Page 24 of Hat Trick Heart

And then she hugs me into her side and guides me out to the car, her arm tight around me when we get to the door and I start to slump to the ground, the sobs wracking me so hard that I can’t even hear her anymore.

But I know that no matter what this pain isn’t going anywhere soon. It hurts to breathe and my head is killing me. And there’s nobody to blame but myself. I knew better.

You can’t trust any jock. I know that. Emile’s no better than all the others. Once he got what he wanted, he was ready to leave me behind.

10

EMILE

“Dammit!” I groan when I see her running away around the corner.

“What the hell is your problem now?” Coach grumbles.

“She was in here. She heard what you said.”

“So?”

“I bought a ring. I’m asking her to marry me. She’s the one. The woman that I’ve been waiting for all this time. And now she just heard you telling me to fuck her and forget her and I didn’t say a damn thing.”

He winces. “I didn’t know you were that serious about the girl. You just met her.”

“I know. But I also knew as soon as I saw her that she was the one that I was going to spend the rest of my life with. I’d have screamed it from the rafters if I could’ve. She’s it for me. And now she thinks that…” I can’t even finish the thought, running my clenched fingers through my hair.

“Just explain it to her. I’m sure she trusts you.”

“She got picked on when she was in high school by jocks. She doesn’t trust them. I guarantee she’s gonna think the worst.”

“Then let her go.”

I want to punch him in the mouth but I clench my fists and push that anger down. “I can’t do that. I think I said she’s the one.”

He shrugs. “So figure out how to make it up to her. What’s in all those damn rom-coms? A big gesture?”

I grasp my hair and groan. “I don’t know what to do though.”

He pushes up. “I don’t know. But you’re shit to me right now. So go home and tomorrow you’re gonna need to go see the therapist. In the meantime, if you want the girl, figure out how to get her. You’re an athlete. Surely you can figure out how to win one girl over. It’s not like there’s a whole team you have to beat.”

I sigh and push out of the chair and then out of the office. “I guess I’ll have to figure this out myself.”

I walk out the door and see one of the third-stringers, Casey. “Whoa, man. That chick that was in there looking for you came out really pissed. What did you do to her?”

“I didn’t do anything to her. She misunderstood something Coach said.”

“Well, she was crying. Her friend took her home and was threatening to kick your ass. I think I’d be scared of her if I was you.”

“Were you talking to her?” I ask.

“Yeah.” He grins. “I like the crazy ones! I got her number and I’m gonna call her.”

“You’ve got her number? Can I get it?”

He glares at me. “Hey man! Just cause your girl is pissed at you doesn’t mean that you can have mine.”

“I don’t want your girl. She must be the one that’s friends with Sassy. I want to ask her some questions about her. To try and fix this shit if I can’t get her to answer me. That’s gonna be my last resort. I have to try and talk to her first.”

He nods and hands me the piece of paper that she jotted her number down on and then grunts when I put it in my phone and give it back to him.

“I’d make sure that’s a last resort. She really was pissed. I think she might actually hurt you, man. We’re big guys but she scared me.” He grins again. “I like them like that. Keeps things exciting!”

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