Page 76 of The Red Zone
Abel shot me a confused look and I shook my head in response, trying to will down the rage that was simmering beneath my skin. Now was not the time to get riled up, especially with whatever bullshit Lea was about to lay into me for.
“And you… breaking a man’s hand? What were you thinking?”
There it was. Almost like she read my mind.
“I told him not to touch Mae and he kept trying to get handsy with her… can you blame me?”
“No, I don’t blame you, but did you really have to take it that far?”
“If it helps, I told him I was going to do it beforehand.”
Lea pinned me with a stare so intense it made my stomach drop. “So, with that logic, robbing a bank is okay as long as you tell the clerks you’re going to do it first?”
I—
The silence on my end was more telling than I’d like to admit.
See, Lea had this way of making you think that you got the upper hand for a few seconds—just long enough to build up your confidence—before coming in with an opposing viewpoint that sucker punched you in the gut. Mae might’ve picked up on a few of Lea’s tricks and tactics in the recent years since they’d become friends, but she’d never quite mastered this technique, and for that I was grateful. Otherwise, she’d be too damn smart for my own good.
“Exactly what I thought.” A pleased smirk played on her lips for a brief moment before she schooled her expression. “The two of you are going to go on a public apology tour.” Her voice was stern as she continued. “Abel, I’ve set up an interview for you with Jameson on Monday morning. I’ll email you the questions he’ll be asking and the answers that you need to respond with. And for the love of God, try not to use the word ‘fuck’ in every other sentence.”
“What if I—”
“What part of no rebuttals did you misunderstand? I thought you were smarter than that,” she barked. Abel slumped back into his chair with his chin tucked against his chest mumbling the curse he was just forbidden from saying under his breath.
I will say one thing about Lea, though, it was damn fun to watch the woman have so much power she could bring a man double her size to his knees in a few sentences. The girl was a menace and she wasn’t afraid to use it to her advantage when necessary.
“And you, October… you’ll be paying any medical bills for that guys injury.”
Seemed easy enough.
“Andyou’ll be issuing a personal apology to him, along with season tickets that will be paid for out of your next game check.”
Ouch.
Looks like I spoke too soon.
“Any questions?”
“Why—"
She cut Abel off. “Good. So, I’ll see you both tomorrow at Friday night dinner, yeah?” Her tone reverted back to its usual calm, feminine sound.
Her entire demeanor changed and the typical happy-go-lucky Lea who walked around the practice facility and came over to the house to hang out with Mae on occasion came out of nowhere.
“You just scared us within an inch of our life and now you’re asking us about Friday night dinner?” My brows knitted together.
“Yeah, pretty much.” She shrugged nonchalantly while giving me a pinched expression likeIwas the one who was asking the irrational question.
“Red and I are looking forward to it,” Abel said as he got up from his seat.
“Want me to bring anything?”
Abel shook her head, because we all knew Scarlett would undoubtedly make some crazy five-course meal, plus appetizers for everyone to graze on beforehand.
Saying his goodbyes, Abel headed out the door and down the hall, meanwhile Lea was shuffling me out of my chair and through the doorway like a drill sergeant. Without looking to see who was behind us, she called out my teammates name. “Fortune! My office, please.”
I twisted over my shoulder to see him and a few other teammates walking past Coach’s office down the hall. I bared my teeth at him in warning and his eyes widened before he slowed his pace, briefly pausing to talk to another player who was passing by.
