Page 13 of Meet Me in the Penalty Box

Lincoln stood up from his seat and knocked on the table to get everyone’s attention. “Coach wants us ready to leave in, like, ten minutes, so be ready, boys.”

A few of the guys grumbled, but I think a majority of us were just ready to get back to our home city. I sat back quietly in my seat as I eased away from any of the conversations and pulled my phone back out of my pocket to check my messages.

There she was… finally responding.

Harper

Hey.

That was it. Simplistic, yet highly cryptic.

Nico

Hey yourself.

She was severely mistaken if she thought this was how I played. She should have known from the other night that I wasn’t one to beat around the bush. I was straight up with her and I wasn’t sure I should expect the same from her in return.

Harper

So, I was thinking about what you said the other night and I don’t see how it is going to work out.

Ah, there it was. The answer that I was half expecting, but not the one I was wanting to hear.

Nico

And why is that?

My mother taught me better. She raised me to be a respectful gentleman. I would at least be decent enough to show Harper that. I would never push her—or anyone—into something they didn’t want.

Harper

It’s just too risky. I have too much to lose.

So, she wasn’t saying she didn’t want to. It was more a matter of we couldn’t because of what could happen.

Nico

What if I told you that no one would ever find out?

Harper

Someone always finds out, Nico.

I shook my head at my phone and tucked it into my pocket as everyone got up from the table. We had a bus waiting out front to take us to the airport where we would board our team’s jet and head back to Orchid Beach. I followed Wes out of the restaurant and my phone was burning a hole in my pocket.

The last words that Harper sent continued to plague my mind until we were all filing onto the jet and taking our seats. Some of the guys had fallen into comfortable conversation and a few were already half asleep. Wes was reading a romance novel and I wasn’t even about to approach that subject.

Instead, I pulled out my phone and opened up the message thread between Harper and me. She wasn’t wrong with her statement. In most cases, that was what happened. Things always got out and then you were fucked.

What Harper didn’t know was I wouldn’t tell a single soul, not even Wes. If I could prevent anyone from finding out, that was what I would do. She didn’t understand the weight we put on good luck charms.

I needed her around, even if she didn’t want to take me up on my offer.

Nico

That’s where you’re wrong, love. I plan on keeping things between us quiet but have no intention of you being quiet.

Harper

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