Chapter 15
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
Alie
Seraphina and I are going into the office today with my dad.
Sera keeps him busy the whole ride there.
He explains football and the differences between the offense and the defense, even though she already knows them—it’s her favorite story from her Poppy.
She can hear the same story over and over again, and she never gets tired of it, especially if it has to do with football, and it’s even more exciting if it’s her Poppy telling a story.
And me? I’m lost in thought, thinking about how I’m going to avoid Liam Pitz. I have a feeling he’s going to be at the facility today. Just knowing he’s there … well, I’m sure it’s gonna be hard for me to concentrate. And I really need to get these reports done.
I knew when we took the trade for him that this could be a challenge, but after seeing him again, I think it’s going to be harder than I expected.
“Okay, peanut, we’re here. Let’s get you to Miss Sandy.” I grab her little Burberry backpack and my matching messenger bag.
“Today, we make cwafts,” she tells us.
“Oh, that sounds fun. What kind of crafts are you going to make?” I ask her.
“Fowers.”
“I love flowers.” I tuck some of the flyaways behind her ear.
“Me too, Mommy. Your favowit?” She looks up at me.
“Hmm … I like a lot of different flowers. What kind of flower are you going to make?”
“Tuwip my favowit.”
“I do love tulips, too.”
“If der’s blue, I make dat. Your favowit color too.”
“Thank you, baby. That’s so sweet. I can’t wait to see it.”
“Lunchey with me?”
I look at my dad and see him watching us with a smile, but there’s also a curious look on his face that I can’t quite read.
“Yes, I will come down and see you on your lunch break as soon as I can. I might not be able to stay the whole time, but I will definitely come and sit with you for a little bit,” I tell her.
“Okay, see fowers too.”
“I can’t wait to see it.”
“Poppy, wan one?” Sera turns to my dad.
“I would love a flower from my favorite girl.” He touches her head.
The car stops, and we exit before the driver can get to the door. Then we walk into the building, her little hand in mine. My dad watches us with a smile on his face.
“She’s the most precious little girl, isn’t she?” he says.
“She sure is.” I smile at him.
“You know, we never asked you any questions when you told us you were pregnant, and although it was a surprise to us, she has been a blessing to this family,” he says, then clears his throat.
I’m not sure what to say to that. Is he fishing for information? “Thank you, Dad. She’s definitely a blessing to me.”
His phone rings, interrupting our conversation, and after he holds the door open for us, we go to the right as he goes to the left, but not before he stops to give my daughter a kiss on the head.
“Have a good day, peanut. I’ll come visit you later today, okay?”
“Bye-bye.”
He blows her a kiss and returns to his call as he heads toward his office.
I take Seraphina into the nursery and get her settled in with Miss Sandy.
“I have to go to work now, sweetie, but I’ll see you later today. Okay?”
“Bye, Mommy!” She waves her little hand goodbye when I leave.
I walk through the main corridor to the other wing, heading to my office, and just as I enter the hallway, I hear the door to the building click open.
I see Liam coming in, wearing gym clothes, with one of our other players, Brody Vaughn.
Liam and I make eye contact, and I turn my head quickly and practically run into the wall.
I look back over my shoulder to see that Liam is still watching me, so I turn and move faster.
How is it possible that he is so fucking hot?
Seriously, he’s just getting better-looking.
It’s not fair that men age like fine wine.
I know I’m in good shape. I work out regularly and eat pretty healthily, but my body has definitely changed since having Seraphina.
I wonder if he still sees me the same or if he can see the differences.
I know I’m being silly. I’m sure he’s barely looked at me, let alone notice differences from when I saw him two years ago.
When I get to my office, I pull my phone out of my bag and set it on my desk, then hang it in the closet next to the bathroom.
This morning, when I woke up, I saw a text message from Aaron, but I haven’t responded to him yet because of the chaos of getting ready this morning. So, I pull up our message thread and read his note again.
Aaron: Alie. What’s going on?
Alie: Aaron. Not much. What’s going on with you?
The way he’s worded this message is odd to me. I’m not sure what exactly he’s asking me, but within minutes, he replies.
Aaron: What’s going on with me? You know what’s going on with me. I’ll be traveling back and forth between Canada and Florida for the foreseeable future because these teams won’t fucking beat each other within the first four games of the series. But that’s not what I’m asking, and you know it.
Alie: No, I actually have no idea what you’re talking about.
Okay, maybe I do, but I don’t want to show my hand if that’s not what he’s asking.
Aaron: When did you guys decide to bring Pitz on board? I know you don’t discuss business with me, but this is different, and you know it.
Alie: Well, there’s nothing that’s different because he’s one of our new players, and that’s it.
Aaron: That’s it?
Alie: Yes, Aaron, that’s it.
Aaron: I don’t like this, Alie. We need to talk about this. Can you call me now?
Alie: No, Aaron, I’m at the office. I can’t talk to you about this right now. I’ll have to talk to you later.
Aaron: Call me tonight if you can.
Alie: I will try.
Aaron: All right, talk soon.
I don’t bother to reply and set my phone down, then power up my computer.
I just need to get lost in some numbers for a while.
We have seven new players we acquired in the draft, and we have one more trade that we need to iron out, so that should keep me distracted from thinking about Liam for at least the next couple of hours. Hopefully.
After I have lunch with Seraphina, my curiosity gets the best of me, and I wander down toward the gym.
I’ve tried my best not to think about him, but it’s really hard, knowing he’s in the building.
I mean, I won’t be mad if I get a glimpse of him.
For all I know, he’s already gone anyway.
Most of the guys come in for a couple of hours, maybe eat, and then they take off.
For my sake, it would be best if he was gone, but also, I do want to see him, even though I don’t want to admit it to myself.
I casually walk by the windows to the gym, as if I’m going to my sister’s office—so me being down in that area doesn’t look suspicious.
I don’t even know why I’m worried about this right now.
It’s not unusual for me to be down here.
I’m just being paranoid. When I look into the windows, as I slowly walk by, I don’t see him, but I do see a couple of the other guys from the team.
They see me, too, and wave, and I wave back, then continue walking to my sister’s office.
When I get there, she’s speaking with one of our trainers and reviewing a few nutrition plans.
“Hey, are you almost done, or are you gonna be a while?” I ask her.
“We’re just wrapping up. Give me a few more minutes. You can stay.” She gestures to her couch. “Take a seat.”
So, I move from the doorway to sit on the small couch and wait as they finish.
“Okay, Kerry, thank you so much. I’ll be back in the training room in about thirty minutes. I have to finish up a couple of things and check in with my sister here.”
“Sounds good.” Kerry waves at me before walking out.
My sister makes her way over to the couch and sits next to me.
“So, little sister, what are you doing down here, in the dungeon?” she asks with a smirk on her face.
“Nothing. I just finished lunch with Sera, and I wanted to come and see what you were up to.” I turn toward her and prop my arm along the back of the couch.
She hums. “That’s why you came down here? To see what I was up to?”
“Yes. Am I not allowed to do that?” I ask, shaking my head. I know she’s on to me.
“Oh, you can. It’s just not typical for you to come down here at this time of day to come chit-chat with me. You usually have your head shoved in your spreadsheets for most of the day, outside of having lunch with Sera.” She laughs.
“That’s not true. I come down here and see you all the time. Come on, Presley.” I give her a pleading look. I don’t want her to make me say it.
“I’m just giving you a hard time. So, you came to see me and talk about what?” She smirks.
“Nothing, jeez. I just came to see what you were up to and how your day was going.”
“Aliette Grant, don’t bullshit a bullshitter. I know why you’re down here.”
I try to act indifferent.
“Alie”—she places her arm on my arm—“if you’re worried about what I think, or Aaron, or whoever else …
don’t. You have to do what’s best for you.
And Sera. Yes, I think the guy is a complete dick for what he did to you, but when I was working with him, I realized he was insanely charming. I get it; I see the appeal.”
“What are you talking about? You, of all people, think he’s Satan's spawn.”
“That’s kind of true. If he was Satan’s spawn, that would make Sera the granddaughter of Satan. What I think of Liam is … not what I was expecting him to be.”
“What do you mean?”
“It pains me to say this, but I can understand why you would want to see him. I wanted to tear into him so bad about why he wanted nothing to do with Seraphina, but I’m honoring your wishes and not bringing it up.
That said, he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would …
” She drifts off, as if cautious about her words.
“What are you getting at?”
“I’m just saying that it’s okay if you want to see him. That’s all.”
“I don’t wanna see him,” I say too quickly.