Page 215 of Force Play
“I don’t joke. I need you to leave the stadium now. I’ll get security involved if necessary.”
Logan stares at him in absolute shock. “You’re going to regret this.”
“I don’t believe I will. I’ll never regret standing up to protect my employees. Now, please leave.”
He stares at him for a moment longer before tearing off down the hallway, yelling the entire way.
I don’t know how to comprehend what I just witnessed.
Logan’s… gone?
“I’m so sorry to do that in front of you two,” Dr. Coltrain sighs. “I’m even more sorry for the things he said. Rest assured, Lucia, that Dave and I see the work you do, and we both think you’re an instrumental part of this team.”
“I appreciate that,” I breathe. “Logan and I had far more conversations like that than you realize, but I assure you I wasn’t trying to see him fired.”
“I have no doubts about that. He did that himself by disparaging you, Nathan, and Greg the way he did.” He pinches his brow and lets out a deep breath. “I need to find Paul and let him know we’ll be down a trainer until we fill the position. Please excuse me.”
“Of course,” I say.
Dr. Coltrain takes a few steps down the hallway before turning back around. “One more thing,” he says, smiling widely. “The Head Trainer position will be yours, Lucia.”
I stand in shock as he exits the hallway now. Did all of this actually just happen?
“Lucia!” Ari says excitedly, picking me up and spinning me around again. “You did it!”
“Holy shit. Holy fucking shit.”
“Logan is gone, and the job is all yours. I’m so fucking proud of you, baby.”
Everything about this moment feels surreal, so I kiss Ari to ground myself in reality.
Well, that’s mostly why.
“I love you, Ari.”
“I love you, too, Lucia.” He kisses me again. “You’re getting everything you deserve.”
He’s right; I am.
I’ve gotten rid of a toxic coworker.
I’ve earned the promotion I was hoping for.
I have Ari, and he’s who I deserve most of all.
sixty-three
Ari
Tonight’sgameisreallya blur to me.
I get a couple of hits, and we end up winning four-nothing.
All I can focus on, though, is getting Lucia home.
I’m so fucking proud of everything she accomplished today, and I can’t wait to just be alone with her.
She beats me back to the penthouse, and when I walk inside, she’s sitting on the kitchen island with a giant glass of wine in hand and wearing the brightest smile I’ve ever seen.
