Page 31 of Linebacker
“So, he’s going to be alright?” I ask, desperate for a positive answer.
“Well, that’s the problem,” Buzzy does nothing to ease the tension causing a tightness across my shoulders. “It depends very much on what kind they’ve given him. If it’s, say an Ambien, it has a short life and it should be out of his system in three to four hours. But…”
“I hate it when someone finishes with a ‘but’,” Lucy moans.
“If they’ve given his something like Valium, then it could take much longer before he’s totally clear headed. On the positive side, it doesn’t sound like Marshall has had the time to intake much alcohol which could have made this a whole different game.”
T.J. grabs the wrist where Buzzy is wearing his watch. “It’s 11.20 now, so all we can do is hope that he sleeps it off and he’s clear headed before the team meetup at 9am. Otherwise, Coach is going to lose his shit. If this was anyone else, they might have been able to talk their way out of it, but Marshall, that ain’t going to happen. His card is already well and truly marked.”
“You guys need to go get some sleep, so at least you’re fresh for the game.” I turn to Buzzy. “Any chance you wouldn’t mind bunking in with these two, just for tonight?” I indicate to T.J. and Mack. “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on him, make sure that he doesn’t have any adverse effects to the meds.”
“Do you want me to stay too?” Lucy asks. “When he does wake up, chances are it ain’t going to be pleasant.”
“No, you go get some rest too. Tomorrow is going to be interesting to say the least. Don’t worry about me, I can handle Mars.”
One by one, they make their way out of the room, each of them checking that no one is hanging around in the hallway before they slip out, leaving only T.J. behind.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to hang around and keep you company?” he says softly and with genuine concern as we hover in the open doorway. “Promise it will be all above board, no funny business.”
“I’ll be fine,” I reply quietly with a smile. He turns to walk away, but before I’ve had the chance to close the door, he whisper calls my name.
“Yeah?” I poke my head back around the door frame.
“Mars?” he smirks. “I don’t know what history there is between you too, but I know one thing. He’s one lucky guy.”
“History, yes,” I admit. “Future, not a cat in hells chance.” My words are resolute, but it pains my heart when I voice them.
T.J. casts me a dubious look before he turns and walks away.
Closing the door, I put my back to it and let my gaze fall on sleeping Mars. Despite his size and manly stature, he looks cute and vulnerable as he lays fast asleep in the fetal position. Oblivious to the fuck up that he’s made and how devastatingly close he is to what could be a catastrophe.
CHAPTER26
“Hope… Hope…”
I bat away the hand that keeps shaking my shoulder. “Ten more minutes,” I mumble around the pillow that my face is squished into.
“Wake the fuck up, Hope.”
Mars!
I shoot upright when I realise who it is cursing me out. “What, oh,” I blink a few times to get the lingering sleep from my eyes. Mars is stood at the side of the bed, looking glorious, wearing nothing but grey sweatpants. His hair is wet, telling me he’s been up and awake long enough to shower. The way his back is rigid, arms crossed purposely across his naked chest, and the scowl on his face as he glowers down at me tells me that he’s not a morning person. “Morning,” I offer around a yawn.
“What the hell are you doing in my room?”
“Don’t worry, numb nuts,” I snigger, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. “I’m not into midnight romps with comatose dimwits. Besides that, can’t you see that other than my jeans that I took off, simply so I’d be more comfortable while sleeping, I’m dressed.” When I stand, his eyes roam down the lower part of my body. Although I feel the urge to pull my t-shirt down so it covers more of my black lace knickers, I don’t want to give him the impression that I’m embarrassed in any way.
“Where the hell is Buzzy?” he barks when he finally stops ogling my legs.
“Mars, give me a minute, will you? I need to pee and then we can talk.” Aware that my bum is probably half hanging out of the back of my pants, with straight arms behind me, I flatten the backs of my hands over my cheeks before walking over to the bathroom.
Once I’ve seen to business, given my face a quick swill, seeing as I’d had the sense to remove my makeup last night, I walk back into the bedroom to face Mars.
He’s already straightened up the sheets of the bed he’d slept in, and was now sitting on the edge facing the one I’d just vacated.
“Can you remember anything about last night?” I ask as I walk over and sit opposite him.
“Some,” he replies, rubbing the palm of his hand over the top of head. “But not everything.” His eyes narrow as he’s trying to recollect last night events.
