Page 5 of Sidelined By Love

Yeah, no. Not going to happen.

Wrapping my arms around my middle, I sigh. “How about this—I’ll stay away from you and your stadium, and you don’t have to even know where I am. I’m not your concern.”

“Zoe.” The single word comes out like a curse. “Until you change your name, you’ll always be my concern.”

That tracks. My dad has always—only—been concerned with the precious Peebles name. I should have registered with SAG under another name, but back when I got my card for my first television commercial, I couldn’t even dream of lead billing on a film, let alone that a tabloid would care about my love life.

“I guess we’re stuck with each other then.”

He squints at me, then turns his back, effectively dismissing me.

With a quick breath, I square my shoulders and stride toward the door. As I grab the handle, my dad growls one more warning. “Stay away from my locker room.”

As if I’d giveanyguy a second look right now. Let alone one of the guys on the team.

“I’m serious. If I find out you’re messing around with one of my players and screwing up the dynamic in the facility and our chance at the playoffs, I’ll have to get involved. And neither of us want—”

The door closes behind me with a soft click, cutting off his last word. Sagging against the wall of the hallway to the private boxes, I close my eyes and cover my face with my hands.

Nothing like a pep talk from my dad to cheer me up when my personal life and professional life feel like they’re crashing around me.

“Miss Peebles!”

I drop my hands and paste a practiced smile into place.

Gabriela Sinclair rushes toward me, clutching a black leather folder to her chest. Her heels don’t make a sound on the gray industrial carpet, her steps quick and even. “Alita said you were going to be here, and I . . .” She flashes a bright grin that wrinkles the corners of her eyes behind round gold-rimmed glasses. Her dyed-blond hair is tied back in the same loose chignon she’s worn for the last fifteen years.

My red-carpet-ready smile quickly shifts into a genuine one, and I step into her open arms. Her hug is warm and firm, swallowing me with her sweetness. It’s the opposite of all the limp arms and fake cheek kisses I’ve received since last week.

Maybe an inch or two taller than I am, she’s soft and gentle. She smells of sunshine and cinnamon—just like the mints I used to steal from the jar on the corner of her desk when I was kid.

They say that behind every successful man is a good woman. My dad has three: his executive assistant Alita, his lawyer Riley, and Gabriela. She told me once that her job was to make sure that everything in my dad’s life runs smoothly. And she is a master at that.

When Gabriela finally pulls back, she cups her satiny hand against my cheek and looks right into my gaze. “I am so sorry, sweetie.”

I don’t know if she’s saying that because of the headlines or because I just walked out of my dad’s office. She has to know what went down in there. Either way, tears flood my eyes as my bottom lip begins to tremble.

Kindness has such incredible power—especially when it’s in short supply.

“Lydia loved your last movie. She keeps asking if we can watch it again.” Then, with a wink she adds, “I liked it too.”

“Than—” My voice cracks, and I clear my throat before trying again. “Thank you.” Her teenage daughter has been a fan for years, and they even visited me on the set ofFantastic Four.

“I hope—” I’m not quite sure how to finish that. I hope she’ll stay a fan. I hope she won’t believe everything she reads. I hope she’ll make better choices than I did. I hope she won’t fall for the lies of a man only looking for his own pleasure.

I finally give up and merely shrug.

I’m so thankful that Joe and I didn’t get to the point of no return—that at least I know that the stories in the tabloids aren’t completely true. I never had an affair with my co-star. I never tried to steal him from his wife. I never let it get past stolen kisses in dark corners of the set.

And I never would have done even that if Joe Kellyn had stopped chasing me long enough to tell me he was married.

Gabriela gives me a soft smile and a pat on the cheek before dropping her hand. “She knows. I do too. They’re going to try to tear you down, but you’re stronger than they think—maybe stronger than you know. You’ll make it through this. The truth will win. Keep your eyes open and your chin up.”

Dragging a finger under my eye, I’m sure I smear my mascara, but I don’t even care.

Three

Zoe

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