Page 6 of Sneak Attack

No. I’d do nothing either way.

Because Eden left when I needed her most, and the mere reminder still hurt so damn much.

* * *

It was hours later, after I’d gotten ready for work, after I’d forced myself not to climb in my truck, drive all the way through town to Marley’s house to bang on her door. It was after I’d shown up for practice, put in the bare minimum of work because preseason started soon, and this was our last easy week. It was after I’d left the locker room, not bothering to talk to any of my teammates, something Inever didand had already received a half dozen text messages about, and it was after I’d returned home, forced myself to go to my own house instead of my parents’ where I could see her.

Selma had thrown me off my game with a simple, assuming question, which only left me with more of my own I hadn’t been able to shake.

What made her think I already saw Eden?

How did she know she was back in town?

And what difference did it make? She wasn’t here for me. Hell, if Eden was back and was staying at Marley’s request, I doubted she’d ever show her face in town. That would take a strength Eden had never possessed and people could change a lot in seven years, God knew I had, but that meant Eden would have had to grow a whole new personality. I doubted that was possible.

Hell, I wasn’t even sure I wanted her to. I’d liked the one she had until it bit me in the ass.

No, I needed to forget she was here. I had a new season coming up, Jasper was starting school soon, and over the last couple of months, Selma’s attention toward me was growing to uncomfortable levels.

I had enough female drama in my life, hovering at a breaking point, I certainly didn’t need to add more to it.

That was all Eden would give me. Drama. Pain. A dash of hope before she tore it away.

I did not need to lose a whole damn day thinking of two women who at most made me feel the need to have a stockpile of antacids in my truck and my gym locker at the age of twenty-six years old.

“Shit,” I muttered and closed my laptop where I’d been paying bills. I needed to run through plays, start watching films for our upcoming game. It might have just been preseason, and we were fortunate to be starting the season with a healthy, veteran lineup, but we’d be going against teams with new coaches and fresh blood. Fresh fire fueling their veins. Every game counted. Every play counted. From the first snap of the ball in our first preseason game to the very last snap, hopefully at the end of the Super Bowl in February. Every single second I was on that field calling a play or on the sidelines cheering on my defense counted to me.

Which was why I shouldn’t have been thinking of driving to Marley’s. Or to my parents.

And even if I did. What would I do then? Scream at her?

What good would that do?

She made her choice the day she didn’t show up for Hilary’s funeral, leaving me to deal with the fallout of our decisions and betrayal alone.

Sheleftme.

Seven years ago, Eden left town without looking back, leaving me alone to deal with the fallout of our teenage decisions, and yet I could still see her smile, feel the warmth of her touch and the rapid beat of my heart when I sensed her presence.

No…I needed to stay away.

I couldn’t be around Eden until I figured out how to protect my heart all over again.

CHAPTER3

EDEN

It had taken me a while to decide to stay yesterday.

I planted my back against the brick wall until well after Selma left and ran through all my options ad nauseam until I finally realized the truth.

If I left now, I’d never heal. I’d never move on, and I’d certainly never trust anyone again. My life would stay as stagnant as the pond in my parents’ Missouri backyard, growing moss and algae.

At least from the pictures they sent, since I hadn’t seen it yet in person.

Which was probably why I’d finally agreed to come and stayed after my run-in with Selma.

Something had to change, and the only thing left to change was myself.

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