Page 95 of Striking Heat
It feels like a scolding, and I can tell he’s disappointed in me. I hate that I disappointed my coach. All my life, I’ve tried to avoid doing that. And if and when it did happen, I hated myself for it. I wish I could say that I hate myself for falling in love with Danny, but I can’t. He’s one of the best things that has happened to me in a long time.
“We didn’t mean for this to happen. But you all put us together. You had us spending a lot of time together. We bonded over the pressures of parents and sports. It’s not like we meant for it to happen, because trust me. The last time I was in this office with this being assigned, I did not like him. Atall.” I stress the last part.
Andie laughs. “I know you didn’t like him then, but Mac, it’s not ethical.”
“Not for him,” I admit.
“What is that supposed to mean?” August asks. “Your integrity will be called into question here too. He wrote an article about a woman he’s sleeping with. How can anyone trust that what he wrote wasn’t because he was fucking you?”
“August,” Maxwell warns.
“You paid the paper for the article,” I tell him. “That wasn’t exactly ethical either. What I did was wrong and shouldn’t have happened. But one could argue that you paid for good press.”
“We did not pay for good press,” August defends.
I roll my eyes. “Really? Did you actually think he would write an unflattering article when his paper was paid money for it to be written in the first place?”
Coach Watts laughs. “She’s got you there.”
I smile at him, and he winks at me, making me think he’s just playing the disappointed-dad card because he thinks he should be.
Maxwell sighs and comes out from behind his desk. I guess he’s done pretending to be intimidating. “I think you’re forgetting that your contract has a no-fraternization policy in it. You shouldn’t have been sleeping with an employee of the team.”
“And you shouldn’t have been paying for press,” I point out.
“Oh, grow up Mac, this is just how it works,” August says. “It wasn’t exactly ethical, but neither was what you two did. Did you even think about what this would do to his career before you took a cock ride?”
“August, too far,” Coach Watts yells at him. Andie starts to yell something too, but I can’t hear it that well because August and Watts are yelling at each other.
“Enough, everyone.” Maxwell’s stern voice breaks through the yelling. “Mackenzie, there is a no-fraternization policy in your contact, sure. And yes, we shouldn’t have been paying for the story, but I was trying to help the team. It’s been done before, with other teams. You just may not have realized it.”
“So, what are you going to do to me? Suspend me? Fire me? I can’t do anything about what happened. I outed us last night and your lap dog came to tell everyone?—”
“I didn’t have to rat you out,” August defends. “Other team members saw it, and they were bound to talk. I had to tell my father. I had to save us from any media backlash that we may encounter for this.”
I nod in understanding, saying nothing else.
“While you technically didn’t break any rules, I need to know if your conduct is being called into question,” Maxwell says, watching me closely. “Your contract is only for two years. Fuck up again and I’ll pull it. Got it? I did want to suspend you, but you have some great advocates on your side.” He motions to Coach Watts and Andie. “This won’t impact you’re playing time. Just watch yourself. And know that Mr. Taylor probably won’t receive the same treatment from his employer.”
“Thank you, sir. I didn’t mean to cause issues. I just fell in love with a man. I shouldn’t have but it was hard to fight. Surely you can relate to that?” I ask him, knowing full well that he’s been married three times, so he might know something about getting carried away with love.
“I do. But be careful. Just because you feel a pull to do something doesn’t mean you should.”
“Got it.”
“Good, now get out of my office,” Maxwell tells me.
I get up and hurry out. I feel someone hot on my heels and turn around to see Coach Watts and Andie behind me.
“Please keep your nose clean, kiddo,” Watts tells me. “We have that scrimmage later today, so go get ready for it. Do not pass go, do not collect your boyfriend. Just get your team and get ready.”
“Yes, sir,” I say, hurrying far away from Cromwell’s office before anything else can be said to me about the matter.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
~DANNY~
While Mac’s little talk with the Cromwell’s went better than expected my talk with Martin did not.
