I wish we used it more; it is a comfy room. But right now, entering this room looks anything but comfortable.
“Did someone forget to invite me to the party?” I ask as I enter, trying to bring the mood up.
But I can see from the tense expression on Coach Watts’ face that this is anything but a good party.
“August, I thought that you insisted these relationships with the team and the staff had come to a close.” He glances at Jase and then back in my direction. “But I understand that that is not what is happening right now. You are now dating my goalie.”
I see Jase tense at the mention of Hendrix. I just nod in confirmation. There is nothing more to say to it. My father outed us on the practice field for the whole organization to hear. I had to reach out to Cindy to make sure that no one from the press had heard what he said. Asked her to make sure that no one is gossiping about us and if we could get ahead of it.
“I am, Nate. I apologize but I knew your goalie in a past life,” I tell him.
“She told me the story today,” he replies, nodding. “I had no idea. Did you know when you recruited her to the Blaze? Did you remember her?”
I shake my head. “I wasn’t the one who recruited her to the team. That was all of my father’s doing,” I say, pointing down at him.
“I didn’t honestly remember the girl. She was just a first round pick out of UNC, and we needed her,” Dad says, shrugging his shoulders like it’s of no consequence to him or that he didn’t cause this mess.
“She was a solid choice,” Jase chimes in.
I nod. “She is. I think she’s more than proven herself here, so why are we talking about all of this?”
Nate sighs and stares at me. “Are you really staying with the Blaze?”
I look down the table at my brother and father. “Have we reached a decision there, gentlemen?”
Drew frowns and pinches the bridge of his nose. “We’re working on it.”
“I’m not leaving,” I say plainly. “I told the press that I would be staying and I meant that. I told the team that I would not be leaving them and I meant that too.”
I level my father with a glare and wait for him to challenge me in this room in front of all of these people. I see Andie shift in her seat uncomfortably.
“I think that you should. He’s good for the team, Mr. Cromwell,” Nate tells him. “I think that the girls respect him. And more importantly, he’s one of the more involved owners that I have worked with.”
“Are you sure that’s not so that he can spend more time with Hendrix?” My dad asks him, glaring at me as well.
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s it. She hated him when she first got here,” Jase tells him.
“Why didn’t she keep on hating you then, son? What changed?” my dad asks me.
I shrug. “What can I say, I’m charming. Now what are we all doing here? Are you working on some kind of punishment for her? Because she hasn’t earned that. And she doesn’t deserve that. So, if you would like to punish anyone, you will punish me. But it will not be by removing me from this organization. Dad, I’m good at working with this team. And I know that you want the best for the organization. And that is all I ever wanted too.” I stare him down for a minute. “So, are we punishing her?”
Jase shakes his head. “I have no plan on doing anything like that.”
“How can you, you hang out with all of them?” Nate says with a shake of his head. “I get that everyone is super close in your friend group.” He looks from Jase to me. “But there are some professional lines that need to be kept in place. And you need to make sure everything is kept above bar when we are here atwork. Also, the other girls on the team, should they want to drink with you, should be given the same opportunity, got it?”
I nod. “Of course, we’ve never turned anyone away. It’s just full of those that the girls have formed a bond with. Not saying they can’t make more friends.”
Dad stares at each of us, a stern expression on his face, his tired eyes showing exhaustion from the day’s events. “I don’t like being brought here to the Blaze and having my hand forced. That is not something that is going to happen again. I haven’t decided whether or not we will be doing a retraction on August’s statement yet. I can tell you that I get that you all like working with my son, but that doesn’t mean that you get to keep him.”
Jase pounds his fist on the table. “And money doesn’t mean that you get to do whatever you want with your kids’ lives. Let them have some say on what is happening. I mean, damn it, Mr. Cromwell, why can’t you just let him be an adult.”
I grin. I knew that I liked Jase. He’s standing up for me when it matters.
“Don’t you scream at me. If your friend hadn’t forced my hand like this, then we wouldn’t be in this position, now would we?” He shakes his head and looks at me. “No one is trying to punish your friend, August.” I don’t miss the disdain in his tone when he calls Hendrix a friend. “But they all came into this room to figure out what is happening. I didn’t call this meeting.”
I nod. “I appreciate it, guys. Please give us the room,” I say, looking from Andie to Nate, then to Jase.
They stand and leave. Nate pats my shoulder on his way out. I nod at him before turning my attention back to my dad and Drew.
