burn my life to the ground. Make you force my hand to get rid of our relationship because we’re not bowing down to him.” I say the words in a hurry. “I realize that this might sound crazy, but I can promise you that is what I think is happening right now. I’m sorry, coaches, I know that I disappointed you. I get that. But please understand that I’m in no way benefiting from this relationship. If anything, it’s making things in my life harder for me.”
I sigh and wait for them to say something, anything. I look over at Jase and see the pity in his eyes. But I did this to myself.
“Okay,” Coach Watts says.
I stare at him for moment and keep blinking. “Okay? What do you mean, okay?”
“I simply mean okay. I have to go up into the building and talk to Maxwell and August, if Maxwell is still there, and find out what is going on. I hope that this does not do anything to harm the team’s focus heading into the playoffs. Your record on that pitch speaks for itself, Hendrix. No one is saying that he gives you special treatment. Well, no one on this coaching staff. I just think the girls are going to make this one harder on you than you think,” he shrugs. “I get that you were with him before and this is like a second chance for you. I don’t want to take it away.”
I nod and wait to see if I’m dismissed.
“See you later, Hendrix,” Coach Andie says, giving me the answer that I had been looking for.
I walk away to grab the keeper bag from the bench and head for the locker room. The only thing that I want is my keys andwallet. After I have that, I’m leaving. No shower in that locker room. I’ll be waiting until I reach home for that.
“Hendrix,” I hear Mac call after me.
