Page 123 of Racing Heat
“Growing up, I was a different person than I am right now. I was more fun-loving, and I had a lot of promise as a baseball player. It was a fun game for me. My father, though, wasn’t happy that I would be the talent. He wanted me to be the owner of the team because it came with more money and power—the things that matter most to the man.” He sighs and shakes his head. “So, I quit. I quit and stopped doing something that I loved. I’ve always missed it.”
“You could easily play pickup like Jase does,” I tell him.
“No, I don’t think I could. It’s been years since I’ve picked up a bat and glove. But that’s not the point. The point is, I was a different person than I am now. Ask Hendrix—she knows all about the person I used to be.” He pauses for a moment.
“I don’t know what that means,” I tell him.
He chuckles. “She might fill you in. I’m not sure. Anyway, I thought I needed to tow a certain line when I became the boss. That I needed to make sure we kept our standards so high that no one could penetrate them. Everyone told me it was stupid to start another team here, but this is where my father wanted the team. So, we did it.” He stares at me. “I’m not making a lot of sense, am I?”
“You’re kind of all over the place,” I admit with a shrug.
“Okay, well, I thought that I needed to be a certain type of boss and not give any leniency so that our team would go to the top of the charts and people would respect us. But I was wrong, and I was a hypocrite. My history with Hendrix is actually a double standard, and the way I hang out with all of you…well, I’ve been told it makes it hard for me to tow such a line.”
“It’s okay, you don’t have to apologize for it. I get it. You made a decision. You did what you had to do.” I swallow back the lump that’s formed in my throat. I hate that he’s here talking to me about this. I think the phone call was preferable to sitting here with August and his awkward conversation.
“Cassie, I made a decision based on what I thought my father would want instead of what was for the betterment of the team. You and Jase fell in love, and I shouldn’t have punished you for it. He’s not directly your coach, and I shouldn’t be making you tow the same line that I’m not willing to enforce for myself.”
“What are you saying?” I lean forward in anticipation. It sounds like this might be good news.
“I want you to come back to the Blaze. The coaching staff—all of us want you to come back to the Blaze. We’ve talked about it, and we decided that it’s for the best. The midfielder who makes a difference both on and off the field is you. We’re lacking so much speed without you. I think I was worried about being the owner my father wanted instead of the owner I wanted to be. Iremember what it was like to have a dream like yours, and I’m sorry I took it away so hastily.”
“Are you asking me to come back?” I ask him. I’m practically bouncing with anticipation on the couch beside him.
“I am, Cassie. I reacted too quickly, and I shouldn’t have. Can I please rehire you?” He grins from ear to ear.
I lunge at him and hug him. “August, you are the absolute best! Of course I’ll come back!”
“You don’t need a minute to think about it?” he says when I release him.
“No, I don’t. I’m not going to play this cool or make you work for it. I can’t. I’m just happy to be back! Like you have no idea.”
He laughs and shakes his head. “Thank you, Cassie. It’s a weight off my shoulders to have you back on the team. It really is. I felt like such a sleazeball for doing that to you. Did you happen to catch the game against Kansas City? We had no speed. I mean, Kelly did what she could, but she wasn’t you.”
“That means a lot,” I tell him, tears brimming my eyes. “Thank you for coming to me like this and giving me a second chance. I won’t forget it and I won’t let you down again.”
“It’s not that you let me down. It’s that I handled it the wrong way.”
I shake my head. “You’re not the one at fault here, August. We did break a rule. So please don’t apologize. You were just doing what you felt was best for the team, and I get that. You’re trying to make a name for yourself, and we complicated that.”
“You’re sure did,” he says with a laugh.
“Sorry,” I say, laughing along with him.
“It’s fine. Let’s just make sure your relationship with him doesn’t interfere with the team, okay?”
I nod. “So, you’re okay if we keep seeing each other?”
“Yeah, but we have some ground rules that we have to go over. If you’ll get dressed, we can go to the Blaze offices and go over those.”
I jump and squeal. “Yes, of course. I will go make myself more presentable.”
“I’ll let myself out, and I’ll see you over there.”
“Thank you!” I lunge into his arms again, and he awkwardly hugs me. “I don’t care what anyone says, even Hendrix. —you do have a heart, and you are a good man. I think once your father lets you do things your way, you’re going to make a great owner, August.”
August pulls back and smiles brightly at me. “Thanks for saying that.”
“You’re welcome.”
