Chance smacks me on the back of the head. “Let’s go.”
I throw my duffel over my shoulder, and then I grab my other two suitcases and drag them out to my red Charger, chucking them into the backseat.
The guys get in their own cars, and in no time, we are on our way to my ex-girlfriend’s hotel. I mean, the wordhoteldoes not do it justice. There are chandeliers and marble flooring in every room. It is absolute luxury.
Which is why I can’t figure out for the life of me why Coach would stick ninety-five sweaty-ass football players in a place like that.
When The Chambers comes into view, my heart starts thumping against my ribs, and I can’t stand that it still does this. That even the thought of seeing her has my pulse racing.
I follow Dawson’s pickup into the parking lot, pulling into the spot next to him. My fingers play with my keys in the ignition. And I debate on leaving the lot and never looking back.
But the years I have put into football to get here will not be wasted. No matter what I’m about to face or feel.
But I just want to stay right here, where I can pretend that everything between us is okay, where I won’t have to see her gorgeous face every day. Where she can’t torture me.
I should hate her for cheating on me for those two years. I mean, I did.
But the second I found out that Brady had raped her when we were together, all that anger left me. Well, it was replaced with new anger, but any hatred for her dissipated instantly. I wish she would have told me, or broken up with me instead of cheating. But I can’t even begin to image what was going on inside her head. I just wish I could’ve helped her. I can’t blame her for coping the only way she knew how.
I’m not ready to feel her rejection again, to feel her turn me away. But I don’t have a choice.
Turning the key, I shut my car off and grab my bags. And I join the rest of the guys outside.
I step in line with Coleman, and we lead the team through the doors being held open for us.
My eyes immediately scan for Becca, for the smallest glimmer of honey-blonde hair, for the aura of power. But I don’t see her.
A brunette in red crosses the foyer. Two men in suits shortly behind her.
The large lobby is practically empty besides the receptionists and a few guests.
My heart beat quickens and I rub my palms on the sides of my pants.
The elevator five feet to my right dings, and when the two doors open, all air is sucked out of my lungs.
Becca.
She looks different since the last time I saw her. She’s gained a little weight, and she is as beautiful as ever. Her curves are calling my name, and I want to introduce myself to each one personally. I’m completely frozen, unable to look away from her. She smiles at something the other girl says and my chest constricts. I miss that, making her smile. I swear to you angels sing when that girl smiles.
She hasn’t looked over here yet. She’s talking to that girl, who I definitely recognize from somewhere.
Oh shit.
That’s Sophie Santiago, the other victim of Brady’s from the trial.
I also can’t help but notice the two men positioned protectively behind her.
Becca laughs at something she said, and when I hear it in person again, even if it wasn’t because of me, it feels like a breath of fresh air.
But I can’t ignore the fact that I wish it were me who made her laugh. Jealously and I are becoming quick friends.
Coleman clears his throat, and that grabs Becca’s attention. But not for any way these guys would guess. For a split second, her eyes are a little too wide, and she sucks a breath in. She’s scared. If I’d blinked, I would have missed it. Because standing in front of me is a version of Becca that I’ve become very accustomed to. The Becca with a thousand masks, and she has one made of perfection on her face right now, oozing confidence.
She sees Coleman, and then her eyes shift slightly, landing right on me.
And everything in her gaze changes. From fear to calm to sadness and back to confidence in one blink. Another split second of getting a glimpse behind the mask. But then it’s gone. We are locked in a staredown, neither of us wanting to make the first move.
Her presence calls to me, and before I know it, I’m right in front of her, not sure how I got here.
