Page 69 of Striking Heat
“I’m good. It was a fun night out. You really should have come. Everyone was in such a good mood after the win, and we would have loved to see you. You know, since you scored a hattrick and all.” She sits on the opposite side of the couch as me. “I thought maybe you would have had a date or something.”
I shake my head. “No, I just wanted some space. My mental battery was drained. Felt good to hit the rebounder and get some rest.”
She nods and then sighs. “So, John was there last night. The guy from the charity night. He came to see you. Said he saw there was a game and that we won. He even knew you scored big and figured you would be there celebrating.”
I swallow and wait for her to say more. I want to consider my next words carefully; I don’t want to tip her off. My phone dings and I look over at it on the island. I want to go get it because I know it’s Danny.
“John said he texted you a few times, but you haven’t answered.”
I nod. He has. He sent a couple of requests to go get dinner. “One of the times we were in Utah, so I couldn’t go to dinner with him.”
“You could have responded,” Cassie says with a shrug.
“I know I could have.”
“I thought you liked him. Mac, what’s going on? I know there’s something and it’s bigger than the team. It’s even bigger than Danny interviewing you and being all nosey. In fact, his photographer was there last night, hanging out with August. August was bitching that it wasn’t done yet. But you’ve spent time with Danny, so why isn’t it getting done? Are you two getting sweaty?”
I think the best course of action right now would be denial, but I don’t want to lie to her. I’ve known Cassie for over four years. She was my first friend on the soccer team at Portland U, and we’ve been through so much together. The deaths of her parents. My disdain for mine. Through all of it, always together.
“I…” And the next words die on my tongue.
“Come on, Mac, what’s going on?” Her eyes plead with me toopen up to her. “You’ve never kept secrets from me. I’m sure this one is a doozy, so you’ve gotta spill it. I can help, if it’s bad.”
“It’s not really bad, per se,” I tell her.
“Okay, so is it a relationship?”
I don’t know how to answer, because no, it’s not a relationship. But it’s something. We’re meeting up and having great sex. Again, and again. And it’s not one-sided—I know that much. I don’t want to give it up. I’ve worked so hard to keep it a secret, and I don’t want to just let it out.
“It’s not a relationship. It’s just adjusting to being here. In Tampa. It’s a lot different than when we played in Portland. But that’s it. There is no relationship, and there’s nothing you need to know. I’m not calling John, because he wants a relationship, and I do not.” I throw my hands up in exasperation. “I don’t date, you know that.”
She sighs. “Okay, if you say it’s nothing, then it’s nothing. But for what it’s worth, I think you should call John. At least you might get some ass, and then you wouldn’t have to worry about being so high-strung all the time.”
“I have BOB for that,” I say with a giggle, mentioning my favorite nightstand toy.
“Sometimes the real thing is better,” she tells me.
“How would you know? I haven’t seen anyone around in a while.”
“No, there hasn’t been. But that doesn’t mean if I was given the chance I would just ignore someone like John. Free meal and probably some hot sex. Might be worth it, even if you are the bitch who blows him off.”
I laugh. “Yeah, well, maybe. Do you wanna go for a run in a bit? I have to eat something. Haven’t done that yet this morning, but then we could run a bit.”
“Sounds like fun. Easy run down by the beach?”
“Absolutely,” I tell her.
It’s been our thing lately. We love going for runs on the beach.It’s a nice break from the greenery we were used to in Portland, and it’s a hell of a lot warmer. Sometimes I’ll even wade into the water if I’m really sweaty. It’s a great way to cool down after some hard work.
“See you in about an hour,” Cassie says before getting up. “But you know if you wanna talk about what’s weighing on your mind or whatever, I’m here for you. Always have been, always will be. No matter what it is.”
I nod, hating myself a little bit more for not being able to say anything to her. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
Cassie leaves and I give it a beat or two before walking over to my phone to see what Danny said.
Danny:I think I’m sitting with you on the plane when you fly out so that we can get this done. August’s orders.
Without giving it a second thought, I dial his number. I mean, he did say to call him later if I wanted to.
