Page 209 of Force Play
“Like she said,” I huff. “There’s nothing against us being together.”
“But how would itlookif the girlfriend of one of the players got the promotion? It would look a lot like favoritism if you ask me.”
“Good thing no one’s asking you.” God, he gets my blood boiling.
“You know it wouldn’t be favoritism, Logan.” Lucia’s voice is softer than it usually is, and I hate that this prick has my confident girlfriend wavering right now.
“I don’t give a shit what it actually is. I’m going to use this to my advantage.”
Lucia’s breathing is heavy, and I can see that she’s genuinely nervous right now. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m not going to do anything,” Logan says with a smarmy smile. “Dr. Coltrain will have to decide what actions to take in regard to the promotion, and I get the feeling he doesn’t know about this.” His features turn dark. “For now…”
Logan spins on his heel and walks down the hallway, leaving Lucia and me wondering how the fuck we fix something that isn’t even wrong.
sixty-one
Lucia
Ipaceourlivingroom in a panic, nerves and stress radiating through every part of my body.
“It’s going to be okay, Luc,” Ari tries to assure me.
I stop pacing and take a deep breath. “I don’t know if it is, though.”
He walks over to me now and wraps his arms around my lower back. “We’ve done nothing wrong. We’re allowed to be together.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about. But until Logan said it tonight, I never considered how this would reflect onmeas I’m going for the promotion. I didn’t think about how it could look.”
Ari’s face falls. “I can back off if that’s what you need for your career.”
“What?” I say in disbelief. “Don’t you dare. That’s not what I’m saying.”
He looks slightly relieved now. “Okay then. So what do we do?”
My head falls back, and I sigh. “I’m going to have to talk to Dr. Coltrain. I want to get ahead of it. If that destroys my chances ofbecoming Head Trainer, then I can’t do much about it. I’m not letting you go.”
“You’re… choosing me?”
I smile and press my palm against his cheek. “I’m choosing you, Ari. I love my career, but I can still be fulfilled without getting that position. I won’t be fulfilled in my life if I don’t get to share it with you.”
“I’ve never been someone’s choice before.” His voice is so soft, so full of emotion.
“Well, you’re mine. And I will always choose you.”
His lips take mine in the sweetest kiss, and I can feel all the love he has for me within it.
I could never letthisgo.
“Thank you for choosing me, but I still want us to try to keep you in the running for Head Trainer. What do we do?”
“I’ll set up a meeting with Dr. Coltrain before the game tomorrow. I’ll tell him everything and hope for the best. It’s really out of my hands at that point.”
“Why don’t you reach out to him then and set that up?” Ari strokes his thumb over my cheek. “I’ve got an idea how to keep your mind off it for the rest of the night. And no, it’s not sex.”
I let out an involuntary chuckle and kiss him softly. “Thank you, baby.”
Ari smiles before leaving me to myself in the living room and walking toward his bedroom.
