“You know nothing will come out of this.”
We both rise to our feet. Coach holds out a hand to me, and I reach forward to shake it.
“You’ll be surprised to know not everyone is afraid to go up against a Price.” He winks. “Some people might even look forward to it.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Rocking back on my heels, I parse out his words, searching for some hidden meaning.
“You’ll see.” With only a vague response, he ushers me out of his office and steers me out the door. “It’s getting late. Go, rest up.” I glance at the clock as I leave, taking note of the time.
It’s a little after six.
Roman waits for me in the locker room, likely already sorting his thoughts for my impending interrogation. Swallowing down a frustrated groan I jerk my head to the door in silent question.You coming?
I’m meeting up with Aaron for dinner. Might as well bring Roman’s ass along so he can poke at Henderson and forget about whatever questions he has sitting on the tip of his tongue for me.
NINE
KASEY
“Iam not anyone’s dirty little secret,” I snap. Eyes wide, I jerk both of my hands to my face, covering my mouth as I immediately catch my mistake.Dammit.My reaction does nothing to prove my own point. If anything, it only serves to confirm his.
“Right.”Deacon gives me a knowing look. “You’re cool with Price hiding the fact the two of you are boning while he struts around campus as a free agent, enjoying all the perks that come along with being a division one athlete and unattached. You have no problem with the endless line of women who throw themselves at him every chance they get. I have a hard time believing that, Kasey.”
Well, not when he puts it like that. Obviously I’m not okay with women throwing themselves at him. Not because he’s mine or anything. But we have an arrangement. One I suggested which means I am not his dirty little secret. If anything, Dominique Price is mine.
“Can you honestly sit there and tell me you’re okay with letting Price have his cake and eat it too?”
“You misunderstood.” I aim for flippancy, but my attempt at azero fucks to giveattitude falls flat on the mattress between us.
This is harder than I thought it’d be. But if I can’t convince Deacon that there’s nothing going on between Dom and I, what hope do I have if the time comes when I have to deny what I’m doing to my friends, or worse, my brother?
“I meant I’m not his dirty secret because we aren’t sleeping together. Therefore, there’s no secret to keep.” I wave a dismissive hand in the air.
My denial falls on deaf ears.
“He’s using you. You know that, right? Whatever lies Price is telling you, that’s all they are. Lies. He won’t settle down with you. He won’t offer you a real or meaningful relationship. The kind you deserve. He’s not capable of it. There is no happy ending where Dominique Price is concerned.”
Deacon’s earlier playfulness is gone, leaving behind an edge of steel in his voice.
My first impulse is to reject his words. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Deacon’s been on the team with Dominique for a handful of months. Hardly enough time to get to know someone let alone get a sense of their character.
A spark ignites deep inside me, demanding Deacon admit that he’s wrong. I want him to take back his words. To eat each and every one of them until there is zero risk of him spewing them back out.
The urge to defend Dominique is overwhelming.
But a single question filters through my mind.Why should I care?We aren’t in a relationship and neither one of us wants one. Not with each other.
Dominique isn’t denying me some fairytale romance I secretly want. He’s not lying to me or manipulating my feelings. He’s playing bymyrules. Which makes Deacon’s assumptions irrelevant.
“Be honest, if not with me, then with yourself. Are you really okay being the side chick Price keeps tucked away? The one he brings out when he wants an easy lay? That’s not you, Kasey. You’re better than that.”
“Way to deliver that backhanded compliment. Asshole,” I snap. “Let's set the misogyny aside for the rest of the day. And for the last time, there is no me and Dominique.”
“Stop with the bullshit.” He rubs his temples. “You’re giving me a headache. I know you and Price are sleeping together. Stop denying it.”
Anxious energy scales up my chest and into my throat. My jaw tightens hard enough for me to hear my teeth grind down on each other.
Let. It. Go.
