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Tom stiffens beside me, and the tension coming off of him bleeds into my side. “What’s this?”
Mark stands beside John like they’re fucking besties while Mark smiles like he’s won the damn lottery.
“Tom, Mark says you guys go way back?”
Way back? What?
Tom gives John a jilted nod. “Ancient history.”
Mark smiles behind sunglasses at Tom and sucks on his teeth. “Sure. Ancient history.”
“Great.” John rubs his hands together. “Glad to have us all acquainted. Tom, we are looking to use the field for an event after the homecoming game, so please, do you mind us taking over the field for a few minutes? Mark has some interviews coming up.”
Interviews? What are they talking about?
“Right,” Tom drawls. “Congress. Sounds fitting for you, Mark.”
Mark doesn’t waver. “You know me, Tom. I’m always on top, and with the best of everything.”
There’s another conversation going on here that I’m trying to follow, but I don’t understand. Was Ted serious about that medicine thing the other night? I thought he was just trying to distract me.
“How’s your wife, Mark? Recovered and spending her health wisely, I hope?”
I happen to know she loves her wine and the wine provider, but I don’t otherwise know what else she does. Well, plastic surgery too, I guess.
Mark chuckles, and it’s unlike anything I’ve heard from him. It’s dark, like some sinister type of asshole with an agenda. “I see you did a great job with Allison. Teen pregnancy and all.”
Tom takes a step up to Mark, who takes one toward him, too. “Allie is a fantastic mother and knows how to function like a responsible adult. She’s driven. Works full time, takes care of my grandson, and still puts herself through school. I’d say that’s better than a spoiled college dropout with a drinking problem and anOnlyDaddiesaccount. Right, Lucas?”
“Okay!” John finally steps in, separating them. “Not sure what’s going on, but Tom, why don’t you wait in your office and I’ll be there shortly?”
I haven’t been here long enough, but that is an invitation to get his ass chewed out if I ever heard one. John is a nice guy and a fair person. I just hope he sees this for what it is rather than whatever glamor Mark promised him.
Tom and Mark exchange forced grins at one another with a silentfuck youon Tom’s face before he walks back to his office without another word.
Tom puts me to shame. I need his balls.
“I am deeply sorry, Mark. I did not know your history was... whatever that was. I will deal with him personally.”
I’m not sorry. If anything, I wish I could have seen how far that went.
Mark waves John off like they’re close friends now. “We just have history, like I said. Not all of it is sunshine and fun times. But I am past all of that. So, please, let’s take a look at my stadium.” Mark looks over at me and arches a brow. “Lucas, I’ll be in touch.”
Bullshit.
John escorts Mark and his band of ass kissers toward the field where they disrupt the practice. Before they get too far, John is just loud enough for me to hear.
“So when we put the new name on everything, would you like us to includeCongressmanin the title, or just your name? Or there’s alwaysFuture Presidentwe could throw in there,” he laughs.
I blink and rush to follow Tom to his office. When I make it back inside, my phone is lit up with messages and phone calls galore from Allie. She’s going to have to wait, though. I weave through the rows of lockers in the locker room until I get to the back where the coaching office is.
“Tom? Are you okay?”
He’s seething in his chair. His desk is across from mine and if he stares any harder at the picture of his wife on his desk, it might crack.
I don’t get mad easily, but I am protective of things that matter to me. Allie and my son are pretty much it now. They’re safe, though. It’s Tom that needs me right now.
Or a stiff drink.
