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"It's your job to know," Carson said coolly.
I heard Grace swallow.
"I'm sorry, I just…"
"No one really knows," I said firmly. "Not even the guys. Okay, maybe Hawk. Other than that, I keep it on the down-low. I don't need reporters or fans showing up and ruining it by making a publicity thing. It's just a thing I do, y'know?" The last thing I wanted was to have anyone make a fuss over it.
"Everything you do is a publicity thing," Carson said. "Every time you step out your front door. You might not like it, but it's the price of fame." He sat back and looked from me to Grace.
I glanced at Grace. She looked nervous as hell.
"I should have asked if you do anything like this," she said. "It's my fault for not doing that."
"What are you doing?" I asked. I didn't need her to fall on her sword for me. I was a big boy, I could deal.
She stuck her chin out proudly and, you guessed it, she looked hotter than ever doing it.
"I'm taking responsibility," she said. "I should have asked. It is my job to know stuff like this. That's what I'm here for. To show the public that a big, badass football player isn't a thug who goes around picking fights in bars."
"You think I'm a badass?" I grinned.
She rolled her eyes. "That's not what you're supposed to take away from this."
"Hey." I took the initiative and flopped down into a chair. "I should have said something about it. Like I mentioned, I didn't want it to turn into a circus. Those kids are going through a hard time. The hardest in their lives. They don't need people and cameras in their faces. It's not about the team, it's about them." I didn't want cameras in my face either. If anything, it gave me a night off from all of that. I didn't want to give that up for some suit event.
Carson didn't look convinced. I saw his mind turning over faster than the blades of his helicopter. That couldn't be good.
"It's always about the team," he said finally. "I appreciate that you're doing good, but clearly you need someone you're more comfortable working with and confiding in." He rubbed his chin. "I'll put out feelers and find someone suitable. Maybe someone who has liaised with players on other teams in the past. The Storm Valley Smashers perhaps."
"Grace and I get along just fine," I argued. I don't think Carson heard a word. Or he heard, but he didn't care.
"I'm sorry, Grace." He had that look on his face. The one that suggested he wasn't thinking about her as a person right now. This was all about business and money. "I don't think you have a place here with the Rapids. I wish you all the best in the future." He looked back down at his computer and that was that.
A painful silence fell.
Grace muttered something that sounded like, "Yes, sir," and slipped quietly out of the room.
I sat for a while longer, a little shell shocked. When I finally rose and walked out, I saw no sign of Grace.
Shit. I didn't feel much like a good guy now.
CHAPTER 10
GRACE
"He what?" Bec stared at me in disbelief. "Oh, Grace."
In the background, the replay of the Rapids’ win in Hobart the previous night played.
People watched and cheered or jeered as though the game was live and they didn't already know the outcome.
Waves was practically Rapids territory. I should have known better than to come. Why had I? Because it was a post game ritual. Either we came here right after the game, or we came the following night if they played out of town.
A few members of the team were already here. Others would filter in later. Some would still be nursing sore heads from the previous night, or injuries from the game, but most wouldn't miss turning up at least for an hour or two.
I dreaded seeing Bam most of all.
"Because Bam didn't show up, you got fired?" Bec's eyes were wide with sympathy. "That's terrible."
