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“Of course not.”
“Well, ladies. We’ve got work to do. I’ll put your bags in the office.” The rest of the day, Mom helps out, and with the third set of hands, the work is done even faster. By the time lunch rolls around, we’re finished.
“You two go on home. Spend some time together.”
“We’re fine to stay,” Mom tells her.
“No. I insist. You’ll be back here tomorrow. I would volunteer, but I’ll have CJ, and it’s hard to get anything done when I’m here by myself with him.”
“No worries, it’s fine,” I assure her.
“Go, catch up.”
“Call if you need me. I can come back.”
“It will be fine. Now go.” With a round of hugs, Mom and I grab her luggage and head out the door. I haven’t heard from Landon, and I thought I would have by now. I send him a text thanking him for bringing Mom here. It will be there for him when he lands. As Mom and I drive to his place, my heart is full. Overflowing with love for my number eighteen.
Chapter 24
Landon
The entire flight I had my headphones on and pretended to sleep. I’m exhausted, yet sleep never came. I keep thinking about Bridgett and her threats, and I get even more pissed off. Case is right that I should talk to Coach Neil, and I’ve already texted him telling him that as soon as he has a free minute, I need to speak to him. I just hope it’s as soon as we land. This shit is festering inside me and I’m about to blow. No way can I focus on the game when all I have is anger inside of me for what she thinks she can do. That’s the worst part. I don’t really know if she has that kind of pull. If she does, and Emma can’t go with me, I guess I’m retiring early. Just the thought has me clenching my fists. Why does she get to dictate when I’m done playing? Fuck me, then there’s Emma, and my conversation with Case. I won’t let her push me away. I need to tell her about this, told her I would always be honest, but damn, she had such a bad day and I didn’t want to pile this unnecessary drama on top of it all.
What a fucking mess.
I take a seat in the front of one of the shuttle busses that take us from the airport to the hotel. I don’t feel like being social. Case plops down in the seat beside me, making me groan. “You talk to him?” he says, keeping his voice low.
“No. But he knows I want to talk the first chance he gets.”
Just then, Coach Neil climbs on the bus and takes the seat across from us. “When we get to the hotel and get everyone their keys, we’ll talk,” he says softly. I nod and sit back in my seat.
“You want me to go with you?”
“Nah, thanks though.” Case and I played in college together, and have been thick as thieves ever since. I know he’s always got my back, but with this, I have a feeling the fewer people involved, the better it will be. Sure, he knows, but I don’t want him heavily involved and have his contract compromised as well. I don’t want Bridgett to take him down with me, if that’s how this plays out.
Forty-five minutes later, I’m pacing the floor in Coach Neil’s hotel suite. I’ve just told him everything and he’s just sitting on the couch watching me. “Say something,” I say, running my hands through my hair.
“It’s bullshit. Joseph doesn’t let her have anything to do with the team. I can almost guarantee that he knows nothing about this.”
“Why in the fuck is she after me? And Emma? You’ve met her. She’s the kindest, sweetest person out there. I don’t fucking get it.”
“Landon, your contract is solid. You have a no trade clause.”
“I know that, but damn it, they have the Trojans legal team behind them. Who knows what kind of fucking contract violation she’ll try to pin on me.” He pulls his phone out of his pocket and taps the screen placing it to his ear. “What are you doing?” I ask, and he raises his index finger, indicating I need to give him a minute.
“Hey, Stamper.” He greets Mr. Stamper by his last name. “Coach Neil, when you get here, I’d like a word with you. In private. Call me.” He hangs up the phone. “He’ll call,” he assures me. “Joseph’s a good man.”
“I thought so too, I still do, but his wife is the Wicked fucking Witch of the West. What does he see in her?”
“I’m not sure, but they’re total opposites. We’ll get to the bottom of this, Landon. I assure you.”
I nod. “Okay. I guess all we can do is wait. I’m going back to my room. She said by Sunday, so the clock is ticking. I’m not worried about me. It’s the threat that she’ll make Emma hate me. I couldn’t live with that. I can handle giving up the game, but I won’t give her up.”
