Page 113 of The Thing About My Rival

“Absolutely,” Leo says. “I mean, of course, it would take a very fortunate confluence of events today for us to get to the playoffs. But to be in with any chance at all is more than we imagined so soon in our tenure. We will of course be very happy to write you a most glowing reference any time you need it.”

Oh good, he’s launched into dispassionate investor-bot robo-speech.

“Your contribution has been phenomenal,” Miller says. “The positivity and morale you foster is a remarkable thing. I’ve seen the way you handle the squad, the way you talk to them. And the experts you brought in to help have been top-notch. We can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done.”

I fold my arms across my trembling chest, hook my icy fingers under my armpits to warm them, and hold his gaze. I’m not going to make this easy for them. If they’re firing me, they’re going to have to look me right in the eye while they do it.

“I can think of one way you could thank me. You could keep me on. It doesn’t have to be as coach.” If the desperation in my voice is obvious to me, I dread to think how humiliatingly obvious it must be to them.

“We can talk more about it later, if you’d like.” Leolooks at his watch and stands up. “We need to get to the airport, Miller.”

“Right, yes.” Miller grabs the good excuse to escape with both hands and strides toward the door.

“I’m so sorry, Drew.” Leo rounds the desk and pats me on the upper arm. “But for now, you should go down and get on the bus.”

“Oh, and why did you come up here?” Miller asks. “Did you need us for something?”

“No. I was looking for my—” The rest of my words are trapped below a swelling rock in my throat, and I have to stop talking or run the risk of unprofessionally blubbering in front of fifty percent of my bosses.

Closing my eyes, I swallow hard. “Doesn’t matter. You go. I’ll see you there.”

As we stand in silence, it’s all I can do to keep from collapsing in a heap on the floor and letting the floodgates open.

“Please know,” Leo moves toward the door and rests his hand on the handle, “you will always be welcome here whenever you like. And you can come to any game. Just call Amelia and she’ll get you a pass.”

And there it is. I’m officially an outsider at the Commoners for the first time in my life.

“I’ve never had to call anyone before.” The words virtually jerk out of me. “Never needed a pass before.”

“Okay, right,” Leo says, full of discomfort.

I couldn’t give a shit if he feels as awkward as he sounds. I’m not going to make any effort to make him feel better.

He pulls open the door to reveal Hugo standing right outside.

It’s like my heart stops as I gaze at his frozen form. Themost expressive face I’ve ever known suddenly has absolutely no expression at all. He just looks pale. With a hint of shock behind his eyes. And a visibly fast thump of his heart under his shirt.

Why didn’t he tell me?

How long has he known?

And how long has he been standing there? Exactly like he did outside our office door when he heard Ramon getting in my face and stepped in to stand up for me.

He must have heard what Leo was just saying.

But there was no standing up for me this time. Not now it suits him not to.

I press my hands to my chest in an effort to contain the riot of emotions swirling inside it, push past him, and run down the stairs.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

HUGO

I fling open the door to our office and Wilcox spins around to stare at me.

The pain in her face makes my heart crumple like a deflated football.

“How long had you been standing there?” The hurt in her voice is just as obvious.

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