Page 110 of If You Love Me

“How’s one-ish? I’m heading to a promo op with Hammer now, but we’ll be back by noon.”

“That sounds perfect.”

“I’ll pop by when I’m back.” Hemi heads down the hall, and I go to my office to check emails and review the plan for today’s practice. At ten, I stop by the break room to make myself a coffee before I meet with Vander Zee and the other coaches.

Donnie walks in as I finish doctoring up my coffee. “Hey, how’s your morning?” I ask. It doesn’t hurt to be pleasant.

“Decent. Yours?”

“Good. I should get back to it.” And away from him and his gray-cloud aura. I turn toward the door.

“You should be careful, Coach Forrester,” he says to my back.

I stop and turn to face him. “I’m sorry?”

He arches a brow. “I’m not the only one who sees what you’re doing.”

I force myself to remain impassive. “Excuse me?”

“You and all your office friends.”

I hate that he’s jumping to conclusions and that they’re accurate. “They’re my colleagues, and yours.”

“And they’re all involved with players. You taking notes?”

“Why are you?—”

He cuts me off. “I’m not the only person who’s noticed. People are talking. Especially about you and the goalie.”

“I work with the defensive players.” Sweat trickles down my spine.Maybe I’m overreacting.Maybe it’s nothing but jealousy.I have the job he wants.

He scoffs. “You think we don’t see what’s going on? You aren’t the only woman who applied for the job. Which shouldn’t be a surprise after the past couple of years. The new PR girl is the daughter of the goalie and dating Hendrix. Head of PR is engaged to a player, and the team lawyer is married to one of your enforcers. It’s like a fucking incest fest in here, and management signs off on the paperwork. And then you come in with your rise-from-the-ashes story.” He crosses his arms. “I mean,honestly, I can’t blame you. Roman is a stand-up guy. Fucking dad of the year, managing to keep his shit together when his best friend starts dating his daughter. Pretty much a saint, if you ask me. Twenty-year career. A veteran in the league. Must have at least fifty mil in his bank account.”

My stomach twists. I thought we were being careful, that we had a plan, but everything he’s saying is exactly what I was afraid of. “You’re out of li?—”

He holds up a hand. “Don’t try to deny. He threw your sister a damn birthday party. You’re with him and his crew all the time. I’m not stupid. And neither is the rest of management. And when I tell them what’s going on, what’s been going on, your coaching career is over. Enjoy what’s left of it.” He brushes by, leaving me reeling.

He’s right, except about the birthday party. That was Tristan’s doing, and everyone pitched in. Not that he’ll care. He’s clearly determined to take me down any way he can.

There is nothing worse than a coach who gets involved with a player. I knew this. Know this. And I did it anyway.

And now I stand to lose everything.

My dignity included.

CHAPTER 33

ROMAN

Lexi

Donnie knows, and he plans to tell management.

It’s been hours since that message landed on my phone. I’ve been waiting all fucking day to have a conversation with Lexi. It isn’t until Callie is at practice with Fee that I’m finally able to go to her place so she can share the details.

She tells me what happened while pacing the living room, her fingers at her lips. “I’ll lose my job, Roman. I’ll be fired.”

“I’ll retire early. If I’m not on the team, they can’t fire you.” It would solve the problem. “I’ve already floated the idea with Vander Zee.”

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