Page 20 of Worth the Risk

My back stiffens as I feel the innate need to jam my stiletto heel into his condescending forehead, and I count backward slowly from five to calm myself before I respond.

“Oh, I didn’t get that impression at all. He was composed and very respectful. I think he’ll be great for social media campaigns,” I tell him pointedly. He looks taken aback by my vehemence, and even I’m a little surprised at how I defended Luca. Obviously, I don’t know him well at all. Maybe I should have done research on the players before meeting them. Then I’d have known to steer clear of Luke/Luca.

Even I know that’s a lie. I was screwed the moment I set eyes on him.

“You’re new here, so I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. But trust me. That boy is going nowhere. Don’t let him drag you down with him,” the coach says as he sets a hand on my bare shoulder, his thumb briefly stroking the skin. I recoil, suddenly upset with myself for wearing a sleeveless dress to work today. And now I know my initial gut feeling on Coach Woodward was correct. He’s a skeevy snake, and I need to steer clear of him at all costs.

After the coach leaves, I sit at my desk. Suddenly incredibly exhausted and emotional. I wish I had friends to talk to right now. Making friends has never been easy for me, and it’s not like I can talk to Uncle Bennett about this. I’m tempted to call my aunt, but I don’t even know what country she’s in, let alone the time zone. Aunt Caroline and I have never been close, and I don’t know how she’d handle me talking about her next door neighbor, his skeevy boss, and how out-of-sorts I’m feeling.

My phone buzzes with a text, and I know immediately who it’s from. I hadn’t even programmed his name in yet.

Unknown: I wish things were different.

Tears fill my eyes as I respond.

Me: Me too.

The bubbles appear and disappear countless times before disappearing altogether. I don’t know what Luca intended to say, and yet I completely understand at the same time. There’s nothing either of us can say to make this any better. We’re screwed.

By the time I manage to leave the arena at well past dinnertime, I’m beyond exhausted. I’m so physically and mentally drained. The meeting with my interns was as bad as I thought it would be. Lindsay and Jessica looked down their noses at me, blatantly asked what the rules were for dating players, and asked for a tour of the locker room. When I explained that their job duties would be more administrative, and on the backside of social media, they asked if they would still get college credit if they didn’t show up much.

Old Hannah would have been nice. Tried to appease the mean girls. Kept them happy to ensure I didn’t ruffle any feathers this early on at my new job. But this Hannah, the one who wanted Luca way too badly, is just pissed off now.

“No, I’ll make sure you don’t get any credit at all, ladies,” I snap.

“Woah, you don’t have to be a bitch about it,” Lindsay says standoffishly.

“Yeah,” Jessica adds. “Uber bitchy.”

“And?” I ask. They both stare at me in confusion. “You’re going to have to do better than that, girls. I don’t care if you think I’m a bitch. I’m your boss. This is a job. And if you don’t do the job you’re assigned, I’ll make sure you don’t get college credit. End of story. You’re expected to be here for twenty hours a week. I will send you your schedules a week in advance. No, your schedules are not open for debate. You work around my schedule, and the team’s schedule, so don’t even suggest that I change something. Understood?”

“It’s giving uber bitch vibes,” Jessica mutters.

“That’s boss bitch to you, sweetie. You’re dismissed,” I sneer. I watch as both girls stand and stalk out of my office before Lindsay slams the door. If I hadn’t seen her age on her application, I’d have thought she was a teenager with that little tantrum.

I might be a bitch, or a frigid bitch as many have pointed out, but I’m the boss. And I control their schedules. Looks like Jessica and Lindsay are going to be on admin duty for the foreseeable future, and definitely at opposite times of the team.

They’re just the type of women I’d expect to see with Luca. And now that I know he works here, I’ll do my best to keep them away from him. I may not be able to have Luca, but I’ll be damned if either of them get a piece of him.

Luca

There have been times in my life where I’ve felt like the universe has it out for me. But none more than right now. Right fucking now, I’m furious.

She works for the team. The team that I play for. She’s gonna travel with us. I’ll see her everywhere. And I can’t be with her. Can’t talk to her. Touch her. Feel her. She can’t be mine. I know this, but my heart is screaming at me to figure out a fucking way.

Our team doesn’t have a no-fraternization policy, but it’s definitely inferred. No relationships with players and team employees. That’s not to say some players haven’t had quick fucks here or there along the way, but there haven’t been any relationships. And I don’t want Hannah for a quick fuck. I want her to be mine in every way.

I was supposed to have a session with a trainer, but I just leave. I can’t be here right now. I’m so fucking pissed. I left her apartment this morning riding a high. Already hit the market for ingredients to make her dinner. A candlelight dinner, to cross another item off her bucket list. Got her flowers, too. First fucking time in my life I’ve bought a woman flowers, other than my mom or sisters.

When I get into my car, I grip the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turn white.

“Fuck!” I roar as I hit the wheel hard.

I wrack my brain, trying to come up with any way I can make this work. Keep my job, keep the owners happy, and keep Hannah. Keep my Pixie. I don’t fucking know how to do this without screwing something up.

I pick up my phone, ready to call my sister and ask for advice. Arianna probably won’t have anything good to offer, but she’s a great sounding board for me. Somehow I end up clicking on Hannah’s name and firing off a text with the first thing that comes to mind.

Me: I wish things were different.

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