Page 123 of The Fine Line
“Here goes nothing,” I mutter under my breath as we walk through the venue doors.
Within seconds, we’re swarmed—donors, fans, press, teammates. Everyone wants a piece of us. Of me. Photos, congratulations, small talk, marriage questions.
Most people would hate this part. But this? This is the easiest thing in the world to me. Chaos helps me clear my head. And people? They’re predictable. They all want the same thing—attention, power, and praise. Give them that, and you’ll have them in the palm of your hand.
It’s a lot, but I thrive in this environment. I’m built for it. And, by the look of it, so is Caroline.
“Hey, you two!” a familiar voice calls out.
I turn to find Kelly Wisneski, all sparkles and red lipstick,tugging her husband—and my teammate—John along behind her.
Kelly hugs us both. “I’ve got to say, it is just so crazy knowing you two are married now,” she says with a bright laugh. “I don’t think my jaw’s ever hit the floor harder than when John told me.”
“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” Caroline laughs.
“Oh, not at all,” Kelly replies.
“Huh?” I ask, at the same time Caroline says, “Really?”
Kelly waves her drink like it’s nothing. “Please. The tension between you two has been obvious for years. I figured five years down the line, you’d either be married or kill each other. Couldn’t tell which.”
She leans into John, who presses a kiss to her temple. At the same time, Caroline and I shift closer—just a hair. I raise my arm to wrap around her shoulder. She lifts hers at the same time. We fumble, collide, and end up tangled awkwardly before finally managing to settle next to each other, stiff as mannequins.
“Well, neither could I, honestly,” I say, eyes on Caroline. “From her side, at least.”
She looks up at me, surprised.
“My Care Bear sure knows how to play hard to get. But I’m a patient man.”
Kelly beams. “How romantic. I had money on this being the outcome all along. I’m just glad to know it was love after all.”
Caroline’s throat bobs, her eyes flicking away. “Well, you know what they say. There’s a fine line between hate and love.”
My hand slides to the small of her back. She shivers.
“Is that so, Cub?”
She lifts her gaze to mine slowly. Her lips part?—
“Excuse me, Rhett?”
Caroline flinches slightly as one of the Storm’s event planners taps me on the shoulder.
“Sorry to interrupt, but they’d like you to say a few words before we open the dance floor.”
“Oh, right. Sure,” I say, already being dragged toward the stage by the wrist.
Coach is already up there when I arrive. He does most of the talking; I just chime in when needed, thanking everyone and smiling through the rest.
The whole time, I squint past the lights trying to find Caroline in the crowd, but I can’t seem to spot her.
When I finally make it back over to Kelly and John, they let me know she slipped off to the restroom.
I take the opportunity to hit the bar, sliding a couple of bills into the tip jar before grabbing a gin and tonic for myself and a martini for her.
I turn to head toward the restrooms, hoping to catch her as she comes out—only to nearly crash into someone already waiting for me.
A woman. She claps her hands, eyes sparkling, lips already tilted into a smirk. She grabs the martini right out of my hand.
