Page 274 of Well Played

“What’s up?” He didn’t mean to be short with him, but he wanted to rip off the bandaid.

“Am I interrupting something?” The innuendo was clear. “Well, I’m glad you’re not wallowing down there.”

“Patrick.” Grant ground out.

“Fine, fine. I got the information on your injury, and it’s not looking good.”

“It’s just a finger. Hardly an issue.”

“I wanted to let you know about other opportunities that have recently presented themselves for next season,” Patrick kept going. “A lot of people are worried about your health if injuries keep happening.”

“The two injuries are unrelated, Patrick. It’s not even the same type of injury. What do you mean, people are worried? What people?” Grant paced Cassie’s living room as he struggled to understand what Patrick was saying.

“It’s two injuries close enough together. Bardley has offered you a different kind of position if you choose to stay on there.” Patrick was beating around the bush and Grant was getting more angry as he did.

“What position?” Grant stopped pacing and stared out the window at the parking lot below.

“Defensive coach.”

Grant was floored. He didn’t know how to take it. This wasn’t the plan. He wanted to play, still had some good years left and could make it work. The other part of him thought of the pain of playing with a broken anything and of Cassie’s worry when he was hurt this time.

“It’s a good thing. I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but it is. This is a testament to how well you still play and strategize, but it also keeps you from getting injured as frequently.” Patrick had nothing in it right now as it meant Grant would no longer be a client if he took it. “Look, I can keep pushing with DC oranother team, but I don’t know that even if I got you on next season somewhere that it would last beyond that.”

He turned and looked at the bedroom door where Cassie was waiting, he hoped, for him to return. “Do I need to answer you right now?” He wanted to talk to Cassie about it before making a decision. They’d put an end date on their relationship, and he wasn’t sure she’d want to continue.

“No. I need an answer soon, though. Say three days because they’re going to pushback so they have time to find someone before next season.”

“They aren’t going to shop in the off season?” That’s what a lot of teams would do.

“No. They want to make sure they pick someone who gels with the team and getting them out while the team is playing to meet them will be the determining factor. You’ve already done that and you’re their first choice.”

“I’ll let you know, then.”

Grant ended the call and started toward the bedroom. Sniffles greeted him and he immediately climbed into bed, pulling her to him.

“What’s wrong, baby?” He hoped he knew the answer, but needed to ask.

Cassie shook her head. “It’s silly. I’ll be fine.” She tried to pull out of his arms.

“Are you going to ask how the call went?” He needed to know what she was thinking.

“No. That’s your business, and I don’t want to overstep.”

Grant blinked a few times and stared at her. Since when was she not interested? “Really, Cassie?”

She sighed and pulled away again, and he let her. “I think this was a bad idea.”

“This what?”

“Us. I don’t know that we should have started this thing between us, Grant. I don’t know how I’m going to just be okay when you leave.”

His heart sang. She didn’t want this to end. “Cassie, please sit down and talk to me for a minute?”

“No. I think it’s best we just go for a clean break. Not make it take too long.” She started opening drawers and getting clothes out.

Grant went to her and spun her to face him. “Ask me about the call.” He didn’t know why he was pushing her that way, other than he wanted her to want to know.

Her shoulders fell as she turned watery eyes on him. “What happened on the call?”

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