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I'd followed Maddox's sports career over the last two years but tried hard not to follow his personal life. It hurt too much. The last I'd heard, he was dating Becca Kingsley, a supermodel, and it was serious. After that, I'd cut his personal life out of my life.
I knew, eventually, our paths would cross again someday. He was a pro baller, and I was a sports journalist. I didn't expect it to be this soon, and I hoped it was to discuss his future in football and not his personal life, which was the last thing I wanted to hear about.
"Can you handle this, Wright?" He glared, his lips pinched.
"Of course." I forced a smile. "I will get started today."
"Maddox is only in town this weekend for the game on Sunday," he informed me. "You should be able to find him at the stadium practicing. I also heard he is staying at the Belmont Suites, which is right down from your place. He probably uses their gym."
"Thanks, boss." I forced a smile. He disappeared, and my head dropped to my desk.
"Fuck," I muttered. This might be the first time I'd be unable to complete my assignment in my career, but I was going to try anyway.
SIXTY-ONE
ADDISON
Standing near the rear exit, I waited for the visiting team to exit the stadium. I knew Maddox's team was in town this weekend for a game, and after the game, he'd be gone, making that interview a little harder.
So it was now or never...
Shoving my fidgeting hands into the pocket of my black slacks, I watched as player after player pushed through the door. The anxiety coiled low in my gut and kicked up a few notches every time that door opened, knowing it could be him this time.
When he pushed through the exit, I sucked in a deep breath, and anxiety flooded my stomach as my chest tightened. He was even hotter now than he was two years ago, and I wasn't sure how that was possible. His dark hair was covered with a backward baseball cap, and his face was covered in dark stubble that he didn't have before. The scruffy look worked for him. He wore black joggers and a team t-shirt with his bag thrown over his broad shoulders.
He didn't notice me as he strolled to his vehicle, and I started to wonder if this would go the same direction it did in college when he didn't recognize me, but then his gaze blinked up and locked on mine. His cold expression made my throat close.
"Addison," he said dryly, and my heart felt like he was ripped out of my chest and stomped on. It shouldn't feel like this. I'd made the choice to walk away.
"Hey." I smiled, trying to hide the nervous tremble in my voice.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, his gaze flicking down to the press pass around my neck. His eyes and jaw hardened as they blinked back up at me.
I wanted to hug and ask him to have a drink and catch up, but it was obvious from his expression that we weren't old friends. There was no point in beating around the bush. "I was hoping for an interview with you."
His expression pinched. "I guess no one told you I don't do private interviews anymore," he said, his tone clipped.
Swallowing hard, I nodded. "They did, but I was hoping..." I trailed off. What was I hoping? I was hoping that even though we had a complicated, heartbreaking history, he'd be able to look past everything and do the interview for me because I needed this.
"You were hoping that since it was you, I would do it?"
"No, yes, no, maybe," I stammered. "I didn't exactly volunteer for this. It's my job, and I'm brand new." I stopped. It was entirely unnecessary to babble.
"Why don't you give me your card?" he said, his gaze flicking over my shoulder like he was in a hurry. "And I'll call you if I want to do an interview." He wanted an out, and this was it. I would give him my card and pray he'd call to do the interview, but we both knew he was pacifying me so he could get away with no intention of ever having to see me again.
Swallowing hard, I nodded. I hated that this was where we were. He was still angry with me, or maybe he hated me. It was probably closer to he didn't even care enough to hate me. He'd moved on with his life.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out one of my brand-new shiny business cards. He snatched it, and without another word, he walked away without a second glance.
I wanted to call out to him, to say something, anything, but I couldn't. I stood frozen in place, watching him as he disappeared into his truck.
I knew this would be tough, but I never anticipated the heartbreak I would feel—like the pain was still as raw as the day we said goodbye.
SIXTY-TWO
MADDOX
Sliding into my car, my gaze flashed up to the rearview mirror to see Addison still standing frozen where I'd left her, her gaze locked on my truck. Her hair was dark again, like back in high school. My breath caught in my throat. She was even more beautiful than she was the day she walked away, and my body still had the same reaction to her now that it did then. That pissed me off.
