Page 293 of Vegas Heat

“Sorry,” I mutter. I turn and glance at him, and I lower my voice so only he can hear. “I’m telling Troy and Mike after the meeting that I’m out.”

His eyes widen. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“You can’t do that.” His voice holds an air of finality.

I shrug. “Well, I am. I’m putting myself first for once.”

“Selfish prick,” he mutters, and I know he’s joking. “Hey.” I glance over at him. “We’ll be fucked without you, but good for you, man. Get your girl.”

I press my lips together. “I hope it’s not too late.”

The meeting starts. Troy speaks, and Mike speaks, and I’m guessing I was supposed to speak but I wasn’t asked to. All I can do is think about how this is probably the last team meeting I’ll ever sit in.

“It’s all about the fundamentals, boys,” Troy says as he ends what’s supposed to be an inspirational speech. “Hitting, throwing, catching. We have something to prove here, and it all starts tomorrow. I want to see hustle. I want to see excitement. I want to see you bleed Heat red and blue. Let’s fucking go!”

AJ starts anLFGchant, and soon all the players in the room are standing and pumping their fists in the air as we get ready to fucking go.

I do my best to blend in, but my heart’s not in it. Not when I know I won’t be on that field tomorrow.

Not when I know what’s coming up next.

The team is dismissed, and most of the guys head out to go home. It’s the last day of semi-peace before the season begins and life gets hectic for a while—for them, anyway. I guess not so much for me.

I wait until the room is mostly cleared out then make my way toward the front of the room, where Mike and Troy are still talking. I wait patiently until Mike looks over at me.

“Can I talk to you both?” I ask.

“I have things to do,” Troy says flippantly.

“And I have a meeting to get to,” Mike adds.

“It’ll only take a minute,” I beg.

Mike glances behind me. A few guys are still hanging around, and he nods meaningfully toward them. “Let’s head up to my office,” he suggests, and Troy begrudgingly follows.

We’re quiet in the elevator ride up to the front offices from the conference room where we just held our team meeting. I suppose I could just get it out here in the elevator, and I open my mouth when the car skids to a stop to let someone on.

I close my mouth again. I’ll just wait until we’re in Mike’s office.

We get up there, and my heart starts beating faster.

I’m really doing this.

I’m really giving up the dream I’ve had my entire life so I can pursue a dream twelve years younger than me.

Mike walks around his desk and takes a seat in the executive chair. Troy sits in a chair facing him. I remain standing. I grip the back of the chair beside Troy, the one I should be sitting in, but I can’t sit right now. I’m too nervous.

“What’s going on, Cooper?” Mike asks.

I draw in a shaky breath.

I wish I would’ve practiced this. I wish I knew how to begin.

I don’t, and that’s why I blurt my first words. “I’ve decided to walk away.”

Troy sits back in his chair like I’ve issued a physical blow while Mike’s jaw slackens. Neither man says a word. It’s so quiet in here I could hear a pin drop.

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