Page 34 of Home Run Fiancé
The volume lowers and Asher speaks into the phone clearly, sending all my hopes diving to the floor. “The tabloids found out about your trip to Texas and have leaked your talks with the Sliders. Tommy’s already called me and left a message that may have set my phone on fire.”
“What?” I sink onto the couch before my legs give out. That’s not good. Not good at all. Trade talks are supposed to be private until all the details are hammered out. My manager for the Dangers finding out I’m in talks with another team right before the season starts? Might as well kiss my career with the Dangers goodbye. If the news had come from me, that’s one thing. Finding out from the tabloids is a slap in the face.
“Yeah.” Asher takes a deep breath as if he too is trying to figure out what to do with this disaster of epic proportions. “I think you better call Tommy. Try to smooth the waters. Maybe play the sick mother card.”
“Jeez, Asher.” What’s left of my tattered stomach burns at the implication of playing on sympathies for my mama.
“I know, I know. But you need something to calm Tommy down. Trust me. You call him, I’ll call Bobby and see if we can’t move even faster on putting together a contract to get you over to Texas.”
I rub a hand over my face, trying to clear the cobwebs that hold my brain back from keeping up with the conversation. “Hold on. How did they even find out?”
“I don’t know. I’ll see if I can trace it back, but that’s not even important right now. We gotta do damage control.”
I stand up and walk to my bedroom to get showered and changed. We’re set to leave in a few hours for an away game in Arizona. I need to get down to the club and talk with Tommy face-to-face before that happens.
“Talk later.” I pause, feeling like the whole world is against me. “Thanks for having my back, Ash.”
“That’s what I’m here for.” Asher hangs up and I start the shower.
I know Asher doesn’t seem to care who leaked the story, but I do. I can’t seem to let it go. Yeah, I’ll focus on damage control, but I won’t roll over. I’ll find who leaked it and make them rue the day they tried to destroy my career.
* * *
“Listen, I looked the other way when you were all over the press with allegations from various women. I waved it off when you were distracted with this new girl of yours. But this is unbelievable. We have a contract, an incredibly lucrative one if you’d actually read it.”
Tommy sits back in the chair behind his desk like he’s relaxed, but I can see his fists flexing on the arm rests while he tries to keep his cool. I’m doing the same, trying to keep the sweat beading on my forehead from dripping down into my eyes. He’s angry and hurt. I get it. I totally do. This isn’t how I wanted this to play out either.
“I’m sorry, Tommy. I’ve loved every season I’ve been with the Dangers and I appreciate the contract we have together. But my mama’s sick. My little brother has been taking care of her on his own and can’t do it much longer. I need to be there. Family comes before everything in my life.” I pour my heart out and hope he knows I’m sincere.
His head drops and he stares unseeingly at his lap. I sit at the edge of my chair, praying he can find compassion for my situation.
He finally lifts his head and the fire in his eyes is gone. He still looks angry, but at least he won’t try to kill me. Today.
“I didn’t know about your mama. I wish you would have told me.”
I nod. “I know. I’m sorry you found out the way you did. It was never my intention to have you be blindsided by a possible trade. I was merely fishing around to see if I could keep playing while taking care of Mama.” I shrug, like my entire professional career doesn’t hang in the balance. “If they won’t take me, I’m not sure what I’ll do. Might kill me to have to retire this early.”
He releases the arm rests and leans forward onto his desk. “I’d hate to see you retire too. Even more than seeing you play for another team. You’re good, Jake. You have more years left in you and I hope you get to play them wherever you end up.”
That’s as good a blessing as I could hope to get. I hop up and stretch out my hand. He stands slowly and shakes it.
“Thank you, Tommy. For everything. I don’t take anything you’ve done for me for granted. I promise you that.”
He nods his head quickly and releases my hand. “Better get out of here if you’re gonna make the plane to Arizona for tonight’s game.”
“Yes, sir.” I practically run out of his office, ignoring the stares from the staff who no doubt know all about my situation and wonder how my meeting went with the team manager.
I’m almost to my car when my phone starts ringing the tone I set for Rhys. I see her name on my phone screen and slow down my jog. Time stops and I don’t see where I’m going. All I see is her name and my brain starts to spin.
Rhys.
CouldRhyshave been the one to tip off the press about my talks with the Sliders?
She sure acted like she enjoyed the paparazzi’s attention yesterday. Maybe she leaked our trip to Texas and my talks with Bobby to get more attention for herself. Who else would have talked? My family wouldn’t. Asher would never. Bobby wouldn’t either as we didn’t have a signed contract yet.
It had to have been Rhys.
I open my car door, slide inside, and slam the door shut. I just need a second. A quiet moment to collect my damaged heart from the floorboards and put it back in my chest. Yesterday morning, I was ready to tell her I wanted everything to be real: the dating, the kisses, even the engagement. And now I discover she sold me out when the stakes are the highest they’ve ever been.
