Page 75 of Offsides

“Does he not return those feelings?”

I have real feelings for you, darlin’…

The words were loud and clear in her head and her heart. She believed those words then, and she wanted to still believe in them now. She just wasn’t sure how.

“I thought he did, but…”

“But…”

Theo launched into the story of the day—starting with Keaton’s rude wake-up call, all the way to the screaming match in the parking lot as she walked away from him. Tears were streaming down her face by the time she was done, unable to hold back her emotions any longer. She was in love with a man who probably hated her now, and it was all her fault. All because she wasn’t willing to bend a little on some stupid rule.

“I’m just…heartbroken doesn’t even seem to cover it. It’s like my soul just feels empty. I didn’t even realize you could actually feel like that about another person. And I wish I knew how to make it right, but after what we said, I just don’t think we can.”

“I know it seems like the end of the world now, but I promise you, it’s just a fight,” Dana assured her. “He’s probably sitting at home feeling just as shitty as you are.”

“And if he’s not?”

“Then fuck him. He’s not worth it.”

“I’m probably not welcome back to cover the Rising after this.”

The thought stung. Not only had she lost Cowboy, but the whole team as well. That was going to do great things for her career.

“Doubtful. But if so, we’ll deal with it. Right now, we have something a lot more important.”

“We do?”

“Yes. Figuring out exactly what you are going to include in this feature.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Thump. Thump. Thump.

“Would you stop that?” Felicity asked. It was half a question and half a scold, the accompanying glare making it clear that the repetitive noise was driving her crazy.

Cowboy tossed the mini soccer ball against the wall of her office one last time, just to be a pain in the ass. She glared at him again, this time making it clear that she would hop over that desk and strangle him. He didn’t doubt it either. Letting the ball rest in his lap, he held his hands up in surrender, showing her he was done.

Maybe.

He and Gunnar had been sitting in Felicity’s office at Southland Holdings’ downtown Atlanta headquarters for most of the afternoon, talking over the second half of the season. The excitement of winning the Fremont Cup still buzzed through the corporate office, but the shine had worn off a little for the three of them, thanks to trying to dodge the potential PR nightmare that was Dash’s arrest. Lucky for them, the video had only trended online for a couple of hours before some hockey player in Michigan had accidentally posted a dick pic online, taking over the viral sensation top spot for the day. Cowboy had never been so thankful to be outshined by another sport.

Dash wasn’t the only thing hanging over him at the moment, causing him to lose focus and only hear about half of what Felicity had said. If anything, Dash was just an excuse. What had really been eating at him for the last few days was much bigger than their star player being a dumbass. No, the question running through his mind was whether or not he’d been the dumbass.

Her words rattled around in his brain, over and over, like a record stuck on a loop.

Do you really think so little of me…You asked me to trust you, and I did….That trust goes both ways….apparently you don’t trust me enough…

Even pissed off—and fuck, had she been pissed off—her voice had been the same, sweet melodic sound that had filled his dreams for weeks. Theo had every right to be pissed too—he'd said some pretty asshole-ish things. Then again, she’d been in rare form too. Or maybe the form she’d been in while seducing him had been the rare one. Putting on a show of being sweet and supportive, when really she was just as slick as all the other reporters out there. He had to hand it to her—she’d figured him out and then played him like a fiddle. All for a fucking story.

“You with us?” Gunnar asked, snapping his fingers in front of Cowboy’s face.

“Yeah.”

Gunnar gave him a skeptical look. “Anyway, Dash will return to practice Monday, although I’m undecided if he’ll train with the team or on his own. He knows he won’t play this weekend, and I haven’t made him promises on when he will play again, but I think a week is enough time off. I don’t want him getting too cold, or he won’t be match ready when the time comes.”

“He’s also going to be doing one hundred hours of community service, via helping with the Unified team. Should help keep him in line.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about that part. I don’t want the first-team guys to think that working with the Unified team is a punishment. They are just as much a part of this organization as anyone else.”