Page 27 of Learn the Play
“Concern, because he didn’t understand why you ran. Fear, because you were running again, and determination because no matter how fast you tried to run, he was always going to catch you.”
“That’s not creepy at all,” I mutter. I’m thankful they’ve reintroduced themselves now that I’m coherent enough to remember their names, but of course, they’re going to be on his side. They’re his family, after all.
“I think it’s sweet,” Amanda says. “You’re too close to this entire situation to see what we see,” my best friend says gently.
I don’t ask her what she sees because I’m not sure that I want to know. It doesn’t matter, because Reid, whose last name I now know is Montgomery, is a professional football player, one who works for my father, or under him, I guess—I’m not exactly sure, but they’re together—mixed with the game that stole myfamily from me. I’ll never do that to my potential future children. Never. So, what they see doesn’t matter, because Reid and I can never be anything more than a night of shared passion.
“He’s a football player.”
“I’m guessing there’s a story there,” Corie muses.
“Yeah,” I say, then decide I might as well tell her. “My father left my mom and me for his career. Football ruined my life. I swore I’d never date a professional athlete.”
“Rules were meant to be broken, Bellamy,” Amanda says gently.
“Not this one.” Never this one. Football ruined my life.
“I’m sorry,” Rowan says. “But you’re wrong.” My mouth falls open at her words. “I dated a football player, who emotionally, mentally, and physically abused me. It wasn’t his career; it was the man. Now, here I am, married to a football player who would rather cut his own arm off than even consider ever harming me.” She pauses, giving me time to process her words, and the bathroom is silent as I do. “I don’t know what happened between your parents, but I can tell you it wasn’t football that’s to blame. It could have been any career. Don’t hold someone else’s mistakes or shortcomings against Reid.”
“He’s one of the good ones,” Sloane speaks up. “I’m not married or dating any of them, so I feel as though I can speak about this a little better. I’m not biased.”
“Your best friends are married to his teammates,” I say, still fighting like hell to maintain my hate for the game.
“They are, but I’m not. I can’t speak for all athletes, but I do know that those five men out there are loyal to a fault. Whatever you do, whatever reason you don’t want to be with Reid, don’t let it be his career.”
“We’re going to go,” Corie says. She steps forward and wraps me in a hug. “We’re planning on a girls’ night once training campstarts. You two are coming,” she tells me, then looks at Amanda, who’s standing next to me.
“That sounds fun,” Amanda replies.
“They won’t be there,” Rowan assures me.
I nod, because what else can I do? My head is spinning, and to top it off, I still have to go back out there and face my dad. I would just leave, but I know Amanda would never let me. Not to mention my father will have questions, and I’d rather get that particular line of questioning over with so he’s not blowing up my phone or worse, showing up on my doorstep.
“How are you?” Amanda asks once it’s just the two of us remaining in the bathroom.
“I don’t know.”
“Bellamy,” she says, in that tone that says,I know you’re lying to me.
“He made an impression on me before we ever took things back to that hotel suite.”
“I know that. You never would have offered for him to come in if he hadn’t.”
“It’s hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that the man I can’t stop thinking about is a football player,” I admit, scrunching up my nose.
“They’re right, you know? He’s not his career.”
“Everyone is their career.”
“To a certain extent, I’ll agree with you. But, tell me this, was he the cocky asshole you imagined him to be? Hell, your dad doesn’t even fit the bill.” She holds her hands up in the air. “I’m not defending him. I don’t know all the details of what went on in your parents' marriage, and honestly, neither do you, but I have been there every day since the split, and he’s never stopped trying, Bellamy. Not once. You’ve blown him off, ignored his calls and requests to see you, but he still keeps making an effort.”
“He left us,” I say, feeling the hot tears prick the back of my eyes.
“I know,” she says, hugging me tightly. “But Reid didn’t leave you, Bellamy.Youlefthim, and he’s here telling you that he’s not going to let you walk away a second time.”
“He doesn’t get to make that call.”
“You’re right—he doesn’t—but I saw the conviction in that man’s eyes. He’s going to give you a fight.”
