Font Size:  

My breakfast bubbles up in my stomach and I paste on an air of confidence. I’m more than capable of doing this job and doing it great, but there’s always the question of what my new coworkers—and my bosses—will think when they see me in action. Not to mention setting eyes on Lee in person for the first time in years. He’s the star of the show around here, and even if I’m probably going to want to spit in his face when I see him, I can never let anyone know.

While Dr. Carlisle waits for Coach Baker to introduce him, I stand behind him, silently repeating my mantra that I have this. Lee isn’t all that. He’s just a guy who wronged me. No one special.

But when Dr. Carlisle says my name, I step out from behind him, smiling and giving a small wave to the players, quickly scanning the room for one man in particular.

He’s right in the middle, as anyone of his caliber would be.

My breath catches.

Lee Burrows.

The man who made me feel both the highest and lowest I ever have in my life.

Of course, I know what he looks like these days. It’s hard not to be aware of what the number one quarterback in the country looks like, but the magazines and television don’t do him justice.

He’s as attractive as ever, but the boy has grown into a man. His brown wavy hair is cropped short on the sides, and his angular jaw is covered in a dusting of facial hair. Even covered by his shirt and shorts, there’s no doubt his muscles are bigger and stronger. The fact that he’s still as hot as ever is an annoying truth I’ll have to deal with.

But it’s his look of shock that gives me satisfaction. His mouth hangs open and he blinks his hazel eyes a few times as if he’s a genie who can clear me from his vision.

Dr. Carlisle carries on, talking about how each of the players will be meeting with the medical staff to undergo an assessment over the next couple of days, but Lee’s gaze doesn’t stray from me. It’s like a spider crawling over my skin.

Okay, maybe not a spider. Maybe more like a single finger dragging slowly over my heated skin, but big whoop. It’s still annoying.

My willpower betrays me and I glance his way a couple of times. That’s when I spot him looking beside him at Miles—clearly those two are still thick as thieves. Miles catches me looking and slowly nods with a wry smile.

I shift in place since they’re both looking at me, and I listen intently to Coach Baker as he gives the guys a rundown of the morning’s plans. He lists off a few players who need to come with the medical staff for their workups, and I’m finally able to escape Lee’s intrusive gaze.

As soon as I step out of his view, I rest my back on a wall and inhale deeply. Of all the shit I’ve gone through in my life, that might have been the worst.

Okay, that didn’t go so badly, right? I only have to do that however more thousand times until he ultimately retires. And if luck is on my side, the Kingsmen won’t renew his contract for next year. Easy peasy.

Three

Lee

Iblink and blink again and look around. Sure as shit, it’s not a dream, Shayna is walking out of the room.

Of all the things I expected to deal with this week, coming face-to-face with my biggest regret was not one of them. Seeing her again pulls all that self-esteem out of me and throws it in a garbage disposal because she’s a reminder of the slimeball I was with her.

She looks different than she did in college—no glasses, shorter hair that’s lighter with a hint of darker roots showing. But she’s just as beautiful. And even though she didn’t utter a word, she must be just as smart, otherwise, she wouldn’t have ended up working for the Kingsmen. Dr. Carlisle and Dr. Frampton are notoriously rigorous in their hiring of new staff.

“Did you know she was working for the team now?” Miles interrupts my thoughts.

I shake my head. “Of course not. What? You think she called me to use me as a reference?”

Miles holds up his hands. “It’s odd to just show up. She must’ve known she’d see you.”

“What do you mean?” I look away from the direction Shayna went and over at my best friend.

He gives me a look like I’m an idiot. “Even people who don’t follow football know you play for the Kingsmen. She would’ve too when she applied for and accepted the job.”

A small smile tips the corners of my lips because she does follow football. “Maybe she’s ready to forgive me.”

Miles shrugs and stands, clamping me on the shoulder. “Wouldn’t assume that either.” I’m busy thinking, and he clears his throat, not walking down the stairs. “Listen, man, you can’t let her get in your head.”

My eyebrows crinkle. “What? Never.” But I already feel my head spinning, unsure how to handle this.

“You say that, but you’re forgetting I was your roommate. I saw how the breakup affected you.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
Articles you may like