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She wanted to let her legs give way, to crumple right there when he nodded.
Nodded.
“How long?”
“Since the beginning.”
“Before Paris?”
“Yes.”
“Before Prague.”
“The whole time.”
The. Whole. Time. Her breath shook. “How can you—”
“Iris. Take a breath. It’s okay—”
“What is okay about me screwing up so badly that you—that you can’t play football? I destroyed your life!”
“You didn’t destroy my life.”
She narrowed her eyes, her voice low. “Don’t lie to me. I know what I did. And yet, here you are. What are youdoing?”
“I thought you’d figured that out,” he said, his voice also soft. “I’m in love with you, Iris. No—amend that. I love you, Iris.”
She just blinked at him, her breaths rolling over each other.
Oh no. No. This was all her fault. She’d clung to him, needed him, and now…now she had cost him his future again. “You do know that probably the USFL won’t want you now.”
“Mm-hmm. But Darren Pike will probably think twice about calling you a name.”
“I don’t want to know.”
“No, you don’t.”
Another couple had walked up, stared at the blocked doors. Hud gave them a look, and they pushed through the doors at the side.
He turned back to her. “Okay, so yes. For a long time, I was really angry with you. But so what you didn’t catch the targeting call? You’re not perfect. You don’t have to always get it right—”
“Yes, I do. I’m an official. It’s my job to get it right.”
He reached out to touch her, but she stepped away.
“Iris,” he said softly. “I’m not your dad, who is going to push you away when I’m hurt or scared.”
Her eyes filled. “Just, take me home.”
He just looked at her.
She folded her arms and looked away. Clenched her jaw to keep from crying.
Finally, he sighed. “Okay.”
They drove home in silence, her hands folded on her lap. And it was crazy, she knew it, because the man didn’t deserve it.
Didn’t deserveherand her treatment of him.But she couldn’t get past the terrible truth.
