Page 98 of Heart Taker

“I promise.”

“Not even if the news freaks you out?”

“I’ve got your back. Tell me.”

“Damien and I… we slept together.”

The silence on the other end of the line had me wondering if Finn had dropped the phone or hung up.

“Hello? Did you hear what I said?” I asked.

“You had sex with our coach?” Finn’s voice was so loud, I had to pull the phone away from my ear. “I mean, I noticed the tension between you guys, and it made me wonder, but I?—”

“Finn—”

“Having teammates that are dating is shock enough, but now this?” Finn continued. “Wait, you’re not dating Coach. It was sex, right? It’s done?”

“Ah, well not exactly?—”

“Holy shit, it’s more? You’re seeing each other?”

“Yes.”

“You have feelings for him? Like, the real deal?”

“As real as it gets,” I admitted.

“I have no words. No words,” Finn replied. “And yet I keep talking. Because if I keep talking, I can pretend I didn’t hear what you told me. Because now, I have to keep something this big a secret. I mean, you dating a guy isn’t a big deal. But dating our coach? That’s major. Like, mind exploding major. I’ll do my best, but you know I’m shit at hiding stuff, and what if?—”

“Breathe, Finn.”

“But you and Banning, this could ruin everything.”

“No, don’t say that. He’s the best thing to happen to me.”

I couldn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth, but it was the damn truth.

My comment was met with silence.

“Finn? Are you still there?”

“I’m here. And I’m happy for you, Si. I am. But you can’t be that naïve. What happens when people find out? And trust me, someone always finds out.”

“I’ll deal with that when the time comes.”

“Shit answer, my friend. And guess what? Coach is going to get the worst of it.”

I wanted to throw my phone at the wall and scream out loud. This couldn’t be the way. I finally find happiness and it’s got to be tainted already? Or even worse, taken from me, if Damien decided that I wasn’t worth the trouble.

“No one’s going to find out. Not until we’re ready.”

“Si—”

“Please, I know what I’m doing.”

“Do you?”

“Yes. And so does Damien.”

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