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I fucked up nearly every play, and it if wasn’t for Joe, we might have lost the game. He got us ahead and kept the score there but not without a lot of dark looks in my direction. Coach held back during halftime but the glare that he was sending me said everything that he wasn’t saying.
My career was going to be over. I was going to lose everything as well as Emma.
“Think you can go back out there and actually accomplish something?” Those were his last words, and I nodded slowly, trying to find the motivation inside me to do so.
We did win thanks to the skills of the surrounding guys, but I was yanked early in the second half and sat down on the bench as I took a deep breath. I watched idly as they kept playing, feeling like I was a million miles away, worried about what was going to happen next.
As expected, Coach gave me an ass chewing in his office while the other guys got ready to leave. “What the fuck was happening out there, Jackson? I gave you the chance that you’ve been begging me for and you blew it. Give me a good reason to keep you here after the fight and this game. Make me see why I chose you.”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t feeling great,” I managed to say from the seat across from him.
“That won’t cut it. I need you to be the best after everything lately. I should get rid of you for going after Joe to begin with, but I know that he can be an asshole. He’s just a very talented asshole and I can’t have any more of those on this team. Find your spark and bring it back to the field.”
I looked into his face, seeing how serious he was as he spoke. I saw the warning in his eyes as well as the hope that I could bring it all back.
“Yes, sir,” I replied as I waited for him to dismiss me. When I walked out, Joe was dressed and watching me closely. “What the hell do you want?”
“Is he finally getting rid of you?” Joe sneered.
I stepped up to him with a dark look on my face. I didn’t say anything, telling myself to let this go, and Joe chuckled.
I started to move closer to him but instead, I pushed away from the wall and went to change. I had bigger things to deal with tonight.
CHAPTER 25
EMMA
I washed off my make-up and dressed in the clothes I’d worn here before I went to wait for Jackson. I saw the way that he played tonight, and it killed me to know I had everything to do with that. If he wasn’t with me, Greg would not have caught us. Everything would be fine right now, but it wasn’t. The damage was done.
Jackson was the last to leave, and I stepped up to him, searching his face for any clue as to what was going on inside his head. His eyes were dark with worry.
“I’m still on the team but he’s pissed. I need to turn this around, but first we have to find out where Greg is.”
I nodded and we headed to the parking lot. I climbed into Jackson’s passenger seat before he closed the door for me. I slumped against the seat and played everything back all over again as he got in and started the engine.
“He’s going to be there, isn’t he?” I said.
“He will. He’s going to fight this every step of the way, Em. What do you want to do?”
“I’m going to tell him to let me grow up. It’s long overdue, and this needs to be settled. I wasn’t lying when I said that I’ve loved you for years.” I saw Jackson look over at me. “Did you think that I was going to end this over what happened today?”
“It seems to me like the easiest choice to make,” he said.
I shook my head.
“It’s the worst one,” I leaned closer and kissed him softly, feeling his body relax with the contact. We headed back to his apartment, expecting the worst.
Greg was pacing back and forth in front of the building. Jackson parked and we got out, slowly walking up to him. He glared daggers at Jackson.
“I want you to pack everything and then we’re going to Bella’s to get the rest of your stuff. You’re coming home with me, Emma. I won’t let him treat you this way.”
“Treat me what way? Good? Like an adult?” I demanded. Jackson reached for my arm as I started to walk to Greg. “This isn’t one of your one-night stands from high school or college, Greg. This is real.” My voice was firm as he looked at me in disbelief.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he sneered.
