Page 124 of Racing Heat
With that, he leaves, and I head to get ready to go the Blaze offices, feeling like I’m floating on a cloud.
I decide against texting Mac until I know all of my rules. Or maybe I’ll just surprise her by showing up at practice.
Chapter Forty-Three
~JASE~
I’m waiting in my office for August to give me the go-ahead to come to the conference room and meet with him, Nate, Andie, and Cassie. There’s no doubt in my mind that she’ll take his offer of getting her job back. I have no idea what the ground rules look like, but I’ll comply with all of them and then some if it means that I get to be with her,andshe gets her job back. Even if it means I can’t even look in her direction during games or practices.
August:She’s on her way and it went great. You can come into the conference room.
I immediately get up and head into the conference room. As soon as August sees me coming, he laughs.
“Were you even pretending to do any work?” he asks me with a laugh.
“I was. I’m just excited that she’s been invited to come back to the team and that it’s working out,” I admit with a shrug. “Thank you for doing this, August. Thank you for making her a part of the team again. You won’t regret it, and I’ll do whateverit is you need me to do. Whatever the rules are, consider them done.”
“You don’t need to be that accommodating, you know. Hear the rules before you agree to them.”
Coach Watts comes into the room. “So, my star right midfielder is coming back to the team? That’s amazing news.”
I nod. “It is indeed.”
“Was Kelly that bad?” August asks with a shake of his head. “Should I be looking at replacing her or something?”
Watts shakes his head. “No, she’s not that bad. She’s just not as good on the right-hand side of the field. I think she has promise, though, so don’t cut her. Just give us some time to work with her.”
August nods. “Relax. I’m not firing anyone else.”
“Thanks for that,” Nate says.
“Hi, everyone,” Cassie says, coming into the room. She’s wearing a pair of athletic shorts and a Blaze top. I smile at the sight of her. It hasn’t been that long since I’ve seen her; we were together last night. But the smile on her face is genuine for the first time since August found us. And she’s walking into the room like a huge weight has been lifted off her shoulders.
“Coach Watts, Coach Andie,” she says. “It’s good to see you again.”
“You too.” Andie immediately goes over to her and wraps her in a hug. “It’s great to have you back. You were certainly missed.”
“Thank you,” Cassie replies.
Nate is the next one to go over to her. “Good to see you, kiddo. Great to have you back with us.”
I walk over to her and pull her into a side hug after Watts releases her. “Hey, you.”
“Hi,” she says, grinning up at me. She quickly steps back and looks at the rest of the coaching staff and August. “Am I allowed to do that?”
August laughs. “I think we can let that one go.”
She nods. “So, what are my rules?”
“Everyone have a seat.” August gestures toward the chairs.
I make sure not to sit right beside her, giving her space and not pushing my luck at the same time.
“It’s safe to say that we’re all happy Cassie is rejoining the team,” August continues. “We’ll make the announcement at practice today. I think it’s best if we tell them that management made a mistake. That way there’s no questions about what’s happening. Or at least I hope not.” We all laugh along with August. “But I’m not asking you to hide your relationship, because that will only spell disaster for us all. I think it’s best if we make sure that Jase doesn’t have any time supervising her drills, runs, or game time. I know she’s a midfielder and he coaches the goalies, but even still, let’s keep them separate. That way no one can say he’s playing favorites.”
We all nod.
I raise my hand slightly. “What about the times that I spend working with Hendrix for extra training and saves? I use Cassie sometimes to get some of the high or the long balls into the net. Can I still do that? She’s great at it.”
