Page 97 of Fair Play
“It’s not a problem for me, Ms. Barrowman,” I say quietly.
“Yeah, I’m good.” Bodi says the words but his expression and body language say the opposite.
And our boss doesn’t miss it.
“The obstinance practically pouring out of you doesn’t fill me with hope, Bodi,” she says dryly. “And frankly, you’ve had five goals and twelve assists all season. Rome didn’t get here until January, was out for seven weeks, and has four goals and eleven assists. Which one of you do you think I’m going to send down to the minors if you can’t fix your attitude?”
Oh, fuck.
This isn’t what I wanted.
I’m crazy about Billie but this is going sideways, and I’m not going to be the guy who got her brother sent back down to the minors.
“Naw, you don’t have to do that,” I interject, trying to sound casual. “I hate living in L.A., so if you’re gonna trade someone, it should be me. I’ve only got one more season in me anyway.”
I don’t know who looks more surprised—Bodi or Ms. Barrowman.
She narrows her gaze at me for a moment but doesn’t say anything. Bodi is strangely quiet as well.
“We’re not talking about the off-season yet,” she says after a moment. “All I care about is winning this series. Once it’s over, we’re going to have some hard conversations, but I want to be very clear—if there is another altercation between you, I won’t hesitate to bench whoever starts it.” She looks to Bodi. “And every single account I have says it was all you.”
He looks away, visibly uncomfortable.
“I’m happy to bench your ass, so don’t test me.” She snaps her gaze to me. “And you—whatever it is with you and the sister, put it on hold until after the season. Am I clear?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She gives us a few more warnings and then dismisses us. I make a beeline for the stairs, needing to burn off some energy. I hear Bodi call my name, but I don’t turn back and I don’t stop. I can’t.
My life has just been turned upside down—again—and it’s all his fault. I’ve made the ultimate sacrifice for him, but I don’t have it in me to look at him.
Because now I’m going to have to face Billie and tell her what I’ve done.
Chapter 37
Billie
Bodi got homelate and left early.
Rome never came home, even though I waited half the night for him to show up. No calls, no texts, no nothing. And I’m more pissed off about being ghosted than anything else.
I don’t have time to dwell on it, either, because I turned in one project today, am putting the final touches on another that I’ll turn in on Friday, and the last two will be done in the next week or so.
Nita is helping me pull together charts for the finance project this afternoon, and though I’m doing my damnedest to focus, I can’t seem to find a shred of interest in what we’re doing.
“Am I boring you?” Nita asks, her voice light.
“I was daydreaming. Sorry.” I turn back to the computer screen, staring at a jumble of numbers that suddenly look like they’re written in hieroglyphics.
“What’s wrong?” she asks after a moment. “From the day we started this project, you’ve been excited, completely immersedin whatever we were doing. Today, you literally could not care less…”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m just…” I rub my eyes, willing myself not to get emotional. I don’t havetimeto be emotional.
“You want to talk?”
My elbows hit the desk and my chin winds up in my hands.
“I’m so mad,” I whisper. “And hurt. And heartbroken. The men in my life don’t seem to take me seriously.”
