Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
~MAC~
Iwake up and roll over expecting to see Danny lying there with me, but he’s not.
I’m alone.
I sigh. I wonder when he left me. I would have liked a nice morning together, but it does make sense that he left.
It’s after eight right now, and had he stayed, someone might have spotted him.
He’s not exactly someone who could camouflage himself.
Everyone on the team knows who he is. They’re used to him hanging around and asking questions.
Seeing him here would definitely raise some red flags.
I reach over and grab my phone. Sure enough, there’s a message from him.
Danny: Good morning, beautiful. I’m sorry you woke up alone, but I had to go. I didn’t want you to get caught. I had a great time last night. Congrats again on the big win. Call me later if you want.
Call me later if you want. It’s an oddly intimate sentence. Usually, we don’t make plans to see or talk to each other. It’s just a when-we-see-each-other kind of thing. Me seeking him out the other week is the most intimate thing that’s ever happened in our arrangement.
Mac: Good morning. I wasn’t expecting an empty bed, but I get it. Hope you’re having a good morning.
I see he starts to type immediately, and the bubbles stop and start repeatedly. I watch it for a few moments, but nothing ever comes through. I put the phone back on my bedside table. It vibrates quicker than I thought it would.
Danny: Nick figured it out.
My blood runs cold knowing that we’ve been found out by someone who will be working around the team. I sit up and stare at my phone. How in the fuck has he figured it out? I thought we were careful, so I shoot him a text and ask him just that.
Danny: Apparently not careful enough, babe.
Mac: Is he going to keep his mouth shut?
Danny: Yeah, he’s my friend. He won’t rat us out. But we’ve gotta get working on that article. Cromwell is getting nervous about how long it’s been taking us.
Mac: So, interview me.
I can just see him smiling and maybe even laughing at his phone. The few times he’s tried, it hasn’t gone well. We either end up fighting or naked. Not that I’m complaining about the naked part, but the fighting I could do without.
It’s a roller coaster doing this with Danny.
I’m not sure why. Maybe I’m still holding on to the anger I have over his article accusing me of having ‘no attack.’ Or maybe it’s because it’s forbidden and that’s been fun.
Will it stop being fun after he finishes the article, and people won’t necessarily care if we’re dating?
I lie back and think about that. What he doesn’t know is that relationships don’t always go the best for me because I’m not only obsessed with soccer but I’m picky.
I’m not looking for anything long-term or permanent.
It’s just easier to cut and run from them.
Blame them for not understanding my commitment to soccer or just getting too busy to pay them any attention. It’s worked so many times before.
Would I do that to Danny?
I look up at the ceiling and think about it, but my thoughts are interrupted by the knocking on my front door. Did he come to see me; I wonder? As I make my way over to the front door, I straighten my T-shirt and pull at my shorts a bit before opening the door.
It’s Cassie. My wide smile fades.
“Who were you expecting? That smile was way too big to be thinking that this would just be a friend coming by,” she teases me, walking into my apartment.
“Sorry. How are you?” I don’t bother acknowledging her question. “How was your night last night?”
I walk over to the couch to sit in the corner that’s facing her.
Grabbing a pillow, I place it on my lap and watch her, waiting for her to tell me about her night.
Hoping that not going out didn’t cause anyone to be suspicious.
I want to ask her if anyone missed me, but it’s not like me to wonder, and I don’t want her to ask too many questions.
“I’m good. It was a fun night out. You really should have come.
Everyone was in such a good mood after the win, and we would have loved to see you.
You know, since you scored a hat trick and all.
” She sits on the opposite side of the couch as me.
“I thought maybe you would have had a date or something.”
I shake my head. “No, I just wanted some space. My mental battery was drained. Felt good to hit the rebounder and get some rest.”
She nods and then sighs. “So, John was there last night. The guy from the charity night. He came to see you. Said he saw there was a game and that we won. He even knew you scored big and figured you would be there celebrating.”
I swallow and wait for her to say more. I want to consider my next words carefully; I don’t want to tip her off. My phone dings and I look over at it on the island. I want to go get it because I know it’s Danny.
“John said he texted you a few times, but you haven’t answered.”
I nod. He has. He sent a couple of requests to go get dinner. “One of the times we were in Utah, so I couldn’t go to dinner with him.”
“You could have responded,” Cassie says with a shrug.
“I know I could have.”
“I thought you liked him. Mac, what’s going on?
I know there’s something and it’s bigger than the team.
It’s even bigger than Danny interviewing you and being all nosey.
In fact, his photographer was there last night, hanging out with August. August was bitching that it wasn’t done yet.
But you’ve spent time with Danny, so why isn’t it getting done? Are you two getting sweaty?”
I think the best course of action right now would be denial, but I don’t want to lie to her.
I’ve known Cassie for over four years. She was my first friend on the soccer team at Portland U, and we’ve been through so much together.
The deaths of her parents. My disdain for mine. Through all of it, always together.
“I…” And the next words die on my tongue.
“Come on, Mac, what’s going on?” Her eyes plead with me to open up to her. “You’ve never kept secrets from me. I’m sure this one is a doozy, so you’ve gotta spill it. I can help, if it’s bad.”
“It’s not really bad, per se,” I tell her.
“Okay, so is it a relationship?”
I don’t know how to answer, because no, it’s not a relationship. But it’s something. We’re meeting up and having great sex. Again, and again. And it’s not one-sided—I know that much. I don’t want to give it up. I’ve worked so hard to keep it a secret, and I don’t want to just let it out.
“It’s not a relationship. It’s just adjusting to being here.
In Tampa. It’s a lot different than when we played in Portland.
But that’s it. There is no relationship, and there’s nothing you need to know.
I’m not calling John, because he wants a relationship, and I do not.
” I throw my hands up in exasperation. “I don’t date, you know that. ”
She sighs. “Okay, if you say it’s nothing, then it’s nothing. But for what it’s worth, I think you should call John. At least you might get some ass, and then you wouldn’t have to worry about being so high-strung all the time.”
“I have BOB for that,” I say with a giggle, mentioning my favorite nightstand toy.
“Sometimes the real thing is better,” she tells me.
“How would you know? I haven’t seen anyone around in a while.”
“No, there hasn’t been. But that doesn’t mean if I was given the chance I would just ignore someone like John. Free meal and probably some hot sex. Might be worth it, even if you are the bitch who blows him off.”
I laugh. “Yeah, well, maybe. Do you wanna go for a run in a bit? I have to eat something. Haven’t done that yet this morning, but then we could run a bit.”
“Sounds like fun. Easy run down by the beach?”
“Absolutely,” I tell her.
It’s been our thing lately. We love going for runs on the beach. It’s a nice break from the greenery we were used to in Portland, and it’s a hell of a lot warmer. Sometimes I’ll even wade into the water if I’m really sweaty. It’s a great way to cool down after some hard work.
“See you in about an hour,” Cassie says before getting up. “But you know if you wanna talk about what’s weighing on your mind or whatever, I’m here for you. Always have been, always will be. No matter what it is.”
I nod, hating myself a little bit more for not being able to say anything to her. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
Cassie leaves and I give it a beat or two before walking over to my phone to see what Danny said.
Danny: I think I’m sitting with you on the plane when you fly out so that we can get this done. August’s orders.
Without giving it a second thought, I dial his number. I mean, he did say to call him later if I wanted to.
“Well, this is unexpected,” he says in a way of greeting.
“You said I could call,” I remind him.
“Yeah, I know. I just figured you would wait a little longer. Or did you need me that bad?”
“Oh, wow, your ego is just ridiculous,” I say with a laugh. “I just wanted to call and let you know that we haven’t been caught by Cassie, but she’s onto us.”
He sighs. “I guess we’re not as good at this as we thought, huh?”
“No, I guess not,” I reply. “What does it mean for us if we’re caught? How much trouble will you be in?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure what will happen to you or me, but I’m guessing there’s a chance I will be fired. I’m not sure what Cromwell would do to you. I can just take the blame for it. Tell him I seduced you or something. Or make it off like it was a one-time thing.”
“The one-time thing may be our best bet when this gets out,” I tell him.
“Why are you saying when this gets out?”
“Because if Nick knows and if Cassie is onto us, we’re going to get found out sooner rather than later. We’re not being as careful as we think we are.” I look at the clock. “I should go. I have to get ready for a run with Cassie in a bit, and I need some food beforehand.”
“I’m at the diner,” he tells me.
I smile. “Enjoy. Eat an egg white omelet for me or something.”
Danny laughs. “Yeah, not happening. I just put away some waffles with fruit on them. No syrup, though, so that makes it healthy.”
I laugh along with him. “Sure, it does, baby.”
“I like it when you call me baby. I like being able to call you baby too. I don’t want this to mean that I can’t anymore.”
“Yeah, me too,” I say to him.
“Go get ready for your run. And if you get bored at all, give me a call.”
“I will.”
But I don’t. I don’t call him at all that weekend.
We exchange a few text messages, but I keep my distance, hoping it keeps anyone from figuring out that something is going on between us.
Besides, he said he would interview me on the plane.
We can spend time together then, and hopefully it will put any rumors or suspicions to rest that something is happening between us.