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"I Googled the shit out of you. You look cute as hell on the 'Gram."
"Oh my god. Stop stalking my social media!"
"Uh, hell no. Have you seen how hot you are?"
"You're impossible."
"I wouldn't have to be if you'd say yes already." She knows I'm not just talking about this trip. I'm talking about us. I know she's on the verge of giving in to all of it. She's just afraid to take the leap and see where it leads.
I appreciate that she's trying to look out for my career, but I don't need her to protect me. I can handle myself. The only thing she needs to worry about is doing what makes her happy. I have a feeling she hasn't done much of that in her life. She worries too much about everyone else. I've known her for two days, and I know that much about her.
She loves fiercely and defends the people who matter to her like a little mama bear. I'm guessing she's done it her entire life, putting everyone else first. Doing what she was supposed to do to keep her brothers from worrying.
It's time for her to take a leap and live for herself.
"I'll pay for everything, including separate hotel rooms if you'd prefer to have your own," I say, trying to sweeten the deal. "All you have to do is drive."
"Is this even allowed?" she demands.
"Of course, it's allowed," I say, technically not lying to her. Coach may not be thrilled, but there's no rule preventing it. The way I see it, I have two days to convince her that she wants to be mine, despite her brother. If she doesn't agree, I'm going to her brother regardless of what she has to say.
The chips will fall where they will then. Either I'll be blackballed, and he'll no longer be my boss…or he'll kill me, and it won't matter. Maybe it's the concussion talking, but it seems to me like taking two days to try to convince her to fall for me before I fight fire with fire seems like the safest bet.
Her brother may be overprotective, but I doubt he'd kill me if doing it would make her unhappy. So I just need to make sure it'll make her unhappy.
What better way than spending two days locked in a car with her, destroying her defenses?
It's a genius plan, really. Concussed me may be the smartest me yet.
"Fine," she says. "But just so we're clear, this isn't a date. I'm only agreeing because you need someone to make sure you don't freaking die on the trip."
"You're doing what?" Coach says an hour later, his arms crossed as he stares at me like I've lost my damn mind.
"Riding to the game with Gabbi Sterling."
His silence is deafening. And then he laughs abruptly. "Jesus Christ, Jacks. If you weren't this ballsy all the time, I'd be worried. Sterling is going to murder you when he finds out."
"I fully intend to tell him."
"Oh, really?" Coach G smirks. "Then you'll be happy to know he's upstairs."
Fuck. I planned to call him, not discuss it face to face. Less chance of us coming to blows if we're not in the same room.
"Great," I say with false enthusiasm. "I'll just run up there now."
"The hell you will. The last thing we need is for him to try to knock your ass out when you already have a concussion." Coach G shakes his head, dragging his phone from his pocket. "I'll handle it."
"You aren't going to argue?"
"Would it do me any good?" He cocks a brow at me, waiting for me to shake my head before he speaks again. "That's what I thought." He sighs. "I thought they were bullshitting about the water in this town, but after the last few months, I'm starting to second-guess myself. The whole team will be married by the end of the season at this rate."
"What's wrong with the water in town?"
"Apparently, it's…You know what? It doesn't even matter. It's already too late for you."
"Well, that sounds ominous."
"Love is never ominous." He points to the chair across from his desk. "Sit your overgrown ass down before you collapse. I'll call Jordan."
