Page 15 of The Silent Count
I can’t help but wonder if they were too busy watching movies in their little security hut at the front entrance to notice the storm that took place earlier. It feels safe to say they aren’t the smartest of the bunch, but who am I to judge as long as they get their job done?
“I know, right? I was enjoying it until I got a call from this one.” I point a thumb toward Fortune. I’ll apologize later for throwing him under the bus, but right now, it’s the best option I can come up with. “Left his house key here. Can you believe it?”
The two men shake their heads playfully. “You better thank that girl for coming all the way out here to let you back in.”
“Nice of her to not let you sleep in your car all night,” the other chimes in.
“Trust me, I’ve already thanked her a few times tonight.”
My lips clamp together to fight the pull creeping at the corners of my lips. His playful banter has turned to seamless flirting, and I’m lucky enough that these two guards are too oblivious to see right through it.
“Hey, Lea?” Busted. I am so busted. I pause in front of the keycard scanner and twist over my shoulder. “Have you seen that headline about the Jacksonville player who has four baby mamas all due within a month of each other? That’s wild.”
I give him a knowing smile to say yes before wishing the two of them a goodnight.
Fortune holds the door open for me after I swipe my card to let us in. We hardly make it ten feet down the corridor before my phone buzzes in my hand and my ringtone echoes throughout the empty hall. I stop in my tracks because it’s not just any regular old ringtone. It’s the one I have set specifically for my dad.
This is bad. This is so bad.
I flash the screen to Fortune, showing him the incoming call with ‘Dad’ written across the top, followed by an orange heart. You’d think he saw a ghost based on the way his eyes grow wide and his mouth flies open. That tired, sated look he sported earlier has been fully replaced with one of fear.
“Do. Not. Say. A. Word,” I scold.
Blood rushes from Fortune’s face as if I put the fear of god in him right here and now. Hell, maybe I did. He’s the one with his job and millions of dollars on the line. My father has never once told me I can’t date one of his players. Not a single time had those words slipped past his lips in my presence. At the end of the day, I’m still the coach’s daughter, and my job will be safe whether we get caught.
Fortune is my friend, though. The last thing I’d ever want is for one of my friends to lose their job because of me. There’s no way I’ll be able to sleep at night if he gets released. I’ll toss and turn for hours on end, exactly like my dad does.
Fortune nods in understanding, and slows his pace, putting him a few steps behind me. My heart thumps loudly in my ears as I slap on an overly chipper smile and hit the green button to answer the call. “Let me guess… you’re having trouble sleeping again.”
“You think so little of a man like me, bug.” My dad clicks his tongue, which is the telltale sign that I’m right. “Can’t a guy call his daughter and check in to see how her night is going?”
“A normal dad, maybe, but your timing seems a bit off. I think most dads in their sixties, as well as most people, are probably out cold by this hour of the night.”
He hums into the receiver, and I roll my eyes with a smile. I think it’s safe to say that after nearly thirty years, my dad’s bad sleeping habits will never change. Doesn’t negate the fact that he’ll still amble into my office tomorrow telling me a new way he’s going to fix it, though.
“Well, tell me, how was your night? Did you go to that team bonfire or whatever it was?”
“It was a barbecue,” I correct. “And I went, actually. It was nice. Scarlett and Abel were there. Good food and good people. I had a surprisingly nice time.”
“Always knew those two kids would get together. They make a real nice couple, don’t they?”
They have my dad’s meddling to thank for their relationship, but I’m not quite sure they’ve figured that out yet.
In due time, I guess.
“Speaking of couples…”
“Oh, god.” He groans, probably thinking I’m going to tell him about some new drama that’s come across my desk. Fortune must understand where I’m going with this, though, because when I sneak a glance back at him, the blood has drained from his face.
“Some of your players have gotten the bright idea that Parker and I carpooling to the team event means the two of us are now in a relationship. Or maybe not a relationship per se—” I correct myself. “But they certainly think we’re more than friendly with each other, which I can assure you is not the case.”
I’m met with silence on the other end of the line that goes a bit longer than my liking. A sinking feeling settles low in my stomach until I’m jolted by my dad’s bellowing laughter from the other end of the line.
Fortune and I twist our heads to look at each other with wide eyes. My mind races, wondering where on earth my dad’s thought process is going with this.
“You and Parker?” He’s wheezing now, and it’s hard not to break into laughter, considering how contagious his laugh is. “If that isn’t the funniest thing I’ve heard all week, I don’t know what is.”
I peer over at Fortune and both of our shoulders instantly relax.
