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“The GM, coaches, the organization.”
I look around the room at all these people who are a part of his everyday life. The people he works for and sacrifices his timeand body for. The people he’s been with for the past however many years.What a crock!
I don’t know anything about football, but I know how highfalutin jerks act when things don’t meet their stuffy, puffy standards.
“Sean, that’s not right,” I say, adding more force than I expected.
I think I see what might be a hint of a smile. “I know, but unfortunately, I can’t do anything about it. If it’s true, the best case scenario is I might have a tiny bit of influence in where I end up.”
I’m letting this all sink in when a couple of his teammates and their wives or girlfriends join us. Sean makes small talk about our plans for the event while my mind wanders through everything he just said. This professional football stuff is really just business. These guys are pawns in a game of chess. They strategize and negotiate in their quest to be the best, regardless of what it does to the person actually doing the job.
Sean’s teammates move on, and we’re left standing there just in time for Morgan to slither toward us from wherever she was hiding. She eyes us, and I can tell this woman has a spine, but it’s likely made of some kind of generic material. Unfortunately for her, I’m familiar with her type. When she’s smacked with the cold water of truth, we’ll watch her shrivel.
Beside me, Sean is immovable. When I glance up at his face, it’s like stone. This man could cut through steel with the fire blazing in his eyes.
She saunters over like she doesn’t have a care in the world, stopping too close for her own good.
“Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to see you here together.”
Neither Sean nor I say anything, and I wonder where the schmuck is who brought her. That guy has to be a real winner.
I’d wonder what Sean ever saw in this woman, but I already know. She’s beautiful–long, dark, almost black hair, tan skin, immaculate makeup, and a body to match. She’s the kind of beautiful you wonder if it’s possible it’s real. She and Sean looked amazing together. I also know it wasn’t anything more than that, or we wouldn’t be standing here right now.
She sets her cold, hard eyes on Sean. “How’s the new life turning out?” Her eyes narrow, and she sounds amused. “I’d think you’d be a little more careful than to flaunt your little secret around the people who control your world.” She glances around. “Oh, I forgot. You’re moving on from football being your whole life.”
“How much does it cost to sell your soul these days?” Sean asks so smoothly it almost gives me chills.
She ignores him and moves her eyes to me. “The whole sympathy card for your husband was a good play. I shouldn’t have been surprised that Sean was the one to buy into it. Now, you think you can plan a pity party, and suddenly, everyone will forget what you’ve done.” She scoffs. “You can try to deny it any which way you want.”
I take just a little step forward, but I feel Sean’s hand wrap around my elbow. I meet her glaring eyes and speak slowly and clearly.
“The difference between us is we have nothing to hide.” I shrug. “Maybe half the people in this room believe you, and the other half think you’re full of it. It doesn’t make any difference to us. But for you, the truth makes all the difference in the world, doesn’t it?” I slip my hand into Sean’s, and without hesitation, he grips mine right back. “Good luck in life, Morgan. I hope you eventually find your way out of the misery you must live in.”
I turn, pulling Sean along with me, ready to get away from the stench of her and her lies. We make it two steps, and I almost run right over a young girl who’s staring at me with the biggestgrin and starry eyes. She must be around fourteen, dressed entirely in black, and has pink stripes in her blond hair. A girl after my teenage heart.
“Ms. Parks. My grandpa said he thought you might be here tonight. I brought my guitar, and I was hoping you’d sign it.”
All I can do is stare back at her, trying to reel myself in from the far edges of rage. I realize I’m still holding Sean’s hand as her words start to come to me. I look up at him, and he’s looking back at me with an intensity that makes my belly do a little flip. It’s like a gymnast trying out a back handspring for the first time. I let go of his hand, turning back to the girl, needing a distraction.
“Yes, of course. I’d love to. Lead the way.” I step away from Sean but peek at him over my shoulder as he stands there watching me with that look, and I’m not sure exactly what I see. Or maybe I do, and it’s the kind of look that catches my breath and scares me a whole lot.
Chapter 28
SEAN
All I can do is stand like a damn fool, watching Andie as she makes her way across the room. I know I’m not the only one tracking her. Half the guys in this room are focused on the same thing I am. Only…I know exactly what’s underneath her outward beauty, and I know what I want.
She steals a glance at me over her shoulder, and I want to smile. I want to tell her everything is ok because I have no doubt my face is giving me away. But all I can do is stare, thinking all the things a few weeks ago I wouldn’t have dared let my thoughts go anywhere near.
Andie is always beautiful, but tonight, she’s freaking stunning. When she came down the hallway at her house, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. It doesn’t matter what she’s wearing. She has this way of always looking like herself, never using clothes as a way to morph into someone else. What I have, these chumps around me don’t, is a vision of her relaxed and messy in purple knee-high socks and an old t-shirt. It’s the Andie I prefer.
Her black and white dress and high heels are classy but with an edge and still completely her. Her soft dark curls are bound tonight instead of running wild, pulled to the side and draped over her shoulder.
Every time she’s near me, I notice something new. The tiny scar just above her lip. The graceful soft curve of her neck and shoulders. The way her delicate necklace holding an ‘A’ charm dangles, falling just below her collarbone. Or how she didn’t step away when I pressed my hand into the sensitive area of her lower back.
After Shane’s rare poignant monologue, I’m allowing myself to take note of these minute details. I’ve even wondered how I might continue building a friendship with Andie after the event is over. After her eloquent response to Morgan’s completely disrespectful and malicious comments, I’m not wondering. I’m fully in the needing zone. I have to figure out how to get her to let me stick around because I need her in my life.
Andie might be the most real, honest, kind, stubborn, and at times frustrating woman I’ve ever met. What I know is the more I’m around her, the more I want to be sure that I keep getting to be around her.
