AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, it’s serious,” I decided.
Soren nodded. “I’ve never been big on following the rules, but Shaw takes his role as captain seriously. He loves this team, and he’s going to bring them to a championship… if nothing trips him up. That said, I think you’re good for him. I’m not sure he’s good for you.”
He understood more than I’d given him credit for.
I paced the length of the tiny kitchen. Five steps, turn, five steps. “There’s a solid chance TU is only letting me play for the positive publicity. If I mess that up for them—for instance by dating the star quarterback and proving myself nothing more than a ball bunny—I could lose this opportunity.”
Soren scoffed. “You’re playing because you’re a damn good receiver. If Coach Gordon didn’t think you could cut it, you’d be riding the bench.”
I stopped pacing to stare at the leftover cheese scattered across the counter, and he let me have the moment to consider. “What was it like being drafted?”
Soren let out a surprised laugh. “Terrifying. And exhilarating. I wasn’t convinced any teams would take me.”
I shot him an incredulous look. “Are you kidding me right now? You and Derrick Asher were football elite. I can’t believe I’m playing for your same team. Hell, I can’t believe I’m sitting here talking to you.”
He eyed me as if judging my sincerity. I must have passed because he shook his head and grabbed a water out of the fridge. “D was elite, for sure. Don’t talk like you aren’t just as talented.”
I snorted. “Yes, but my pesky vagina gets in the way.”
Soren nearly spit out his drink. “No wonder Vi likes you.”
A warm feeling filled my chest. Not only did I like Soren and Vi, but a professional football player thought I was as talented as a first round draft pick. Or maybe a second round draft pick if he was talking about himself. Either way, I’d take it in a heartbeat.
As if karma knew my life had peaked, Vi let loose with a triumphant shout in the living room. Soren shrugged, and we followed the noise.
“RJ’s dad is Jed Jones?” Mac asked as we entered the room.
I stopped in my tracks. He, Vi, Noah, and Parker stared down at a phone clutched in Mac’s hand. My stomach lurched violently as dread stole my breath.
“I knew I’d heard her name before,” Vi crowed.
In that moment, I hated her, and I hoped Parker would forgive me.
He watched the screen a moment longer, then looked up and met my eyes. As always, he’d known exactly where I was. Fear trickled through my system as his brows drew together.
Parker grabbed the phone from Mac and held it up. “And you lecturedmeabout trust?”
So he had been listening at practice. I wanted to reach out, assure him it wasn’t a big deal, but evenIknew it was. I’d been fooling myself thinking there’d be a right time to tell them—or hoping they’d never find out. Parker tossed the phone onto the coffee table and headed for the front door.
“Shaw, wait.” I hurried across the room after him. He didn’t slow, but I wasn’t about to give up now. “Parker.”
His shoulders tensed, but he stopped and turned with a sardonic twist on his lips. “This is what it took?”
The challenge in his eyes warned me that I didn’t want an audience for the rest of our exchange. Only a few seconds had passed since Mac spilled my deepest secret, but to my surprise, Soren helped clear the room.
“Let’s go for a walk.” He held out his hand to Vi, and she nodded at the other three.
Out of the corner of my eye, Eva sent me a questioning look, but I waved her off. Mac ushered her out the door, and the room emptied around us as Parker and I sized each other up.
I’d only seen him angry like this once before, when Williams had been talking shit in the locker room. It sucked being on the receiving end.
I opened my mouth to say something—I didn’t know what—but he slashed the air with his hand.
“What else did you lie about?” he asked quietly.
“I never lied to you.” Simply held back key information in a stupid attempt to protect myself from the wrong person.
Parker crossed the distance between us in a blink, leaning down close to my face. “Lies of omission are still lies, Lorelai.”
