Page 79 of Playing Rucking Hard

“You involved my woman? Are you insane? I should …”

“Would you just shut up and listen?” It’s no way to talk to my captain, but I need to get these phone calls over so I can rub Emma’s back and make her tea she is too upset to drink. “I never mentioned Emma’s name. I asked Kenzie to look into a hypothetical situation where the club sanctioned me to fake date someone I shouldn’t. We were going to do this the right way, but her sister and my brother go to the same school. Photos of us dancing at a school dance leaked last night and the club sacked Emma by email first thing this morning.”

“Are you joking? They can’t do that. There’s due process.”

“I’ve spoken to my lawyer, and he’s gonna make them regret it. If they make me choose, I’m standing by her. What I need to know is if the team is with me? Areyouwith me or against me?“I demand. “Kenzie is important to you. Emma is important to me. If I’m important to the team, I need to know if you are with or against me.”

Cooper slowly exhales, and I know it’s his way of buying time while he processes a situation. Where I’m reactive and quick to make decisions, he’s more considered and looks at the bigger picture. “Damn. What do you need?”

“Support. Publicly. I need the team to back her.”

“Done,” he says immediately. “I’ll talk to the guys and Kenzie. If there’s a way she can smother the story about Emma, I know she’ll find it without putting her career at risk.”

“You protect my woman, and I’ll go to the mat protecting yours,” I promise. “Because that’s the Mavericks I signed up for. Benz and Bronx both promised me that this is the team that puts people first. Well, Emma is my person, and I expect them to …”

“I got it,” Cooper says, interrupting me. “Now let me call the love of my life and see what she needs me to do, and I’ll see you at training … tomorrow.” He sighs, “I never thought Dylan Fleski would catch the feels, but I should have expected that when you did, the world would explode. Don’t worry, the team has your back.”

He hangs up, and Emma is still watching me. At least her body language is less defeated.

Freud would have a field day analyzing the order of my phone calls. Lawyer, PR, captain, and now my agent. In any normal situation, Warner would be my first call, not my last. “One more call, then I’m all yours,” I promise Em, leaning up to press my lips to hers. She barely kisses me back. Okay, sitting up is one thing, but I’ll work as hard as I need to get the full Emma experience back.

“You need damage control,” Warner says before I can even speak. “I’m already talking to Janice. Clear your lunch schedule. We’ll have a gorgeous date for you. Can’t be Kylee again.Someone sweet and high profile, an antidote to a scheming cheerleader who wants her five seconds of fame. How the fuck did she ambush you at a school dance? No. Don’t answer that, it doesn’t matter. I’ll sink the bitch. Janice agrees we need to useAustralia’s Favorite Bachelorto help your brand …”

“No,” I cut in, too angry to address how he talks about Emma. First things first, I need to cut off the wholeFavorite Bachelorshit once and for all. “I’m not cheating on Emma.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You can’t be dating someone who waves pom poms for a living. In any case, I asked the Mavericks to fire her, and we need to protect your …”

He what? Don’t react. Don’t react.

“Explain to me why you asked my employer to fire my partner.” I look around her small apartment. It was fine for the four of us for one night, but the sooner she and Sage agree to move in with Squid and me, the better.

Warner scoffs. “This isn’t the time to be settling down. A sexysinglefootballer is worth more to sponsors than a scandal-prone couple. You don’t even have a playing contract for next year.”

“So, you asked the club to sack a woman who makes less than you spend on shoes because you are concerned about my playing contract for next year?”

“I’m looking at the bigger picture here. Date a few beautiful women for the rest of the playing season, and we will pick you a girlfriend for next year.”

“No.” I look at Emma and wish I’d said the words last night when they would have meant more. I love her. I love everything about her. “The only woman I want in my life is the one I’m looking at right now.”

“Look, Dyl, I know that’s your dick talking and not your brain. If she’s in your bed, call her a cab and get her the hell out of your life. If you’re at her place, fuck her one last time to get her out ofyour system, and get the hell out of there. I can protect you, but you’ve gotta put some distance between the two of you.”

“You’re not listening.” My decision is final, I just want him to hang himself. “Emma is my partner. Are you declining to protect my partner?”

“Yes. It’s not in your best interests …”

“Then let me be clear.” My voice is ice as I cut him off for the last time. “You’re fired. Effective immediately.”

Silence. Then a sharp exhale. “You’re making a mistake, Dylan.”

“No. My lawyer will be in touch.”

Before he can respond, I hang up and immediately call Hunt.

“I need a new agent,” I blurt out before Hunt can say anything. “Warner told Mavericks to fire Emma. I told him he’s fired, effective immediately.”

Hunt’s smile is evident in his voice. “Now you’re thinking smart. I looked over the contract he’s negotiating, and let’s just say he is a useless as tits on a bull. I don’t know whose interests he’s working for, but it’s not yours. Say the word and I’ll fix it.”

“There are three things you need to know.” Because they might be the Aces we need to play. “Emma and I met before she started working as a cheerleader. I had no idea who she was, and she didn’t know me as a player.”

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