Page 75 of Delay of Game
The regret hit me like a train. I groaned, raking my hand down my face and tipping my head back. “We can’t do that again.”
She sighed, a tiny exhale that pierced my chest.
“We shouldn’t do that again.” I closed my eyes. Before Mila was born, before Jackie left me, I would have romanced the shit out of Astrid. I would have taken her out to dinner, dancing, concerts, weekends away. But that was a lifetime ago.
I couldn’t give her half of what she needed now. And I didn’t want to break her heart when she figured that out.
“When will I see you again?” Her voice sounded hollow and resigned.
“I’m leaving town Wednesday for a game. I’ll be back Friday.” I clenched my jaw, pressing my forehead against the window. “There’s a team event on Saturday, family and friends type thing. Are you free?”
The pause on the other end of the line kept my heart in a vise even as I hoped she’d say no.
“I’ll see you Saturday, then. Goodnight, Rob.”
The game film room smelled like dirty socks and sweat. Too many gigantic bodies crammed into too small of a space while Coach Simmons ran through his game plan for the Thursday night game before he let us go.
“At least we get the weekend off, right?” Isaiah Cooper leaned over and elbowed me in the side with a grin.
My body still ached from the beating we took on Sunday, and I’d dreaded the four-day turnaround from one game to the next since the season schedule had been set.
“I’m gonna need it,” I admitted with a frown, surveying the other defensive players for signs of wear and tear. With most of them only a year or two out of college, outwardly, everyone appeared ready, if a little stressed.
“Alright, I won’t keep you all here any longer. You all have the flight information for tomorrow. I’ll see you in the morning.” Coach Simmons collected his papers and signaled for the rest of the coaching staff to follow him.
“Players, I need you to stay here for a just a few more minutes!” Diego announced, taking Coach Simmons’ place at the podium. He nodded his head, urging me to join him, but I shook my head. No reason for me to be up there. I’d send out a text to my defense, and Mom had already agreed to help me prepare the studio.
A few grumbles went up from the room as Lakeland, Noa, and Trent moved to the front of the room. Reluctantly, I stood and joined them, staying on the periphery. Fieste sat at the back of the room, crammed in the “standing room only” section of a game film room not built to withstand the fifty-three active roster players and select members of the practice squadron.
I sucked in air, my stomach turning at what had to happen once Diego stopped running his mouth. To his credit, he explained the plan quickly. The special teams players cheered when they found out they got to bring the beer. The offense only mildly bitched about t-shirts. And the defense players stayed the fuck quiet when I told them they’d make steins and like it. Diego called the meeting to a close with a reminder that Coach Lionel’s barbecue was that weekend and not to miss it.
“Fieste,” I called, stopping him as he filed out with the other players.
He startled, eyes wide. I jerked my head, and he wove through his departing teammates to the front of the rapidly emptying room.
“Yeah, captain?” he asked.
I inhaled, steeling myself for what I planned to put in place. “You still want to make that cheap hit up to me?”
“Yeah,” he stammered. “I mean, sure. Of course. What do you need?”
“Are you single?”
He cocked his head, eyes growing wide with concern. “Um, yeah?”
“Great. I need you to get someone off my hands.” I winced at the phrasing, even as I knew it had to happen. I couldn’t trust myself around Astrid.
“Get someone off your hands?”
“Are you a fucking parrot? Or just can’t hear me?” I growled, all too aware that I was acting like a dick. But to be completely fair, I also felt like a dick, so this conversation was very on brand. “Her name is Astrid. She’s my kid’s teacher and my mom’s friend. And she’s too fucking good for you, so don’t be an asshole to her.”
He shook his head. “Wait, so what exactly are you expecting me to do? I’m not sleeping with some stranger.”
I reared back, red blotting my vision. “You’re not fucking touching her. Not so much as brushing against her. I don’t want your hands anywhere near her.”
Fieste blinked, pursing his lips as he blew out a breath. “I gotta be honest. I’m a little confused.”
“Shit, do I need to do everything around here? You make her laugh. You’re nice to her. You take her out to dinner.” I raked a hand through my hair. “Just…just don’t tell me what happens, okay? I don’t want status reports or updates. I…I can’t have her around me.”
