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“Does this mean we’re safe until the Super Bowl?” he wondered out loud. “That’s the only game mentioned. I can do whatever I want in the other playoff games?”
“Maybe,” I said.
The detective looked like he had slept in his suit. He must have been working long hours. But I held no sympathy for him as he read the letter.
“Are you any closer to finding this maniac?” I demanded. “It’s been radio silence from you guys lately. I know the holidays just ended, butfuck, we need to see some sort of progress.”
“We actually have several new leads,” he said wearily. “The gaming commission has flagged 637 gamblers that have made consistent wagers related to the Stallions and Luke August himself. We’ve been running background checks on them around the clock.”
“637?” I barked a laugh. “Might as well flag all of Las Vegas.”
“We’re doing the best we can,” he replied, but there was no heat in his voice. “We still don’t know why he’s only targeting Luke rather than another player, but it’s the only thing that makes sense. We expect a lot more heavy wagers during the playoffs. Andespeciallyduring the Super Bowl. Whoever this guy is, they’re going to slip up sooner or later.”
“Might not matter,” Luke said. “Maybe we won’t even make it to the Super Bowl. I almost hope we don’t, just to put an end to this.”
*
If Luke was secretly hoping the Stallions would lose in the playoffs, he certainly didn’t play like it. After a first-round bye, the team played the Indianapolis Colts at home. The Colts jumped out to an early 14 - 0 lead, stunning the Salt Lake City crowd. But that forced the Stallions to throw the ball, and Luke really shined. He caught seven passes in the first half, including two that were more than 30 yards. The assault didn’t stop in the second half, and Dallas connected with him for six more passes and two touchdowns on the way to a 35 - 17 win.
Luke was playing like someone had lit a fire under him. It was relieving, because I had feared the opposite: that Luke would allow the pressure of the attacker to get to him.Some men are born to handle it, I thought as he celebrated with his teammates. I found myself immensely proud of him.
Which made it tougher to deal with the way he was acting around me.
We made up after the Colts game. I apologized for not considering his feelings, and then he said he was sorry for getting so upset about something that was ultimately my choice. We kissed, and hugged, and made slow, unhurried love. Then we fell asleep in each other’s arms. The next day, I woke to Luke’s tongue sliding up and down my pussy, and he quickly brought me to a ragged orgasm while I was still half-dreaming.
But things weren’t the same. The sex was still amazing, and we had fantastic chemistry, but the honeymoon felt like it was over; the shine had worn off. Luke wasjust barelynot himself; it was like he was holding back a little bit. Putting up a wall the way I usually did.
It’s like he’s expecting this to end soon,I realized one day while we ate dinner on the couch. He usually commented on every single SportsCenter segment, letting me know what he thought about a specific play or an anchor’s analysis. He was quieter these days. I told myself it was because he was more introspective during the playoffs, but I knew I was only lying to myself.
“Goodnight,” he said, kissing me softly as he crawled into bed. He laid on his back and I curled up against him, resting my head in the crook of his arm. For a few seconds, the only sound was of Luke’s breathing.
“High school,” I said into the silence.
I felt him look down at me. “Huh?”
“Allison Campbell’s parents were out of town, so we stole a pack of Mike’s Hard Lemonade from their fridge. I was buzzed after just one bottle, and Allison was drunk after two. And then… we made out. Right there on the living room floor. It was fun, and we giggled about it for the rest of the semester, but I never really felt anything. I’m definitely straight.” I twisted to look up at him in the darkness. “On the plane a few weeks ago, you asked if I had ever made out with a girl. That’s the answer.”
Luke chuckled. “Living room floor, huh?”
“Allison was on top. I can still feel the rug beneath my head if I close my eyes.”
“Pretty hot. I’m going to be dreaming about that.” He stroked my hair. “Thanks for sharing, Caz.”
I closed my eyes, but that wasn’t the reaction I had hoped to get from him. Things had definitely changed between us. And I didn’t know how to fix it.
If it even is fixable.
Bobby called me the next day to ask if I had made a decision about the Berlin job. “I’m still weighing my options. You said I could wait until the season was over to decide, right?”
“Right, they want you badly enough that they’re willing to wait. But I hope you don’t disappoint them,” he replied. “It’s one thing to wait over a month and then accept. But if you decline, it might leave a sour taste in their mouth.”
“I’m fine with that.”
“All right. I’ll get off your case now. You excited for the game this weekend?”
“I’m worried, actually. The Steelers match up well against the Stallions.”
Bobby snorted. “I mean theVikings. They’re playing the Cowboys in the NFC Championship.”
