Page 56 of A Game of Deception
I looked up to see Leo in the living room doorway, eyebrows raised. His hair was perfect, wearing his crisp button-down and slim chinos—his standard “babysitting Xander” uniform.
“Nothing,” I said automatically, then changed my mind. Leo was my friend, and I needed advice. “Actually, something. Tara invited me over to her place tonight.”
Leo’s face switched from curious to horrified faster than a ref pulling a red card. “Tell me you’re not actually considering this.”
I threw the ball again, harder. “Already decided. I’m going.”
“Xander,” Leo used the tone reserved for when he thinks I’m about to fuck up spectacularly, “did you forget who she is? That her dad owns the team? We’re talking about the woman who’s been quietly obsessed with you for over a decade?”
“I remember all that,” I said, putting the ball down. “But things are different now. We both know there’s more to Jimmy’s death. And there’s something between us, Leo. Something real.”
Leo dropped into the armchair, messing up his hair in frustration. “There’s something alright. Mutual destruction, maybe. Career suicide, definitely.”
He wasn’t wrong. I understood exactly how many boundaries we were smashing. But logic took a backseat when Tara Swanson walked back into my life.
“Look,” I said, leaning forward, “I know the risks. But I’m going. That’s not the problem.”
“What’s the problem, then?”
I paused, knowing how stupid this would sound. “She didn’t give me her address.”
Leo stared blankly before erupting with laughter. “That’s your issue? Just text her and ask, dumbass.”
“I can’t.”
“Why the fuck not?”
I stood, too jittery to stay seated. How could I explain the unwritten rules between Tara and me and the precise balance we’d built through every interaction?
“Because she left it out on purpose,” I said finally. “It’s a test.”
Leo’s face was pure skepticism. “A test. Sure. Or maybe—crazy thought here—she just forgot to mention it while you two were getting handsy.”
I shook my head. “You don’t know her like I do. This is classic Tara. She wants to see if I can figure it out myself.”
“And if you can’t?” Leo asked, his voice softening. “If this is some weird test and you fail by simply asking for directions like a normal person, then what? She cancels? Is that really the kind of fucked-up relationship you want?”
Fair question, one that made me stop. What kind of relationship did I want with Tara? Whatever we had was messy, intense, and potentially catastrophic. But it also made me feel more alive than ever.
“I need to do this,” I said firmly. “I need to show her I understand the game.”
Leo sighed, recognizing my stubborn expression. “Fine. How do you plan to find her address without asking?”
I checked my watch. Almost four. “I’ll start at the training facility. There must be staff records or emergency contacts somewhere.”
“And if there isn’t?”
I grabbed my car keys from the coffee table. “Then I’ll wing it.”
The training facilitywas quieter than usual when I arrived, most of the players and staff having gone home for the day.Perfect. The fewer people around to question my presence, the better.
I made my way past the empty practice fields and through the main building, nodding casually to a few maintenance workers. The facility was designed like a small campus, with different wings for various departments—medical, coaching, administration, and player development.
As I rounded the corner toward the administrative wing, I spotted Ben Carter coming out of the weight room, gym bag slung over his shoulder. His face lit up when he saw me.
“Xander! Didn’t expect to see you here this late.”
I smiled, slowing my pace. “Just wanted to get some extra work in. You know how it is.”
