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My phone buzzes in my hand, and I look at it.
MARK: Heard you talked to Shane. Thanks for letting me know you weren’t drowning in a pool of self-pity.
ME: Been busy sorting through a pile of bullshit.
MARK: Fair enough. I’ll consider forgiving you.
MARK: Put your head down and get to work. Then, put an end to this.
I huff, putting my phone in my locker, hoping it’ll get lost. My head is full and overwhelmed with too many things to process and sort through. Sitting in the chair in front of my locker with my head in my hands, I try to focus on one thing at a time.
First, I need to do my job. Then, I’ll have to deal with the press. At some point, I’ll check in with Andie and see what she wants to do. One thing at a time. It’s all I can do.
But Mark is right. I’m done being a coward. Morgan can say whatever, and people will believe it or not. That doesn’t mean I should lie down and take it. If Andie is willing to work with me, I’ll make time, and we’ll show these drama queens exactly what’s up.
I change, getting ready for warm-ups as my teammates file in. Some give me a sympathetic nod or a slap on the back, while others eye me like they’re still deciding whose side they’re on. I’m already tired of that shit too. I’ve never needed someone’s pity or consolation, and I don’t want it now. If these guys want to believe the lies, fine. They can get in line with all my former fans.
I’ve been through hell and back growing up, seeing and facing things I could only pray to forget. This is just another bump in the road, and just like the others I’ve encountered in my life, I’ll step over it and face whatever is on the other side.
Chapter 16
ANDIE
“For real? We’re going to watch the Tigers, and you’re going to pretend that I’m not here?”
She’s sitting with her arms crossed over her chest, her glasses forever crooked on her face. Her blue strands are pulled back now, and the sunlight catches on the diamond stud in her nose, casting a rainbow droplet on the wall opposite me.
I’ve never watched football in my life. Even when Josh had it on, I spent that time doing anything but watching the game. Today, however, I can’t help but want to see just what kind of reception Sean gets.
“Andie, if you keep this up, I’ll no longer support your sulking and will call Gem to yank you out of it. You know what that means.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not sulking, you big nark. As if you haven’t been reporting every tidbit of the last forty-eight hours to her like my life is some kind of daytime drama.”
“Well, it kind of is. I mean, the only other thing needed in that meeting this morning with Sean and that imbecile agent of his was a door slam and a slap, and the Daytime Emmy would go to us.”
I laugh. “Five more minutes with Craig, and you would’ve conquered the slap.”
“I’m sure he gets paid way too much for adding absolutely no value,” she says with disgust. “Now that you’ve finally cracked, what did you and Sean discuss in the hall? If it hadn’t been for that pinhead in a suit, my ear would’ve been pressed to the door.”
“Calm down. It’s not that exciting.” I think back to our conversation and my surprise at how concerned Sean seemed to be. This guy just messes with my dislike–to–hate scale like it’s his job.
She scoffs. “Right. You and I both know if you decide to do this, the social media aspect on your end will be all me. So I fall into the need-to-know category.”
“He apologized for this whole thing and then asked what I wanted to do.”
She stares at me. “He apologized?”
“Yes, he said he was sorry.”
“That was nice of him, but why? It’s not like any of this is his fault. His crazy ex is selling stories to get some kind of rise or pay out of it. Clearly, this isn’t easy on him either.”
“Since you’re all team Sean, maybe I should give you his number, and you can convince him to fire Craig and hire you instead.”
She weighs her head from side to side. “I wouldn’t mind working for all that hot muscular manliness, but…I’d miss you too much. I’m just saying he seems like a genuine person. This wasn’t his fault. He can’t help what other people will do to get back at him. In fact, I imagine his friend pool is quite small.”
I groan, not wanting to hear about how amazing Seanprobablyis, but she’s right. He seemed genuinely apologetic and upset about something he didn’t do, but I can’t think about that. I have to figure out if I want to work with him to try to ‘clear’ our names.Ugh. People just really suck.
I’m really good at waiting for the storm to blow over and would like to sit on this couch until this all goes away, but I’d told myself I wasn’t doing that anymore. I’m supposed to be living, no longer wallowing in grief and heartbreak. I’mtryingto step back into the land of the living, one baby step at a time. This little setback isn’t good for my progress.
