Page 72 of Playing Rucking Hard

I just don’t know how much longer I can keep that promise.

As I rock her back to sleep, I don’t know how many promises or commitments I can keep. At work, the whispers follow me everywhere.

In the locker room. In the hallways. On the training mats.

I don’t even have to hear what they’re saying to know it’s about me. About Dylan.

I keep my head down, pretending I don’t notice the way the other cheerleaders look at me, the way their conversations cut off when I walk by. But the weight of it presses down like it’s suffocating me.

Skye and Kalli still have my back, but it doesn’t matter. The damage is already done.

Dylan Fleski had visited the cheerleading locker room on more than a dozen occasions. No cheerleaders came forward toaccuse him of stalking. Without evidence, the club cleared him of wrong-doing. Therefore, according to the same rumor mill, a cheerleader must have encouraged a player.

Skye’s trusted. Kalli and I are new. Kalli is dating a plumber. That leaves me.

Kareene is watching me. Waiting for me to slip.

One mistake, and I’m gone.

Dylan: It’s not real. You know that, right?

Of course, I know. I trust him. Meeting Squid and watching Dylan fight for custody of his brother was all I needed to know to trust in Dylan’s character. If he wanted to be single and screw around, he would. But he is loyal. Loyal to his brother, his team, and to me.

Dylan: Please talk to me.

I wish I could. I’ve even thought about accidentally on purpose running into Kenzie just to ask her more about fake dating a player. But the risks are still there, especially with Kareene on my case any time I leave the designated cheer zone.

Dylan: Say something. Anything.

If I could, I’d tell him I love him. I’d tell him that he is at the end of my tunnel and I want him to turn on the light. I want him to be my light. I want his fingers wrapped around mine when I watch Sage at squad training. I want his lips to be the last thing I feel at night. I want to tell him how I feel, but I can’t.

With trembling fingers, I delete the text trail. Kareene has already demanded to search my phone once. I can’t risk her finding new texts.

Before I drop my phone down the side of my bag, the small white card dares me to do something about it. Should I? Could I?Each day I ask myself the same question, but by the time I decide to call, it’s after business hours.

It’s only four pm. Offices are open. Receptionists can take messages. I finger the embossing on the business card for a long time before I unlock my phone screen, again.

My hands shake as I dial the number. The line rings twice before a crisp, professional voice answers.

“Jameson & Co. Legal. How can I help you?”

I swallow hard. “I need your help.” My voice is barely above a whisper. “Dylan Fleski suggested I call.”

Chapter 26

A Different Kind of Dance

Dylan

The day after demolishing not one, but two pizzas while I could only watch in evny, Saxon drops onto the couch beside me, stuffing my last protein bar into his mouth. “I think I figured it out.”

I pause the video from last week’s game and look up while wondering if it’s too late to place a grocery order for today. I had no idea how much a happy Squid can eat. “Figured what out?”

He chews, swallows, then waves his hand vaguely. “Sage. Why she’s been losing it at school.”

I swivel around to give him my full attention, loving that he barely spends any time locked in his room. Yes, I could handle some personal space, but each day my brother becomes more like his old self and less like a scared and beaten rabbit. “Talk to me.”

Saxon leans forward, elbows on his knees. “The school dance is soon, right?”

---