Page 44 of Rookie Move

“We’re all adults, Desmond. Sure, it’s not ideal, but it happened. We happened.”

“Do you know that Sophia was Finn’s PT assistant? When their relationship came out, she got fired from her job. And she didn’t even directly work for the team,” he said.

“That’s terrible, but it’s not the same. I’m Bugsy’s daughter and they still hired me.”

“Aren’t you concerned about how they might treat you, knowing that you’re dating a player, on top of your dad being the team coach?”

The rock in the pit of her stomach grew.

“This happened so fast, and you just got out of school and I know this job is important to you.”

“And you just got out of a long-term relationship,” she said.

“What?”

“You didn’t want to add that to your list?” she asked, her anger starting to grow.

“This was never about Melanie, even if your dad did bring that up.”

“He what?” she screeched. “I can’t believe he did that. He acted like he was coming around to this.”

“Rylie, I care about you so much, but I think maybe we should take a pause. I don’t want you to regret what is happening between us. You just started your job. I don’t want to put that at risk.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You’re really going to do this? Take a pause? Because of what my father said and whatcouldhappen with my job?”

“I want to do the right thing. I care about you.”

“Well, you have a damn funny way of showing it,” she said, trying not to let her emotions get the better of her when all she wanted to do was scream at him. At her father. At the whole situation. She’d never expected it to come to this.

But she hadn’t thought it through either. She hated that a part of her could see some logic in what he was saying, even if her heart was breaking in the process.

“Rylie, please,” he said, reaching for her hand, but she shifted out of his grasp.

“No. We said no more games and this was supposed to mean something. I know there are going to be issues with everyone about us dating, but I want this. I’m in love with you.”

“I care about you so much, Rylie,” he started.

Care.

She slid off her barstool and pushed past him, yanking the front door open.

“I’m done having this conversation with you. It’s going nowhere and I’m tired. Please leave, Desmond.”

He took in an audible sigh. “Rylie.”

“I can’t anymore. Please,” she said, holding the door open and sucking back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. “This is for the best, right?”

“This isn’t over,” he said, taking her hand and squeezing when she tried to pull it free.

He walked out the door and she refused to look at him. She shut the door and braced herself against it.

What the hell had just happened? She knew it wasn’t going to be an easy conversation and there were many variables she couldn’t plan for, but ending it hadn’t crossed her mind. Not once.

And he’d done it so easily. What the fuck had her father said to him? That was something she wouldn’t let go. He had no right to get in between her and Desmond. No. Damn. Right.

She dropped her head to her hands and let the tears fall. She wanted to climb into bed with a bottle of wine and any chocolate she could find.

Instead, there was another knock on her door.

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