Page 135 of Every Move You Make

Reluctantly I roll over and sit up against the headboard, feeling exposed with their eyes on me.

“Tell us what happened,” Dane says, standing at the foot of my bed with his arms crossed.

“I put her in too much danger. I knew if I bowed out we could still play this off as a single kiss, and neither of us would lose our jobs… hopefully,” I shrug. “That is yet to be determined. We have a meeting with the team for the investigation today at three o’clock. I also put Dell in danger. Now I’m being dragged through the mud as a cheater, and Dell’s past is coming back to hurt Robyn, too.”

Dane scoffs. “You’re so fucking dense.”

“Fuck you. Get out of my house.”

“I thought she was your dream girl,” Jonah says. It’s a simple statement; yet, a new wave of hurt pinches my heart at my brother’s words. If it were only that simple—to be able to keep my dream girl in my arms. The girl I wished for since college.

“She is.”

She’s the girl I had to protect at all costs, and that includes now. To protect her, my heart must pay the price. I can live with only the memory of her again if it means she’ll be safe. And Dell has her. I know he’ll take care of her and do his best to heal her broken heart; and she will heal his.

Maybe.

Maybe they’ll heal so much they forget about me entirely. I deserve that for putting them through this. For thinking they could wait for me until our stars align once more.

“Is this your dream job?” Rafael asks, but I stop myself before answering automatically.

Is being head coach of a professional rugby team what I envisioned for my life? To some extent. I always knew it could be a possibility with my background, but if I’m honest with myself, being a coach was only a means to stay in rugby. It was my fallback when I could no longer play. It was the strongest connection I had to Robyn and if I ever lost that, what would I even be to her then?

Just some guy.

When I applied for this job, I never thoughtThis would be great for my career.I thought,I’ll be closer to her.I would have taken a job as a gas station clerk if I knew it meant I got to see her on a regular basis. It’s the reason I worked that job in security—so I could keep a close eye on her and keep her safe. It’s not like I’m using my degree in forensic science for any of this.

If it wasn’t for Robyn, this job… means nothing.

Nothing.

Shemeans everything.

Theymean everything.

I refocus my stare on Raf. “No. This is not my dream job.”

Dane bugs out his eyes and shakes his head. “Then resign, dumbass. You want the best chance at saving her career and getting her back? Quit.”

“You think she would take me back?” I want to retract the words immediately for sounding so pathetic.

“Have you not been on social media in the last twenty-four hours?” Jonah asks.

“No, I’ve sorta been hibernating.”

“You mean wallowing,” Raf adds.

“Whatever. Why? What’s going on?”

Raf and Dane exchange a look I can’t decipher, and then I’m grabbing my phone from the nightstand and looking for myself.

It’s a post made on her Instagram in collaboration with Dell.

Hey everyone,

Alright, let's talk about my relationship with Isaiah Johanssen. Yes, he is my coach, and understandably, our connection has raised some eyebrows. I know many of you are disappointed in me, but I’d like to share my side of the story.

Nine years ago, we were just two rugby players in college who became fast friends—friends who harbored feelings for the other and could never find the right time to express them. It didn’t get easier after graduating. Life and circumstances got in the way. But when he accepted the position as head coach for the USA Valor, there was no denying that magnetic pull was still there.

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