CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Zane
Itext Blair “good morning” in the Uber on my way to the stadium, and don’t pocket my phone until I get out, waiting for a reply. I’m running late for our weight session, but it’s hard to be bothered by that with the taste of Blair’s lips still at the forefront of my mind.
My phone buzzes as I enter the locker room, and I smile like a sap before I’ve even read her reply.
“Fitzpatrick!” Coach Pierce’s booming voice pulls me to a stop mid-step, my hand hovering in midair. Fuck. I internally groan. I was sure the locker room would be empty by now, but of course it’s not. “Is your watch broken?” he asks, his voice gruff.
I don’t actually wear a watch, but something tells me that now is not the best time to mention that fact. “It’s recovery.” I shrug, making it worse. Like my response is set to cockiness autopilot. “I’ll make up the time at the end of the day.”
“That’s not how this works. We do recovery as a team.”
“I missed twenty minutes; I’m sure they’ve survived without me. Unlike the game yesterday.” I mumble the last bit and immediately regret it.
“Excuse me?”
“I said, unlike the game yesterday, Coach.” And fuck, he is fuming.
“I heard you the first time, but I’m here to tell you…the team won. It’s not an individual sport.”
The disappointment on his face has me flinching and my shoulders drop. “Just tell me the fine and I’ll pay it.”
“God, you’re a—” He stops abruptly, glancing at something over my shoulder, something or someone behind me. I don’t dare look; I’ve already dug myself a big enough grave. But at least I’m here. I’d much rather be with Blair—there’s still so much to talk about.
Coach Pierce growls under his breath before shaking his head. “Get dressed and catch up with your teammates. You know, the guys you’re supposed to care about.”
What? I balk. Guilt gone. He did not just say that. “Are you suggesting I don’t care? What about Reed? Did I not care when I came to his rescue? Was that me not caring when I tackled Landon to the ground, suffering a stab wound to my side?”
“If you truly cared about Reed”—he lowers his voice as he takes a step closer—“you wouldn’t be fucking around right now, risking your spot on the team, while he’s too injured to be here. He’d do anything to take your place and you’re wasting it.”
“You say that as if it’s my fault he can’t play.” Jesus. Why the hell can’t I keep my mouth shut?
“No, I’m—”
“Pierce,” our new GM, Wes, calls out from behind me. “I need a word with Zane.”
Huh? I spin around, my eyes wide while Wes’s gaze remains on Coach.
“Take him, but he needs to make up time for the weight session he missed, or I might not be able to play him.”
“Come with me,” Wes says, his attention shifting my way as he ignores Pierce’s threat. I want to ask why, but with the no bullshit look in his eyes, I follow without question.
This can’t be good.
We’re both silent as Wes leads me to his office, his stride confident, his unidentifiable expression never once wavering. I can’t tell if he’s pissed off or genuinely doesn’t care.
When we reach the door, he nods, gesturing for me to walk inside before closing the door behind us.
And the second we’re alone, his expression morphs into a grin.
“So…Zane.” He pats the table as he sits down, his gaze light and a little unnerving.
“I’m not sure you’re aware, but Dylan spoke to my wife about a job for a friend of yours, and now she won’t stop talking about it. ”
“The fuck?” This is about Blair? Wes frowns at my response and I rush to apologize. “Sorry.” I grimace. “I clearly forgot who I was talking to.”
Wes chuckles before leaning back in his chair. “From what I’ve heard about you, I doubt you’re sorry at all.”
“You’re right. I’m not sorry about that; I just didn’t want to fuck things up for Blair.”
“That’s nice of you, but I can assure you, Lucy wouldn’t let that happen. She said, and I quote, ‘I don’t even know her but I got the impression she was sad and I’m worried. I think she needs this new start.’”
“Wow.”
“Yep, and if you knew Lucy, you’d understand that she’s not going to let up until she knows your friend is okay.
Actually no, more than that, she’d want to know that she’s good.
Great even.” He huffs, but a small smile pulls at his lips and I’d say he loves that about her.
“What I need from you is reassurance that your friend is in fact great, and that you’ll talk to her about the job. ”
“Trust me, I want her to take the job. But Lucy’s right; she’s going through a lot at the moment and trying to find herself again. I promise I’ll talk to her. And I’ll let her know that Lucy cares. She’ll be happy to know there’s more people that do.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” I stare awkwardly, not really knowing what to say next with this being the only conversation we’ve ever had. “You know, I always thought our first interaction would involve you yelling at me about something.”
Wes frowns. “Why? Do I have that reputation?”
“No, not at all. I do.”
“Right.” Wes laughs. “I do recall that I’m supposed to be telling you to make up your weight session or you’ll be sitting out during the next game.”
“‘Might’ be sitting out. I’m pretty sure he said ‘might.’”
“Right again. Well, since you heard him and you know what’s at stake, you better do as he asked.”
“I will.” I nod, jumping up as Wes picks up his phone, our conversation seemingly over.
With an incredulous laugh under my breath, I head to the door, only turning back at the last second. “Please tell your wife I said thank you. It means a lot to me.”
“I will,” he repeats my words back to me, hitting me with a smile before he resumes his work. And I’ve got to say, I did not see this conversation coming. But I’m kind of glad that it did.
Our weight room is clearing out when I arrive for my recovery session, and I’m met with a sea of sweaty teammates as I make my way inside. After talking to Coach Pierce and Wes, I’m now so late the guys are moving onto their cooldowns, and yet, Luke and Reed are still hovering near the bench press.
“Shouldn’t you be heading across the hall?” I point to Luke. “You’ll miss out on all the good treadmills. And you.” I turn to Reed. “Shouldn’t you be at home?”
Reed grins while Luke rolls his eyes. “They’ve got me on light workouts now,” Reed tells me. “And I saw you coming, so we thought we’d keep you company.”
Great.
“How did it go with your friend?” Luke asks, his lips pulled into a smirk as he raises a brow.
“Which friend?” Reed’s quick to ask, until realization hits him. “The one that needed a job.”
“That’s the one. And it was good.” I try to keep my expression schooled but I must do something because Luke fakes a gasp.
“I knew it! You like her.”
“Fuck off.”
“That response doesn’t change my mind.”
“It’s none of your goddamn business.”
“He’s right, Luke,” Reed finally cuts in. “He’ll tell us he’s in love with his friend when he’s good and ready.”
The fuck. Thanks, Reed.
I throw my towel at Reed’s face and he laughs out loud. “I’m kidding. But even if you do have a thing for her, what does it matter? We can’t exactly talk.”
“He’s not wrong.”
“Okay. Are you done with your little gossip session? I’d like to start my workout before I get cut from the next game.”
“I could keep going,” Luke begins but Reed follows my lead, throwing my towel at his face.
“How can we help?”
“I don’t need your help. It’s just a recovery session. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay. We’ll be cooling down,” Reed tells me as he turns away, grabbing his towel and looking back over his shoulder. “Don’t forget we’re watching tapes in thirty minutes.”
Fuck. There goes my workout. “I’ll be there.”
The locker room is quiet again when I finally finish my session after the tape analysis with the team.
What should have been a few hours turned into most of the day, and I’m desperate to check my messages again.
Grabbing my phone, I find several notifications. One from Blair, the rest from the group chat. And it’s not their messages that have me grinning.
Blair: I actually think I live close now, considering I used to be in Florida
She’s not wrong, but she’s still not here.
Zane: It’s not San Francisco
Blair: And they said you were bad at geography
Zane: Who said that? I’m good at everything
I wait a minute for her next response but when it doesn’t come right away, I reluctantly read the group chat messages.
Dylan: Zane, Lucy is bugging me. Please for the love of God, help!
I snort before reading the rest.
Luke: What did I miss?
Dylan: Nothing that concerns you
Luke: Everything concerns me
Easton: I thought that was Reed
Reed: Ouch, man
Luke: No fighting. We all care. That’s why we have this group chat
The damn group chat. I’m ninety-nine percent sure Easton added me as payback. This is torture sometimes. And now the stupid thing is named after me. I don’t need a support group.
Zane: I’m very tempted to block this chat. If that’s possible?
Easton: Why didn’t I think of that?
Luke: You’re never leaving. Either of you
Zane: Yeah, yeah
Zane: Dylan, I’m on it. Thank you again
Dylan: No worries. And thank YOU
Luke: Tell me what I’m missing, dammit!
I roll my eyes even though no one can see me then exit out of my messages, but before I put my phone away it vibrates in my hand. I groan until I check the screen and my heart jolts. The damn organ is already way too invested for my liking. I need to slow the fuck down.
Tomorrow.
For now, I read Blair’s latest message, knowing I’m going to reply straight away, because what can I say… I’m obsessed.
Blair: You’re definitely good at something. In fact, I’m sore from how good you are
Zane: Dammit, B. How the hell am I supposed to concentrate now that I’m thinking about making you come? When can we do it again?
I smile but my heart flickers uncomfortably in my chest. This has to be a dream. Tomorrow I’m going to wake up and realize I imagined it all. Or worse, I’m going to discover she doesn’t feel the same way I do.
Blair: I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I need time to think
Fuck. There it is. My stomach knots until I remember that deep down, she’s still the same Blair. I know her better than anyone ever has, including her asshole ex. And she knows me.
If I was a nice guy, I’d probably agree with her. They just broke up and she’s trying to figure her life out. But, I’m not a nice guy. Blair’s joked about that herself. I’m selfish, and now that she’s back in my orbit, I’m not letting her go. Not again.
Zane: On the contrary… It’s a great idea and you know it
You better be ready, B. I’m coming for you.