Page 80 of Dirty Pucking Player

He sighs. “I thought that was what was best. What she wanted. Then I eventually realized how fucking stupid I had been, and by then, I couldn’t find her. She had moved. It drove me insane.”

“At least I know where Greer is.”

“And where’s that?”

“Up in her hotel room, probably cursing me.”

“Why? What did you do?”

I rub at my aching, tired eyes. “Nothing really.”

He barks out a laugh. “Somehow, I don’t believe that, Bash. You forget how long I’ve known you.”

He’s right.

Caleb knows me better than anyone, and that means there’s no point in holding back with him.

“She asked me what we are doing.”

He issues a low chuckle. “The dreaded question, and let me guess, you panicked and ran?”

“No. But thanks for the vote of confidence, dick.” The vivid memory of her distress in her office fills my head. “I froze…which may be as bad as running, I guess. I just didn’t answer the question.”

“Well…”

“Well, what?”

“What are you doing with her? Is this still just some playful fling like you told me it would be, or is it something more now?”

It would be easy to tell him it means nothing, that she means nothing, that it’s just great sex. But deep down, I know it would be a lie. Because I do care about Greer. More than I probably should. More than I probably have a right to.

If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have cared when she said I saw her as another notch on my belt. I wouldn’t think about her when we’re not together. I wouldn’t give a shit about the potential fallout of our relationship because I wouldn’t care what happened as long as I got what I wanted.

“I care about her.” That’s as real of an answer as I can give him right now.

“And is that enough?”

“Enough for what?”

“Enough for you to do whatever it takes to keep you two together?”

“Fuck, man.” I rub my hand over my face. “I don’t know. For us to be together…I don’t even know how that would work. I definitely couldn’t stay on the Scorpions as long as she’s the coach, and even if I managed to find another team that Bob could trade me to next season, it would potentially be somewhere I wouldn’t even play first line or to a team that doesn’t have any chance at a cup. And then, we’d be trying to have a long-distance relationship where we might see each other once or twice a month if we’re lucky.”

He releases a deep sigh. “I know how hard it was on you, Jameson, Rachel, and your mom when your dad would sweep into town a couple times a month during the season, and I completely understand why you would be leery of getting into a relationship where that would happen. So, it sounds like you have your answer.”

I jerk my head up. “I do?”

“It sounds like right now, your career is the most important thing in your life.”

I guess it is. “Is that selfish of me?”

“I can’t answer that for you. It’s your life, man. You need to live it. I can’t do that for you.”

21

BASH

Two games on the Wolverine’s turf and two crushing defeats…

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