Page 57 of I Got You

“Thanks. We’ll see how the season goes. It’s one game at a time.”

“How’s it going with Maggie? The pics look pretty legit. I thought Mark was going to lose his mind. He thinks you're smitten.”

“He’s worse than a schoolgirl. It’s fine. She’s….” If there’s anyone I can talk to about this, all the confusing and conflicting feelings, it’s Sean. “I meant what I said to the reporters. She’s great.”

Sean doesn’t say anything, and I know he’s interpreting my response but also accepting I don’t want to talk about it.

“Mark’s insistent about coming out for bye week. Are you good with that? I’m sure you already have your hands full without adding Mark’s dramatics.”

“Do I have a choice?”

He laughs. “Probably not.”

“Then you better come to keep me from killing him.”

“Sounds good. Hang in there.” He pauses, then adds, “I’m here when you’re ready to talk about it.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

I hang up, and a minute later, Maggie walks into the room and flops onto the bed face-first next to me. “Can we just hide in here for the next week? I thought I was ready for all this, but no thanks.”

I wrap my hand around her ankle. Her skin is so soft. “What happened?”

“You mean besides almost losing my cookies tonight?” She pauses, and I wait. “Just a bunch of people expressing their shock and congratulations. Then there’s Clifford’s voicemail relaying his disappointment in finding out about our nuptials from the media. He’s looking forward to discussing it further on Wednesday.”

“Even though Cole will be there, I’m going with you. I’ll sit in the waiting area, and Cliff can discuss it with me. I’ll look forward to it.” I’m ready to meet this man and let him know where he can shove his disappointment.

Maggie flips over and sits up next to me. “They’re…awful. It’s embarrassing.”

“You don’t have anything to be embarrassed about.” She shrinks a little, and I wonder what that’s all about. Maggie’s not one to shy away from anything.

“I’m going to take a shower.” She bumps my shoulder. “You did great today. You’re going to make some big waves in the coaching arena.”

I bump her back. “Thanks for being there.”

She closes the bathroom door, and it’s my turn to fall onto the bed. My phone buzzes again. I’m ready for the calls to stop and for the one person I’d hoped would never call me again to go back underground. He clearly didn’t get the message the last time we talked, but the man better keep his distance from Maggie and the kids if he wants to remain alive.

My body presses into the mattress, stiff and tight. I close my eyes, trying to set the weight of it all down. My mind snags on the vision of Maggie in the stands in my jersey, smiling…at me. That kiss. I shouldn’t have, but I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to kiss her and hold her for a lot longer than I did.

This woman is slowly and delicately peeling away my protective layers, but it’s got to stop. Nothing good has ever come from giving into temptation. That’s why I don’t do it, but each moment, it’s getting harder not to. I’m not sure what this means, but it all feels big and overwhelming, and all I know is it scares me a whole lot.

Chapter 19

MAGGIE

This is what I’ve been dreading, and although, for the past few weeks, it’s been like a noose slowly tightening around my neck, the fear has lingered in the background for a long time. Facing this couple sitting across the table from Cole and me is suffocating. I’m a fighter, but swallowing my shame and the regrets that return with their despised glances feels like swimming against the current threatening to drown me.

It’s clear the picture-perfect couple, with their fine clothes and exceptional manners, hasn’t changed a bit except for the gray bushes growing out of Cliff’s ears. With the stench of arrogance wafting around their every move, I imagine sticking a hot glob of wax in there and yanking it out. Both ears at the same time. These people are unceasing and unaffected, taking no ownership for their manipulative and destructive ways. Bile floats in my throat, and I press a hand to my stomach, needing it to recede. Breathe. Don’t give them power.

There was no welcome or catching up for lost time. No niceties or pleasantries. There’s no facade here, and I’m grateful for it. Anything resembling kindness would’ve been fake and gross, so I prefer the harsh, coldness of reality.

For the last thirty minutes, I’ve watched Cliff, tall, skinny, with hard, dark eyes, sit stiff and aloof, only acknowledging the attorney like Cole and I aren’t worthy to be in his presence. On the other hand, Joan, with her meticulously styled blond hair and makeup, shifts and fidgets like she’s got a rod shoved up her butt. Her beady eyes only flick towards us when she can manage to get her nose out of the air long enough.

My chest burns with tightness, and I run my clammy hands over my thighs, needing to get out of this small, confining space. There’s nothing surprising in the will, and the only reason my ass is still in this office chair is that Cole is next to me, and Shane is on the other side of the door, waiting. I don’t know if he could see my nerves, but he stuck close to me while we waited for the attorney to call us back and squeezed my knee as if to give me courage before I stood to come in here.

I try to take a deep breath, willing my body to relax as the attorney finally starts shuffling papers back together. My pits are drenched, I need a long drink of water, and to never see these two people again.

“Are there any questions?” the attorney asks, tapping the stack of paper on the table to straighten them.

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