Page 106 of Racing Heat
“Would you have helped me find a way to keep seeing her?”
“No, probably not,” he admits.
“That’s why coming to see you was never an option for me.”
“Well, it’s time to come on in. August has some things he wants to go over with you.”
“Has the decision already been made?” My heart hammers in my chest. The tightness returns, and I struggle to get breath through my lungs, while my feet feel like they’re weighted down. “I thought we would talk it out in there.”
“That’s not the way August would like to handle this. We met, we discussed it, and we have a decision. That’s all there is to it.” Nate stops and turns to me. “Like it or not, you fucked up. And you don’t have a say in what happens to anyone. This is a done deal, got it? So, no matter what gets said in there, you keep your mouth shut.”
I’m taken aback by his words. Fuck, this isn’t good. This isn’t good at all. I’m just supposed to accept my death sentence with a smile. I know that’s the only option I have. I’m in the wrong here, not the Blaze organization. I just wasn’t prepared for the cold formality of it all.
“Okay. Look, man, I’m sorry. I know that I fucked up. I get that I’m in the wrong. I shouldn’t have done it. I should have given you a heads-up. It shouldn’t have gone this far without you knowing.”
“You’re right, you shouldn’t have done it. Thankfully, this hasn’t been splashed all over the papers. This is something that we can quietly handle here, in-house. Now let’s go.”
Nate leads the way back into the conference room. I’m greeted with terse nods and a warm smile by Andie. I feel bad that she got woken up early and dragged into this. She shouldn’t have to be. Neither should Nate. This is family time he’s missing, since practice isn’t until later in the day.
“Have a seat please, Jase.” August gestures toward the opposite side of the table from the rest of the coaching staff.
I sigh heavily and take my seat. I don’t say anything, but I watch August watch me, unsure what he’s looking for. Finally, he speaks.
“Is there anything you want to say?”
I nod. “There is. I apologize that my behavior violates the fraternization policy that I willingly signed. I apologize that I’m bringing all of you in here early to have this discussion and for putting you in this position. It’s not fair to you. I should have known better and not started anything with Cassie.”
I say her name and August visibly tenses. It causes a pit to form in my chest. It makes me wonder if the punishment is harsher for her than me.
“Thank you, Jase,” August says. He leans back in his chair. “We’ve talked about this at great length. I’ve even had conversations with your agent. I think he’s looking for a phone call from you, by the way.”
Another fun conversation that I’ll have to have when all of this is over.
“I’m just going to give it to you straight, Jase. Some of us are on board with this decision and some of us are not. But nonetheless, I think it’s the best option for all of us moving forward. This decision is not up for debate.” He watches me and I nod. “The Blaze organization has decided that you will remain in your position as goalie coach. There will be letter of reprimand placed in your file, but with all the money and time that we’ve invested in you, we think it’s best that you stay.”
“Understood,” I reply. “Thank you.”
“The Blaze organization will be terminating our contract with Miss Simmons. She will no longer be a midfielder on our team.”
I feel like all the air has been sucked out of my chest. She’s been fired, but somehow I get to keep my job. The weight of their decision is crushing me. I can’t imagine how she’ll take this.
“Does she know?” The words fly out of my mouth before I can stop them.
Nate is the first one to speak. “She does not. August will be notifying her next.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Andie shake her head. I imagine that she was the one who wasn’t happy with Cassie being fired.
“Please don’t reach out to her when you leave here. Go to your office and finish up the work I’ve asked you to do with the new goalie kits. I’ll be the one to reach out to her. This has to be done correctly,” he explains. “You may go.”
I nod and head to my office. I feel the bile rising in my throat again. I doubt there’s anything in my stomach other than coffee, but it’s threatening to make its way up and out again. This isn’t fair. She shouldn’t lose her job. I could easily find another coaching gig, but for her, being fired mid-season will ensure there’s no soccer future for her. All her dreams have been destroyed, and I’m the one who’s left holding the match. I’m no longer going to have to worry about what we’ll do or how we’ll handle this, because I’m sure she’ll want nothing to do with me.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
~CASSIE~
Iwake up with a pounding headache, still at Amelia’s. It feels like someone has driven a truck through that and my heart. Hushed voices come from the living room. It’s time to get up and find out what’s going to happen to me today and what they’re going to do to Jase. That’s what worries me the most. What will they do to him, and will he go back to Manchester? I don’t think I’d be able to handle working there and not seeing him.
But something is going to be done with one or both of us. I’m sure August is apparently going to hold his ground on this one, which is weird to me considering how much of a manwhore he can be. Why would he choose this to stand his ground on?
