Page 101 of Playmaker

“Um, just a Coke.”

“Sure?”

“Yeah, I get into less trouble at work if I’m sober.”

Right, he wasn’t drinking alcohol before his job. I asked for some sparkling water, needing my own wits sharp. Once we had our drinks, I led the way over to a table in the back where the team usually met after games. The place was empty, but I didn’t want to be overheard.

Darcy sat on a chair and looked around. It was a big bar, two stories, with golden woodwork and brass trim. At his hour, there was little noise other than music playing in the background. Most of the staff were either busy behind the large bar or setting up tables on the second floor.

“Never been here before?”

He shook his head. “I’ve heard about it. It’s nice.”

A silence fell. The clock was ticking, and I didn’t ask Darcy to meet me to talk about the bar. Time to lay it on the line. “Callie tells you everything, right?”

He nodded.

“After the wedding, she told me we’d met the terms of our agreement. But since she was developing feelings, she wanted to stop seeing me.”

He nodded slowly. “She’s hurting. She doesn’t let many people get close. You know about what it was like for her, growing up?”

“She grew up in foster care.”

Darcy nodded. “That’s where we met, when she was about ten. That’s when they gave up on her mother. No one sticks around for her. Except me. So, I’m sorry if you miss her, but I’m not going to help you see her again.”

“I’m going to stick around too.”

Darcy raised his brows.

“I don’t date. I have what I thought were ironclad reasons, so it took me a little time to figure this out after Callie cut me off. But she’s not the only one with feelings, and I didn’t welcome them either.”

“So why are we here?”

“Because being without her hurts. I’m not sleeping well and I’m losing focus. Every time my phone buzzes, I hope it’s her. I want to know how that damned golf tournament went and if I helped or not. I want to see that little crease she gets between her eyebrows when she’s thinking and rub it away with my finger. I want to take her apart in my bed and see her, without her guard up, looking happy and relaxed. I want to hear her growl when I ask her something before she’s had coffee. I want…I want a lot, and I want it all with her.”

Darcy’s jaw had dropped while I spoke, and now he closed his mouth and swallowed. “Really?”

“Really. If I had to choose between her and the Cup…well, I only get to keep the Cup for a day. I want her for all the days.”

A smile crossed Darcy’s face. Finally, a glimmer of hope and I could breathe easier. These were things Callie should hear first, but she wasn’t listening.

“Wow. That’s…incredible.” He stared at me, spinning the glass on the table. “What do you want me to do?”

“I wondered…” Darcy raised an eyebrow. “Could you take her someplace? Someplace public, so she’s not threatened, but where I have a chance to meet you so I can make my case.”

He took a swallow of his drink, then ran his finger up and down the side of the glass. “Without telling her in advance.”

“She won’t come otherwise.”

Darcy’s hands were now on his lap. He stared at the table. I wanted to push, convince him he should do this. But he had to decide this was worth doing on his own. If he said no, I would find some other way. Maybe the office after all?

“I think I can do that. But I need time to consider everything first. If this goes sideways, I’m risking the most important relationship in my life.”

“You can blame it all on me if it goes wrong. You have my number. If you decide you will, just let me know when and where. Preferably when I’m not playing.” Preseason games were coming up, and as captain, it would look bad if I skipped a game. That I was even considering it told how twisted up I was.

Darcy nodded. “I think— I think I can do it.” He met my gaze. “But only because I believe this is good for her.”

“I’m glad she has you, someone to look after her. To be on her side. I want to be that too.”

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