Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 40420 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40420 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” I say, before I can think up a plausible lie.
“Holy crap. I knew it.”
“Knew it?”
She grins at me. “I’ve seen him looking at you.”
“Looking at me? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I thought you knew, honestly.” She shrugs innocently. “So, what did he want?”
“He asked me out.”
She stares at me and bursts out laughing. “Oh, my god! He didn’t?”
“He really did,” I say, laughing nervously.
“What did you say?”
“I said yes, but I don’t know…”
“You don’t know?” She stares at me, eyes bugged. “Leah, he’s rich! You know that, right?”
“I know, but so what? I’m not interested in him.”
“What else do you need? He’s handsome, he’s rich… he’s perfect, basically.”
“I need a connection,” I say.
“Make a connection later!” She stares at me like I’m insane. “How are you not more excited?”
“I don’t know. I’m just not.” I turn away from her.
“Are you into someone else?”
“No,” I say quickly, turning back.
“Oh, my god, you are. Who is it? Someone on the team?”
“No, Tessa. Seriously.”
“Felix? Oh, no, Sean. Gotta be Sean.”
“I’m not interested in any of the players.”
She hesitates. “Coaching, then.”
“Tessa,” I warn.
“Okay, fine, whatever. Don’t tell me.”
“There’s nothing to tell you.” Which isn’t true, of course, but I have to keep this secret.
“Whatever. You’re still lucky. Rich and handsome!”
“And weird.”
“Weird, whatever.” She gazes longingly at the door. “I’d let him do some weird shit to me, girl.”
I groan, shaking my head. “You’re awful.”
She shrugs, walks over to the equipment table, and starts going through it. “I’m just saying, you don’t get a lot of chances in life. Why not take one on this guy?”
“I told you. I’m just not into him.”
“Fine, okay, whatever. You’re the type to do what makes you happy, I get that.” She stops and looks at me. “Personally, I do what’s going to get me ahead. Maybe that’s a little callous or whatever, but I figure I can learn to love anyone. Why not learn to love someone rich and handsome?”
“He might not be very nice,” I point out. “What if he hits you? Yells at you?”
She hesitates. “There are worse things.”
“Oh, my god. Tessa, no.”
“Okay, okay, I know.” She sighs. “I’d slap his abusive ass and call the fucking cops if he ever touched me. You know that.”
“I know. But that’s what I’m afraid of.”
“What, that he’s abusive?”
“No,” I say, sighing. “That I’d give up my time and my life for a person that doesn’t really make me happy, just for some money.”
She groans. “Yeah, that’s what I figured.”
I grin at her. “I guess I’m a hopeless romantic.”
“More like just hopeless.” She finishes straightening up. “Come on, let’s get back to the locker room. They’re almost done with the champagne. I think it’ll be safe.”
“Okay,” I say, following her to the door.
We head back down the hallway and I hesitate, looking back over my shoulder. I think I can see someone behind the shades of Cole’s office, but the shadow moves away. I sigh and keep going.
I’m not going to throw myself at Atlas just because he’s rich. I don’t care how much money he has.
He doesn’t have what I really need.
He’s not Cole.
10
Cole
I don’t know what Atlas wanted with Leah… but I can guess.
The thought tortures me. Atlas is young, he’s rich, he’s everything I’m not. I don’t think she’d be interested in a man like him, but crazy things have happened.
I hate feeling this way. I’ve never been a jealous man before. I’ve never had to be. I’ve always been too focused on winning.
Now, though, I feel like I’m competing with Atlas, but I don’t want to compete. It’s a strange thought. Normally, I love being competitive.
In this case, though, I’m not interested. I’d rather just have Leah, kiss her, make her happy. That’s what I really want.
The next day, practice starts later than normal. I let the guys sleep in, since I know they’ll need the extra few hours of rest. In the afternoon, we get to work.
You don’t become a dynasty by resting all fucking day.
“Too slow!” I holler at the offense as they run a new passing play I drew up. “Do it again!” They run through drills, sweating and working. I even make them do some running and conditioning training, just because.
It’s always good to remind them who’s boss. Although there may be some frustration that I’m working out.
After practice, the guys hit the locker room. My leg’s aching more than usual. As I head back to my office, I stop in the training room. “Leah,” I snap. “With me.”
She turns and hesitates. I catch her glance at another one of the trainers, a girl named Tessa. I narrow my eyes, but I don’t think the look meant anything as Leah follows me back to my office.
I shut the door behind her. “You doing okay?” she asks.
“Leg hurts,” I admit, sitting down.