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“Not what I wanted to hear. You know management is on me to find out what’s going on .”
“I know. I know. It shouldn’t be a problem, right? I’ve been seeing her a few months. We met when the team was in Austin for the season opener. Yes, she was a Warrior, but they fired her this morning. I’ve got to get to Austin, Keith, so we can talk while I drive or I’ll call you tomorrow .”
“No, I just needed the facts .”
“Is there a problem?” I ran my hands through my hair, holding my breath .
“Nothing a good story from my office can’t handle. Send me a picture of you two when you get a chance. Not that one. Something different we can use exclusively .”
Shit. Natalia wasn’t going to like that anymore than what had already happened. I needed to see her first. I needed to make sure we were okay. I had to fix us .
“All right. Give me a few hours and I’ll send you something. Anything else ?”
“I’ll call you if there is. Just know fans are going to give you hell for a while, but it actually helps that the Warriors fired her. She’ll gain sympathy points. It might make it less brutal when you two are seen out together .”
I hadn’t thought about that. The rabid rivalry had kept us apart, but now that we were public, it could be a complete nightmare for Natalia. What if the Wrangler fans didn’t embrace her? What if they turned their backs on me ?
I shook my head. It didn’t matter. She was worth it. And if I had to find another team that would accept both of us, I would. I’d do whatever it took to make her happy and make her feel safe. I’d even leave Texas .
“Thanks, Keith. Thanks for taking care of this. And anything you can do to make Natalia look good, to get her Wrangler support, I’d appreciate it.” I realized instantly how valuable this man was .
“I’ve got it. Don’t worry. The Wranglers are going to welcome her if that’s what you want. Let me work my magic and don’t forget to send me a picture .”
“Sure thing.” I hung up and raced to the parking garage .
Seconds were ticking by and I needed to know that Natalia was okay .
Thirty-Two
Natalia
I wiped the tears from my eyes and dabbed a tissue to my nose. I didn’t know I had this many tears in me. I was crying from the shock. From the humiliation. From the betrayal from the man in my life I had given myself to .
And what did I have left? I had no job. I had no income coming in. And now I didn’t have a boyfriend. Today was terrible and horrible and I wanted to skip over it .
I pulled up in front of the gate. Heather was waiting with her arms crossed. She walked over to my car .
“Hi.” I smiled meekly .
“I tried to tell you .”
I nodded. “You did.” I handed her the uniform and the box that protected the gold boots .
“But I guess he was more important?” She was mad. Her voice cracked .
“It wasn’t that .”
I wanted to explain. I wanted to tell her everything. But I wasn’t sure she would understand. Maybe she did want a love like the reporter girl found with the pitcher, but was Heather really the kind of girl who would give everything to have it? Would she lie to protect her relationship? Would she sneak out in the middle of the night? She said she wanted all the romance, but would she ever put the Warriors second ?
“Then what? What could make you risk this? You know there was no choice but to fire you once a picture like that went public .”
“I know. I’m not mad at you or anyone with the Goddesses. It’s my own fault for trusting him. I’m the only one to blame here. I’m not pretending it’s something else .”
I saw the look of pity in Heather’s eyes. We weren’t going to be friends after this. I knew that. I had betrayed her just as Sam had betrayed me. I had lied to her repeatedly and broken my oath to the squad. I felt like an awful human being .
“I tho
ught being a Goddess meant something to you. I saw it. You started to love it. You started having fun. You were becoming one of us. A sister we could count on .”
