Page 126 of Racing Heat
Cassie hugs them both and leaves the room, shooting me a wink before she’s gone.
“Thank you, guys, really. I appreciate all you went through to make this happen.”
“You’re welcome,” Nate says. “But I think you and Hendrix did more than we did.”
“We might have. But I feel like I let you down and caused a lot more drama than I should have.”
“What’s life without a little drama?” Nate says, slapping me on the back. “But next time, just come to me.”
“Agreed. I will communicate better with you.”
Thankfully, the conversation is closed, and we all head out to the practice field to move forward with our right midfielder back where she belongs.
Chapter Forty-Four
~CASSIE~
It feels good to be headed back to the field house to ready myself for practice. It doesn’t start for another forty minutes, so I’m there early, which gives me time to unpack the bag that’s full of the stuff I recently removed from my locker. I set it all up again. It’s just extra hair ties, sunscreen, deodorant, and my shower stuff. All of its arranged back in my locker. It makes me smile that the number eight and my last name are still there. One of the things August might not have gotten around to having removed.
I’m glad he brought me back. I just feel bad about the drama I caused in the process. It was nerve-racking meeting with the coaches and August. It felt like we were talking about my sex life. I hadn’t wanted to share those details with them. Not that any were shared, but the fact that we had to be reminded of rules and that we can’t stay together during away games embarrassed me a bit.
But it was necessary and it’s over. And now I’m back with the team where I belong.
I put my cleats on and head out to the field. I want to get some extra stretching in and run a lap or two before we start practice. I haven’t been running since everything hit the fan. Ishould have. It usually helps me clear my head, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It reminded too much of Jase at first and then of the mistake I had made that cost me my dream job.
But that’s all behind me now. I run through some stretches of my hips, thighs, and calves. I do a few mock kicks and runs, then dribble the ball around a bit before some juggling.
I can tell players are arriving when I hear a squeal coming from the direction of the locker room.
“Are you back?” Mac screams as she comes rushing toward me.
I grin and meet her halfway. “Yes. I guess Hendrix and Jase talked to August and it worked. So here I am.”
Mac squeezes me tightly. “I’m so happy that you’re back.”
“Did you know?” I ask her. I was kind of surprised that, as the captain, Mac wasn’t there.
Mac shrugs. “Well, kind of. I met with Hendrix and Jase the other night and talked about strategy for how we could get you back on the team. We ran through some options and ways we could convince August. But Hendrix and Jase were the ones who met with him. Hendrix because she has the history with him, and Jase because he was a part of the whole thing.”
“What history do they have?” I ask her. She mentioned something had occurred, and they really get along like oil and water. It makes me want to hug her that much tighter for going to bat for me.
“I’ll tell you later. Or ask her if it’s okay if I tell you,” she says with a shrug. “So, are you and Jase able to still date, or is that over? Do you need me to castrate him?”
I giggle. “No castrating Jase. We’re still together, and things are going to be okay. August just had some rules we have to follow,” I tell her, biting my lip.
“But?” she asks me to continue. When I don’t, she says, “Come on, I can tell something is going on there. What’s on your mind?”
“Well, remember how some of the team members were when things hit the fan with you and Danny? Well, I’m worried they’ll be just as hard on me as they were on you, if not harder. I mean, I’m sleeping with one of the staff members. This isn’t just some guy that hung around the team and is now gone. He’ll always be here. And the comments might not stop,”
Mac nods in understanding. “We won’t let them. Besides, he’s not even your coach.” She watches me for a beat and then continues. “Look, it’s not going to be easy at times, but you just have to ask yourself if it’s worth it. Will the attitudes and comments you’re going to receive be worth it? Because if your answer is yes, then don’t worry about it. Not all love comes without obstacles. And this is just the beginning of what you’ll have to overcome.”
I nod. “You’re right. I don’t want to be without Jase, so I’ll just have to deal with it.”
“It’ll be worth it in the end. Eventually, this too shall pass. You just have to remember that it’s you and him. Fuck the rest of them.”
“Is that what you did?”
“Damn right it is. And look how well that went,” she reminds me.
