“Sure, Cap, what’s up?” I ask as I follow him out into the hall, trying not to sound worried, but my throat is all tight as the nervous energy starts to build inside.
The hallway is practically empty except for a few security guards at either end, and I lean on the stark white wall waiting for him to say what he has to.
Reid checks the hallway in both directions, then steps closer.
“I’m sorry about yesterday,” he says, and I don’t know where to look. Did I hear that right?
“I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner about the trainer’s interest in my plays,” I say, and he shrugs, drawing my attention tohis wide shoulders that are sitting a little slumped today. He doesn’t have the same energetic light about him either. His eyes have a darker shade around them, like maybe he hasn’t slept, or at least not much. “Are you okay?”
He chuckles. “Why, because I apologized?”
“No, because you look like you spent the night on the town.”
He rubs the back of his neck with one hand as if he can somehow massage away the tension living there.
“Let’s just say I didn’t exactly sleep well after . . . you know.”
“Sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. It did make me realize one thing, though,” he says.
“What?” I ask, as my heart hammers against my ribcage.
“I don’t think I can be your captain and your boyfriend.”
My stomach sinks.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m giving up captain.”
“You can’t give up captain,” I exclaim, and he quickly shushes me.
“Keep it down, I haven’t told everyone yet.”
“But you have told someone?”
“Yeah, I met with Coach Dennings this morning. He understood. Or at least he did when I explained that my feeling for you are a big part of why I need to do this.”
“You can’t do that for me. You’re the best captain we could have. The guys won’t like this.” I plead with him to reconsider hisdecision, but he has that same determination on his face that he had when he carried me up the stairs to his bedroom.
“I can’t captain you and date you, and I’ve never felt like this for anyone. I don’t want to give you up.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, and he nods.
“I’m positive. Now, can you please smile, or those security guards are going to think I just booted you from the team or something.”
I laugh.
“Wait, did you just say boyfriend?” I whisper, leaning in closer, and throwing him my cheeky smirk.
“Maybe, is that okay?”
“It’s better than okay. Wow, can today get any better?”
“Well, we’re about to play a game, so yeah, it could get even better, but what else are you so cheery about?” he asks.
“I might have found a place. Well, actually, my mom might have. She’s going today to try to bid on it.”
