“Do you? Do you know that? Do you know that you’re compromising your integrity by doing this? Or do you even care?” He shakes his head at me. “Dude, I thought you were smarter than this. When I met you, you said you wanted to make a name for yourself. Something separate from your father. This will certainly separate you from him. This will goeverywhere.”
I scrub a hand down my face. “Yeah, I know.”
“What do you have so far?” he asks me, pulling the iPad across the table. Looking at it, he can see there’s nothing there. “Fuck, man. You’re screwed.”
“Help me,” I say. I’m ashamed he had to point out all the things I already knew. But it took hearing the harsh realities from him to make me wake up. I gotta get my ass moving and turn something in before I end both my and Mac’s careers.
We spend the morning coming up with a plan and questions so that I can get this article wrapped up. I want to ask him to come up with a plan to see her without it causing problems, but I don’t. Because who knows if that’s even something she wants from me.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
~MAC~
Iwake up and roll over expecting to see Danny lying there with me, but he’s not.
I’m alone.
I sigh. I wonder when he left me. I would have liked a nice morning together, but it does make sense that he left. It’s after eight right now, and had he stayed, someone might have spotted him. He’s not exactly someone who could camouflage himself. Everyone on the team knows who he is. They’re used to him hanging around and asking questions. Seeing him here would definitely raise some red flags.
I reach over and grab my phone. Sure enough, there’s a message from him.
Danny:Good morning, beautiful. I’m sorry you woke up alone, but I had to go. I didn’t want you to get caught. I had a great time last night. Congrats again on the big win. Call me later if you want.
Call me later if you want.It’s an oddly intimate sentence. Usually, we don’t make plans to see or talk to each other. It’s just awhen-we-see-each-other kind of thing. Me seeking him out the other week is the most intimate thing that’s ever happened in our arrangement.
Mac:Good morning. I wasn’t expecting an empty bed, but I get it. Hope you’re having a good morning.
I see he starts to type immediately, and the bubbles stop and start repeatedly. I watch it for a few moments, but nothing ever comes through. I put the phone back on my bedside table. It vibrates quicker than I thought it would.
Danny:Nick figured it out.
My blood runs cold knowing that we’ve been found out by someone who will be working around the team. I sit up and stare at my phone. How in the fuck has he figured it out? I thought we were careful, so I shoot him a text and ask him just that.
Danny:Apparently not careful enough, babe.
Mac:Is he going to keep his mouth shut?
Danny:Yeah, he’s my friend. He won’t rat us out. But we’ve gotta get working on that article. Cromwell is getting nervous about how long it’s been taking us.
Mac:So, interview me.
I can just see him smiling and maybe even laughing at his phone. The few times he’s tried, it hasn’t gone well. We either end up fighting or naked. Not that I’m complaining about the naked part, but the fighting I could do without.
It’s a roller coaster doing this with Danny. I’m not sure why. Maybe I’m still holding on to the anger I have over his article accusing me of having ‘no attack.’ Or maybe it’s because it’s forbidden and that’s been fun. Will it stop being fun after he finishes the article, and people won’t necessarily care if we’re dating?
I lie back and think about that. What he doesn’t know is that relationships don’t always go the best for me because I’m not only obsessed with soccer but I’m picky. I’m not looking for anything long-term or permanent. It’s just easier to cut and run from them. Blame them for not understanding my commitment to soccer or just getting too busy to pay them any attention. It’s worked so many times before.
Would I do that to Danny?
I look up at the ceiling and think about it, but my thoughts are interrupted by the knocking on my front door. Did he come to see me; I wonder? As I make my way over to the front door, I straighten my T-shirt and pull at my shorts a bit before opening the door.
It’s Cassie. My wide smile fades.
“Who were you expecting? That smile was way too big to be thinking that this would just be a friend coming by,” she teases me, walking into my apartment.
“Sorry. How are you?” I don’t bother acknowledging her question. “How was your night last night?”
I walk over to the couch to sit in the corner that’s facing her. Grabbing a pillow, I place it on my lap and watch her, waiting for her to tell me about her night. Hoping that not going out didn’t cause anyone to be suspicious. I want to ask her if anyone missed me, but it’s not like me to wonder, and I don’t want her to ask too many questions.
