Page 40 of Tumbling the Cornerback

The hummingbird in my chest threatened to explode. "I... I'm not... How do you know..."

"He names you. Later," Cass said quietly. "He claims he had to take legal action to keep you from outing him."

"That's bullshit." I leaped to my feet. "He threatened to sue me when he ghosted me for that fucking model and I called him to ask what the hell was going on!" My eyes burned hot and wet. Unable to stay still, I paced the length of Dani's office, scrubbing my hands on my arms, chaffing them like I was cold. I was burning, though. Rage and embarrassment and fear swirled around hot enough to catch light if I gave it enough air. "I have proof. My lawyer can send it. I... I..."

"Needless to say, we're cutting ties with him," Liesel said quietly. "It's going to be a huge blow to the organization, but?—"

"Oh god," I groaned, stopping in my tracks. "No, no, no. It's okay. I'll make sure I'm not involved. I'll..." I swallowed hard. The words lodged in my throat like an ice cube, sharp and cold at the same time. "I'll step down."

Liesel pressed her lips into a tight, tired smile. "Even if I wanted you to, the fact remains—Jameson Creel is not someone Queering Sports wants to be associated with. Before, when he'd pop off about having a separate league, separate events, it was so easy to think it was a misquote. We did a deep dive on his media past, and he apologized, started actually doing better." She sniffed. I wanted to go to her and offer a hug, but I was still frozen in shock, unable to feel my fingers or toes. The whole room had that wavy, uneven quality of being on a boat. Things looked stable, but your body knew you were moving, that at any moment you could get knocked on your ass.

"You were named by him as his boyfriend," Dani said wearily. "I've already fielded calls from management about this. Given the nature of his statements, they feel it is best if you are on leave."

The numbness spread to my lips. "Fired. We don't get leave in cheer. I'm fired."

Dani's pained gaze met my own. "I'm fighting this. His statements are inflammatory. And you said you have the documentation?"

Cass piped up, "I know he does. I was aware of the goings on after the fact."

Annoyed at being out of the loop, Dani scowled, but sent Cass a sharp nod. "Help him get it together. You know what we'll need. I'll keep talking to management."

Liesel stood with Cass. "Lucas, I don't want you to leave the organization. You've been amazing, helping us with everything, organizing fundraisers and events for the kids. But I understand if you want to stop. We didn't do enough due diligence with Creel, and now..." She made a choked-off, helpless sound, throwing up her hands. "I'd hate it, but I'd get it."

I shook my head, finally, finding the will to move, to push through the frozen feeling creeping over me. "No, Liesel! If y'all will still have me, I want to help. Queering Sports is important to me, and so are all of y'all working there, and the kids and..." I sighed, closing my eyes. "Just give me a few days, okay? Everything for August is in motion. Cooper's pulling in some good numbers with his fan base, and it's spreading."

A little less glum, she nodded. "Half of the Copperheads have reached out, asking if we can host some events in Tulsa next year!"

My smile felt too small, too sad, but I pushed it. "That's amazing! See, it'll be awesome!"

Dani shifted uncomfortably, finally getting to her feet. "I'll talk with the rest of the squad about what's going on. It's best if you don't," she added apologetically. "Until things are set to rights, keeping the line clear between the squad and the individual is necessary."

"Of course," I muttered. "Sure."

Cass patted my arm. "Come on, hon. I'll walk you out."

I'd parked on the street, so it wasn't a long walk down from Dani's office. The stadium loomed not far away, and I felt a sharp pang, leaving me breathless. Cass followed my gaze and sighed, slipping her arm around my shoulders. "Hon..."

"This is it," I gasped, the urge to cry nearly overwhelming. It burned in my sinuses, behind my eyes. My throat ached. "I'm done. I'm done for good. No team will want me now. I'm... fuck!" Pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes, I jerked away from her. "I hate Jameson Creel! I hope he gets infected anal hairs!"

Cass's squawk of laughter was abrupt, cut off with a fake cough. "Just make sure you don't repeat that to any reporters. Especially Byrne."

"Fuck Byrne," I growled. "This is all him, isn't it? I didn't check the byline. He's the one..."

She nodded glumly. "Trying to make his name. I've seen it a dozen times in my career, and it's always a PR nightmare."

Another nod. "I need to go. I have to work this evening. I... I just need to go." The idea of going into the studio made me sick. I wanted to curl up in my bed and cry and then break something. A lot of somethings. Preferably with Jameson's picture on all of them.

"Maybe call in," she suggested as I got into the car. "Take a day or two for yourself. Because that's just about how long you have before you need to start making public statements, hon."

With a sharp, angry nod, I locked the car door and turned the key in the ignition. Cass watched me drive away, but I pointedly didn't look back. If I did, I'd start crying.

CHAPTER 14

COOPER

I wasn't going to be one of those boyfriends who got all weird about my man texting me. Or not texting, as it were. We were both busy with demanding careers, and sometimes there just wasn't a spare moment to spend sending goofy texts.

Or, apparently, answering them.

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