Page 30 of Playing for Keeps
“Please, I’m not an idiot.” He stood from behind his desk, moving around me to close his office door. I readied for him to hit me, which I would have taken, or kick me from the team then and there. He positioned himself in front of me, and his shoulders rolled back. “I’ve assumed for a while, though it was recently that I got the confirmation I needed.”
“Sir?”
“I watched my daughter hate this sport her entire life, curse it. Then suddenly, she went to the games without being asked. She was traveling to see away games, not that I saw her much on those trips, but it still mattered to me.” He stepped back to lean against his desk. “I’ve wanted her to be part of this for so long, and though I’m not a fan of her dating a player whose life is well, crazy and dangerous at times, I’d never seen her so happy as she was when you were both in your little whatever it was.” He sighed. “The last week, she’s been a shell of the woman she was, yet she still came to this game without being asked.”
I looked at him, a small wave of shock filling me. “Yeah?”
“I know she didn’t come to see me.” He confirmed. “I don’t know what happened between you both, frankly, I don’t care. But it’s evident in how you both are acting that there was something real between you both, so whatever you’re beating yourself up over, you can stop. Get through this game, then fix your shit.”
I nodded my head with a slight grin, feeling that ball of rage unravel in my chest. “Coach,” I said.
He moved back to me, his hand on my shoulder, looking at me right in the eyes. “You ignore another play, though. I’ll kill you myself.”
I chuckled. “Yes, sir.”
“Let’s go.” He patted me on the shoulder once more, stepping into the locker room with the entire team. Coach Marshal looked over at each player before he yelled with a powerful voice. “LET’S GO!” The room erupted in yells as we charged back to the field as a unified team.
It was a relief that her father knew the secret, and more so, he wasn’t as angry as we had believed he would be. Though I felt better, focused with a clearer head, I still feared I had hurt her so badly she would never forgive me, she would never give me another chance. Then, of course, there was Lacey to deal with.But at that moment, there was just the game, and I would play as the man she loved.
CHAPTER 27
HANNAH
It had been a challenging game to watch. Cameron played with such aggression, violent at times. Had I missed who he was? Was he this man? The angry brute who enjoyed inflicting pain. Since he ended our relationship, I had done everything I could to erase him from my mind, though I failed horribly. I tried to delete all the pictures and ended up just moving them to a folder. I packed the shirts he left at my house in a box, hid them in my closet, and then took them out that same night to sleep in one of them. I missed his scent, his touch, the way he looked at me. At times, I wondered if I could accept being a token, a notch on his bedpost, as I was prepared to be the other woman at the start. How could I have been so wrong about the man?
I tried not to mention him, but it was hard. Asking about him when Easton came over. I wanted to know how he was doing. I wanted to know if he was in pain or missed me, even though I knew he didn’t. Cameron Walters had power over me, and he wasn’t even in my life anymore. How could I avoid him? The man played for my father’s team. He lived in the same city as me. If I could avoid him at games or in town, it still wouldn’t stophim from showing up on social media or popping into the news. It was like a torturous cycle I was stuck in.
Was I supposed to move now? Find another job? Tell my parents I no longer want to go to the games. That had been my plan for the upcoming game; the idea of watching him, being close yet far away, made my stomach clench in pain. Marty had her entry now; she didn’t need me to get her in or even to the skyboxes. She had her player; she had turned a well-known womanizer into a monogamous man. I had turned myself into nothing more than a conquest; that’s what he called me. A conquest, like some bet he made with his buddies. A game.
I couldn’t let my father down, regardless of how I felt about Cameron or the pain it would cause me. I had always supported my dad, and this man wouldn’t stop me from doing just that. I tried to focus on the game in general, watch and cheer on the entire team, and my father, yet my attention constantly shifted to him. Even when he was on the sidelines, he still looked so handsome in his uniform, a strong warrior. With each hit he made, I clinched Marty’s hand. I watched as he yelled at the referees, at the coaches, and even at the opposing team, as if taunting them.
Chatter began in the box, discussing his behavior, the flags he was getting, the yards he was losing, and then turning around and protecting. It was as if he wanted to make the game harder, but then he turned around and played it more aggressively. The other defense players reacted to his movements, prompting the opposing team to respond when their defense came out. It was like a battle; neither team was willing to give up an inch. I wanted to talk with him, tell him to calm down and focus. He was going to get hurt or hurt someone else.
“How are you doing?” Marty asked, sitting next to me.
“I don’t get why he’s acting like this. I mean, has he always played like this, and I didn’t notice?”
Marty shook her head. “Cameron has always been a strong player, but I’ve never seen him so unhinged.” She laughed lightly. “For him to get in the face of his defensive coach, that’s not him.” She added.
“Well, he needs to focus, or he’ll lose this game for the team.” I exhaled a deep breath. “Not sure what his problem is anyway.”
Marty, with a grunt, shifted in her seat. “Okay, I’m not supposed to tell you this, and Easton is going to kill me, but fuck it.” I furrowed my brows, turning toward her. “Cameron ended things with you because of his ex.”
“I don’t want to hear this.” I turned back in my seat.
“No, not because he’s back with her.” I looked back at my friend. “She was blackmailing him.” She added.
“Blackmailing him?” Marty glanced around at my mom, who sat down beside me. “Tell me,” I demanded.
“She had followed you, or had someone follow you, honestly, I don’t know for sure, but she had pictures of you both.” She paused, her face indicating the kinds of photos she was talking about without saying the words.
“Wait, what?” Shocked, angry, embarrassed. “Pictures of me and him….”
“Yeah,” Marty confirmed. “Lots, which I have to say I’m jealous, but yeah. She was threatening to send them not only to your father but also to the tabloids or any news station if he didn’t end things.” Everything made sense, and with her reveal, the weight on my chest lifted.
“He does love me,” I said to myself.
“Who loves you, dear?” My mother asked.
