No one knew I had learned everything there was to know about her. That I’d read all her books. Studied everything there was to help me get to know her.
It was just supposed to be a random obsession. It wasn’t going to go anywhere. I was enjoying watching her from afar, biding my time, waiting for the right moment to take the plunge.
The week I decided it was time for Mina and me to get properly acquainted was the week Jack fucked it all up for me.
He hurt her.
If I could get away with killing him, he’d be dead already.
Jack studies me carefully like he can read every single one of my thoughts. He’s working out how to manipulate me again. “I think we need to clear the air. Start over with a clean slate.For the sake of the team and both of our careers.” He sounds genuine.
And that makes me more skeptical.
There’s no plausible explanation as to why he wants us to be best buds.
“No need to waste both of our times with something that will never eventuate. So I’ll tell you again: back the fuck off—from meandfrom her. Then we can get through this season without someone dying.”
The vein in his temple twitches. He’s losing his patience. That’d be another first. Since I’ve known him, he’s been nothing but calm no matter how much of an asshole I am.
“Seriously? Is your head shoved so far up your ass that you can’t see I’m trying to help you out here? It’s ineveryone’sbenefit that you start getting along with us and have an actual relationship with at least one person on the team—for the sake of your career.”
“My career is doing just fine.” I don’t see how befriending the human equivalent of an ingrown toenail could benefit me. I’ve already established my relationship with the team. Poorly. But it’s a relationship, nonetheless. We all stay out of each other’s business.
The only one who hasn’t gotten the memo is Jack.
I’ve heard all this shit enough times from Coach about making an effort to bond with the team. I have every other point working for me: skill, speed, and general talent.
It’s the chemistry portion I’m lacking. But how the fuck does he expect me to develop a relationship with a group of people who will side with Jack in a heartbeat?
“For how much longer?”
My eyes narrow on him. “Are you threatening me?”
He shakes his head, looking the picture-perfect definition of caring. “I’m saying that Coach and the owners might start payingmore attention to the rift you’re causing in the team, which won’t help your case because word on the street is you don’t want to get traded.”
Ice trickles down my spine.
Getting traded means losing Mina. It’s the only reason I didn’t move when my agent suggested it months ago. Mina and I aren’t exactly in a place where I can force her to move across the country with me yet, and I’m not about to lose her just because this asshole can’t keep it professional.
“I’m going to ask you one more time: is that a fucking threat?”
“You’re not listening to me. I’m saying we should bury the fucking hatchet and focus on the game and the team.” Jack pauses, waiting for me to drop to my knees and kiss his feet for fuck knows what. When I say nothing, he responds for me, handing me the magic answer he wanted me to give. “Have a drink with us tomorrow night.”
I remain on the sidewalk, staring at him—the direct mouthpiece to Coach. The grand puppeteer.
The longer I think about it, the more certain I am that he’s the reason the Serpents made me an offer, and probably theonlyreason why I haven’t been kicked out.
I need to buy more time. A couple of months to get my relationship with Mina to a place where we can get the hell out of here. Fuck. That means not giving everyone a reason to think it’s best if I’m traded midway through the season.
It’d be like career suicide.
My nostrils flare as I fist my hands. “Fine.”
I keep walking without waiting for a reason.
“I’ll text you the address,” he calls to my back.
There’s a fifty-fifty chance I’ll block his number before then.
