Page 72 of Ice Ice Maybe
The phone went silent before I could answer.
I shook my head in frustration. “I hate when he hangs up without saying goodbye.”
Nolan rubbed my back to comfort me. “Sorry you have to deal with this. It’s all my fault.”
I shook my head. “Don’t blame yourself for this. The odds were stacked against us to carry on this charade until the end of the season, and the ring complicated things. I didn’t think things would implode so quickly.”
“Me neither,” Nolan said. “Your father didn’t sound happy. I could hear him yelling at you.”
I nodded. “He was furious. And now he wants us to bail on the plan and tell Mitch we broke up, to get him to change his mind about quitting.”
“But if we do that, he’ll assume the door is open to go out with you again,” Nolan said. “He’ll keep pestering you, and I doubt he’ll let up.”
“Believe me, I know,” I said, feeling completely lost. “We need to come up with something else, something much better. What would interest him that is not me? And money is not an option. He’s got plenty now.”
Nolan shrugged. “Do you have a twin sister?”
“No, but even if I did, it would be cruel to subject her to spending time with him,” I said, glancing back at the two women on the other bench. “I have an idea.”
Nolan followed my gaze, understanding dawning on his face. “A Zena-substitute for Mitch?”
“Why not?” I asked. “Maybe we just need to dangle a tempting carrot in front of the horse’s mouth to make him forget about me and move on.”
Nolan’s gaze was still on the women when he said, “It’s uncanny, but the one with the auburn hair looks a little like you, only a little older.” He turned back to me. “I like the idea, but how do we make it happen?”
“That’s something we need to figure out, but first, we have to find Mitch,” I said, tapping his number on my phone, my heart pounding.
His voice was icy when he answered. “Yeah …”
“Hello, Mitch,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. “How are you doing?”
“How do you think I’m doing?” he replied, his tone flat. “I found out the woman I wanted is engaged to another man.”
“I’m so sorry about that,” I said. “I heard you skipped the player's breakfast and meeting. Does that mean you’re still thinking of quitting the team?”
“Abso-freaking-lutely,” he said.
“Where are you? We should talk,” I pressed.
“There’s nothing to talk about since you’re getting married,” Mitch replied bitterly.
“There are some things you should know,” I vaguely said.
“No,” he firmly said. “I’m hanging up.”
“Wait!” I exclaimed, now so desperate I knew there was only one thing I could say that would appeal to him. “I broke it off with Nolan.”
Silence filled the call.
“Hello?” I said. “Are you still there?”
“Do you expect me to believe that?” Mitch finally responded.
“Yes,” I said firmly.
“How do I know you’re not saying that to get me to play with the team?” he asked.
“That’s why I want to talk in person,” I insisted. “I promise, everything will make sense when I see you. And I have a surprise for you.”
