Page 17 of Falling Offsides

thought you already had the doggie cams set up

Matheo

At the old place, yeah. It was hassle taking all the cams out of every room…

Erik

you left the whole setup?

Matheo

yeah. figured the new tenant could use it. lol

I freeze.

The new tenant.Courtney.

A knot coils in my stomach, and something sharp slithers down my spine. There’s no way I can act on the information. No way.

Except…Courtney’s there now—alone. And I'm here, scrolling through the links search in the group chat. I know Matheo shared it before, when he wanted to show us the fucking state his sister’s dog left his closet after he chewed through most of his expensive leather loafers.

The instant I find the IP link, the temptation hits hard.

I couldn’t possibly, though.

That would be totally inappropriate andillegal. Besides, I’m not a creep.

Courtney Nilsson is not my responsibility. Sure, I injured her. But it was an accident. She was on my blindside… Everything I could do to make up for it is done. I carried her to Doc’s table. I drove her home.

Anything more… checking in on her through the cameras she’s not aware of…

No. No fucking way.

Can’t go that far.

That’s a line. A real one. One I know I cannot cross.Can. Not. Cross.

Anyway, Courtney was fine when I dropped her off.

Mostly fine.

Although, the bandages around her headdidsay different. Even if she tried to act like she wasn’t in pain, I saw the way she winced when she moved too fast. Every time I hit a pothole in the asphalt. Had to break a little too hard.

She said she was okay.I tell myself.But what if she’s not?

What if she wakes up dizzy? Sick?

What if she passes out and no one’s there?

What if I could’ve stopped something sinister from happening?

What if I don’t check... and somethingdoes?

Rubbing my face with both hands, I start to pace, my jaw locked tight enough to ache.

“You shouldn’t even be thinking about this,” I mutter to myself. “It’s not just reckless—it’s wrong. And if Coach finds out then youwillbe done. Don’t. Be. Stupid.”

I pocket my phone and head to the kitchen for some water. Maybe some snacks. Whoever says anxiety eating isn’t a thing, they’re fucking wrong.

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