Chapter 45
Preston
The door shut behind me, the hallway quiet as I started toward the elevator.
I’d never had this kind of reaction before.
As a kid, if Liv ever got sick, it tore me up.
I was usually the one who comforted her.
The one who stepped in for her. Until Cecile came into our lives and became the motherly comfort we never had.
Even then, something about Trinity ill just got me.
Seeing her sick was another level. The urge to fix it.
To take away anything that caused her pain was practically a need.
I paused across from a gold set of doors, pressing the down button to take me to the lobby.
I ran a hand through my hair as they parted, then stepped inside.
My thumb hit the number one, then I leaned back against the wall, my phone in hand as I scrolled through the list of stores open at this hour.
The doors had almost closed when a ding sounded, and a hand wedged between the crack. The doors slid back open, and a familiar figure stepped through.
Motherfucker.
“You’re out late, Coach.” Jagger Ross smirked before clicking the second-floor button where the team was located. “I guess we both had the same idea tonight.”
He leaned against the opposite wall, mimicking my stance. I didn’t like the gleam in his eyes. The one that said he was about to stir up some shit. My mind raced back to the hallway. I swore it was empty. Did he see me leave Trinity’s room?
“And what idea was that?” I asked. “You have curfew. You should be in your room. Resting up for the game.”
He shrugged, his smug attitude front and center. “Getting my dick sucked before a big game is my good luck charm.”
I bristled at his comment.
“What about you?” He cocked his head to the side. “I know you aren’t staying on this floor.”
Fuck.
I cleared my throat. “I had to move rooms. Hotel issue.”
He eyed me. “What a coincidence.” Then he crossed his arms. “I could have sworn Trinity was on this floor.”
Double fuck.
Before I could defend his comment, a sly grin spread across his face. “Can’t blame you, Coach. I’ve wanted to fuck her since the first time I saw her.”
Red-hot rage slithered up my spine, and I was across the elevator in one stride. My palm pressed into his chest, slamming him up against the wall. The elevator shifted, the signal that we were arriving at his floor. “Watch it, Ross,” I seethed.
His grin widened. “You know. I was this close to believing you.” He held a hand up in the air next to my face, his forefinger and thumb only centimeters apart.
I stepped away from him as the door dinged. He adjusted his shirt, then ambled toward the opening. “But thank you for the confirmation.” Then he disappeared down the hall.
What the hell just happened?
Exhaustion licked at my bones. I made it back to the hotel room with Trinity’s medicine a little after three.
I had barely managed to sleep, my mind looping back to Jagger in the elevator.
I stumbled through the motions of preparing for the game in the locker room.
Tablet was ready. Headsets were ready. Everything was like any other game.
Except for Trinity. She was back at the hotel.
She’d called Rodney this morning to let him know she was sick, and when I reluctantly left her, her fever had dropped to a low grade.
It took most of my strength to leave, but it wasn’t as if I had a choice of where I wanted to be.
And if I had been given the choice, there was no doubt on what my answer would be.
Which meant I had some serious things to reconsider in my life.
I was in the office, grabbing the last of my things, when a knock snagged my attention. A sour pit formed in my gut when I saw Jagger.
“Got a sec?” he asked.
Glancing behind him, I nodded. “Close the door.”
He was in full uniform, and we had about ten minutes until warm up.
“You know. It could cause some big problems for you if I reported what I saw last night.” He shrugged a shoulder. “Career would be trashed.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You have your speculation, Ross.”
“Nah.” He shook his head. “Cameras will show you entering her room.” He smirked. “Got too comfy, huh?”
My hands clenched. He was right.
I gritted my teeth. “What’s your point?”
“You want to keep the fact you’re fucking Rodney’s daughter a secret.” He clucked his tongue. “I want starting QB.”
“Excuse me?” I scoffed. “Are you threatening me?”
“You heard me. Bench Krew. I start. It’s simple.”
“No.”
“No?” he asked with a laugh. “Then tell your girl to pack her fucking bags. No team wants to hire a whore.”
He reached for the door, and I slammed a fist down on the desk.
“Ross,” I growled, anger and surrender in my tone.
He paused, then peered over his shoulder. He knew he had me. I’d do whatever it took to protect her.
He nodded as if understanding what expression I relayed even though I couldn’t say the words.
He winked. “See you on the field, Coach.”