Page 16 of Red Zone

“That was a long time ago. And you moved on real quick after we split up.”

His eyes narrowed dangerously. “From what I remember, so did you.”

I jumped to my feet so he couldn’t tower over me as much. “Stop throwing our past in my face. It was two months. That’s a blip in time and hardly amounts to anything.”Except for the conception of our daughter.The thought blindsided me, and I cringed.

“Maybe”—his spring-grass eyes heated with flecks of fiery gold around the pupils as he crowded me—“what you’re really doing here, day in and day out, is trying for another go. Everywhere I look, there you are, snapping my picture, and lo and behold, you’re the tutor I’m required to see several timesa week. Surprising, because you up and quit on me when you weren’t sure if I would be the paycheck you were digging for. Is that why you’re back in my life? Mav not promising a long-term relationship?”

“Fuck you.” I clenched my fists at my sides. “You’re an asshole.”

“I’m right, aren’t I?” That tick along his jaw worked overtime. “If it weren’t, you would be working for the hockey team where your boyfriend is. After all, he’s headed to the NHL, and rumor says he’s already got an agent.”

Ares skidded to a halt behind Liam, grabbed his elbow, and pulled him away. “Chill out, man.”

Liam’s intense stare lingered as he let Ares pull him back, only breaking when he whirled around and gave me his back. Anger roared through me, and I sucked in a deep breath, fighting the urge to chuck my phone at his retreating form. I counted to ten, willing my blood pressure to lower as I caught sight of my uncle’s approach from the field to the sideline where I stood.

“Skye.”

His deep voice jolted ice into my veins, and I relaxed my tense muscles. He didn’t know Liam was Lily’s dad, and the last thing I wanted was to cause problems between Liam and his coach or his chances of Uncle Tommy speaking well about him to scouts.

“Are you okay? One of the assistant coaches heard you and Liam arguing.”

“Yeah, totally fine.” I faked a smile. “It was just about school. Liam’s frustrated by chemistry, and he needed to vent. Nothing major.” I slung my bag over my shoulder and shoved my phone in my pocket. “I’m going to get some video around campus to add to a few posts, maybe follow some of the players walking out of the building just for a day-in-the-life clip.”

He let the silence hang between us, his gaze dancing over my face as if he could decipher the truth from my features. No way. I had that shit locked down with my game face on. I’d perfected it early in my pregnancy while living with my aunt and uncle. While she knew the truth about Lily’s father being a football player, my uncle didn’t—and he couldn’t without it potentially causing an issue for Liam.

“I want to try to catch up with a few players and get their consent to film them leaving. See you at home?”

“Be careful,” Uncle Tommy said.

“Always!” With a wave, I whirled around and hurried through the building. The argument with Liam had already taken enough time for most of the team to shower or head for the weight room. I needed some film of them lifting, too, but not today. Liam’s presence was more than I could handle, and since he was still here…

It didn’t take long before three huge football players headed toward the exit. Good thing I recognized one of them. That only made it clear I had to familiarize myself with the entire team, not just the starters and the usual subs.

“Mitchel.”

I jogged over to the guys as they paused halfway out of the building. They turned as a unit. Mitchel grinned then wiggled his eyebrows, and the tension in my shoulders eased.

“What’s up, Coach’s Niece?”

I snorted. “Knock it off, Romeo.” Mitchel was a teddy bear—a huge one—but a total player. “Kissing my ass won’t do you any good. You should work on your angles instead of chasing the quarterback. Try it in the Indiana game ’cause that quarterback has speed.”

Mitch barked out a laugh then ruffled my hair. “What’re you, the new positions coach in training?”

“Just call me coach, and we’ll be good.” I winked as the other two players crowded our group. “But all kidding aside, can I follow you guys out and record you leaving the building for a short video through campus just past the fountain?”

“You can follow me anywhere, darlin’,” Rodrigues drawled as he sidled up to Mitch, his eyes roaming from my head to my toes and back again.

Liam rounded the corner and joined the guys, a muscle jumping overtime along his jaw as he slapped the rookie in the ample gut and pushed him back. “Ease up unless you want Coach to bench your ass for the rest of the season.” He waited until the new guy looked suitably chastised. “You need to think of her as your little sister.” He shoved Rodrigues out the door ahead of him. “Whatever you need, Skye, let’s get it done.”

Counting to ten, I prayed for calm around Liam, resigning myself to spending a little more time with him since he’d hijacked my original group. What mattered was the content I could get, and having Liam in the shot guaranteed more likes and responses.

I set my phone to record and positioned myself behind them as they filed out the door, joking and talking with one another. Streetlamps cast a soft glow along the winding path we took rather than the exit that led straight to the parking lot.

I ended the video and shouted thanks as three of them broke off at the fork before the fountain. Liam hung back, watching me. I ignored him. Before I looped back to head to my car, I moved closer, wanting a picture of the fountain all lit up without another soul around it.

I loved the architecture and design. It was the first time I’d been back there in so long. I hadn’t risked going near it until now, as it was too close to the athletic building, and I had the potential to run into Liam. However, the fixture was very similar to Buckingham Fountain on a much smaller scale. At night,lights highlighted the details and alternate colors. I snapped a few pictures from a distance then moved closer, noticing something odd about the section around the base. The water had been drained a while ago due to the weather, but something large occupied the basin.

Is that…?

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