Page 96 of The Trade

“I’m so sorry,” I stammer, desperation seeping into my voice. The apology feels woefully inadequate, but I’m out of words.

Her jaw clenches, sorrow-filled eyes boring into me. “Do all your teammates know that you were planning to trade me?”

The question is a devastating blow, and I wince at the impact. “Jade.”

“Great, so they all know.” She throws her hands up in exasperation. “Glad to hear it. Do you think one of them would still fuck me, or am I just spoiled goods now?”

“Baby, fuck ... can we please go back to my place and talk about this?” I’m begging now, my pride discarded at her feet. “Please?”

“I don’t think I’m ready to leave just yet,” she says, her eyes glistening with unshed tears yet her chin tilted in defiance. “I don’t have enough content for my article.”

The realization slams into me, and my heart plummets. “You aren’t—” My voice breaks. “Are you seriously going to write about this in theDaily?”

“It’s only fair play,” she snaps, her eyes alight with a fire that sets my nerves on edge. “After all, you boys love the thrill of a competition. Let’s see how you handle a real fallout.”

Panic seizes me. “Jade, you can’t do that. Coach will bench anyone who—”

“Oh, go fuck yourself, West.” She cuts me off, venom dripping from her words. “I’m leaving. By myself. And don’t worry about your precious team. I won’t put this bullshit in my article.”

Relief washes over me, but it’s a hollow victory. The damage to us is already done, even if she spares the team. “Thank you,” I manage to croak.

She snorts, her expression hardening. “Don’t thank me. I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it because I won’t let you and your ridiculous tradition ruin my career. I’m not going to get kicked off the paper for trying to burn bridges with the team.”

“Okay,” I murmur, my gaze fixated on the ground. The taste of regret is heavy on my tongue. “Jade, I—”

“I never really knew you at all, did I?”

Her accusation stings. “You did,” I insist, clinging to the remnants of what we had. “You do. Sometimes, I feel like you’re the only person who really does.”

“Well, that sucks for you because it’s over. We’re done.”

“I know I fucked up.” The confession is a weak counter to her conviction. “So badly. But just ... please don’t give up on what we have.”

“You’re a fucking liar, West.” She swipes a hand over her eyes, smudging her mascara. “What we had was built on lies. And I’m done with it now, so let me go.”

“Jade, please.”

“I stood in front of you a week ago and told you how much I valued your honesty.” Her voice wavers, unsteady and broken. “I told you I was afraid that you’d play games with me, and you said nothing.”

“I know, I—”

But she’s not done, her gaze shifting away from me and out to the gardens. “I can barely look at you right now, so I need to leave.”

“Baby—”

“If you say one more word, I’m going to start screaming,” she warns, her voice dangerously low. “I’m leaving now. Don’t you dare think about following me.”

And then she’s gone, disappearing from my life as abruptly as she entered it. Her name catches in my throat. I can’t go after her now, not when she’s begged me to stay. So, I’m left alone, the taste of my regret lingering as a stark reminder of my mistakes.

I fucked up, so badly, and I lost her.

I lost everything.

28

JADE

The Dayton football team,in all its glory, is a cesspool of misogynistic jackasses. Heartbreakingly enough, this includes my boyfriend—well, ex-boyfriend now. My heart shatters all over again at the thought.

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