“Raoul, you have nothing to do with what’s going on.”
“That’s not true. I saw him, the other night. When he was leaving.”
And the hits just kept on coming, Nicole thought, wondering if she was going to have a permanent blush.
“I, ah, told him he shouldn’t hurt you.” Raoul traced a pattern on the parking lot with his spikes. “That you were someone special and that he didn’t get to play any games.”
He’d defended her? Raoul had stood up to his coach to defend
Now the need to cry was even stronger, but the reason was totally different.
She hugged him. “I’m twenty-eight years old. I’ve been married. I can take care of myself.”
“I didn’t want him to hurt you.”
“I know. Thank you for that.”
“I’m sorry Coach is being an ass.”
Nicole stepped away. Everything was clear now, including how she was going to handle the situation. “Me, too. Thanks for telling me this, Raoul. And for what you did. It was sweet, but unnecessary.”
He shrugged, looking both uncomfortable and proud.
She pointed to the entrance to the locker room. “Go shower and get changed. I’m going to have a little conversation with Hawk.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
He jogged off.
Filled with purpose and energy, Nicole marched back toward the stadium.
Knowing what had happened was both better and worse, she thought, letting her anger build up so it would peak right when she needed it. While she now knew why Hawk was acting the way he was, it made her like him a whole lot less.
She stepped onto the field. Most of the parents and players were gone, including Annie. She marched right up to Hawk, stuck her index finger in his chest and said, “We have to talk.”
“This isn’t a good time for me.”
“You think I give a shit?”
Hawk narrowed his gaze. “What’s your problem?”
“Apparently you are. You’re acting like a two-year-old, pouting because something didn’t go your way. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong because the last time I saw you, I had a great time. But rather than discuss anything with me, or pretend to be an adult, you sulked and tried to make me feel bad with that surgically enhanced bimbo.”
“Annie is a very nice woman.”
“I can only imagine.” She poked him again. “Raoul was looking out for me. It was totally unnecessary of him, but still really sweet and kind and as this is the guy dating your seventeen-year-old daughter, you should be doing cartwheels. If he’s willing to face you down to look out for me, imagine what he would do for the girl he loves. He’s a hell of a guy and there’s a tiny chance you’re part of the reason. But do you see that? No. You’re far more upset about the fact that he stood up to you so your overinflated male ego is all bruised and broken. Poor Hawk. Your star player is more interested in acting like a man than kissing your ass. You should be proud of him instead of pouting.”
Hawk’s gaze turned icy. “Are you done?”
“Just about. I thought you were different. I thought you were special. You walked away from a dream career to take care of your daughter. You work with these kids, not because you need the money, but because you want to help. At least that’s what you tell people. But the truth is, all of this is about you. About how you look and how much the world worships you. As soon as things don’t go your way, you’re not interested in the game anymore. You don’t want to play and you sure don’t want to play fair. I thought you were someone I wanted to know, but if this is who you really are, I don’t even want to pretend to date you. Go to hell, Hawk.”
She turned and walked away.
She thought he might have a scathing comeback but there was only silence. She was so mad, she was shaking. She also felt sick inside, like she’d just lost something important.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this, she told herself as she climbed into her car. It wasn’t supposed to hurt. But it did. All of it. It hurt really bad.
THE LAST THING Hawk wanted to do was hang out with his players, but there weren’t a lot of options. He drove to the pizza place and walked inside, only to be greeted by the crowd.
He faked his way through a few short conversations, then glanced at his watch and wondered how long until he could duck out. An hour? Maybe two. Until then, he was stuck.
“Hi, Hawk.”
The low, sultry voice made his skin crawl. Annie. She was here because he’d invited her. Because he was an idiot, and now he was stuck with her.
“I’ve saved us a table,” she said, pointing to a small booth in the corner. One that would seat two. She’d already told him her husband was out of town and that the house was empty and a very lonely place.
He knew better than to encourage women like her. He wasn’t interested and he sure as hell wasn’t going to spend time with a married woman. He’d reacted. Nicole had been right-he’d been pouting.
The reality of how he’d acted crashed in on him. He felt humiliated and stupid and in desperate need of a do- over. But life was like football…the clock only counted down. He couldn’t take back the plays he’d made, he could only deal with the consequences.
He looked Annie square in the eye. “I had a fight with my girlfriend. I was using you to make her feel bad. I acted totally inappropriately. I’m sorry.”
Annie blinked at him. “You’re kidding.”
“No. I’m telling you the truth. Hey, if you were in my position, aren’t you the one you’d pick?”
It was one part shameless flattery and two parts truth. He hoped it was the right combination.
Annie flipped her long, dark hair over her shoulder and then smoothed the front of her tight sweater. “Okay, yeah. I’d pick me, too.” She sighed. “You’re really seeing someone?”
“Her name is Nicole. You can ask Brittany.”
Annie sighed. “Oh, well. I had a feeling it was too good to be true. I’ll let you off this time, Hawk, but don’t make that mistake again, or I’ll expect you to make good on your promises.”
“You have my word.”
She sauntered away.
Hawk glanced around the pizza place until he spotted Raoul, then walked over to speak with him.
“I owe you,” he told the kid. “You were looking out for Nicole and I respect that. Keep doing the right thing, no matter what anyone else says.”
Raoul looked him in the eye. “Even you, Coach?”
“Even me.”
They shook hands. Hawk knew Nicole had been right. He was grateful Raoul was dating his daughter. He knew Raoul would take care of her. Which meant he’d mended all his bridges except one.
He glanced at his watch. He was stuck here for the next couple of hours. Or was he?
He turned back to Raoul. “Can you handle things here for a little while?”
“Sure, Coach.”
“I’ll be back.”
He hurried to his truck and started the engine. The need to talk to Nicole pushed everything else from his brain.
He drove fast enough to get a ticket, but got lucky and wasn’t caught. Less than twenty minutes later he was pounding on her door.
“Nicole, come on. It’s me. Open up. I know you’re in there.”
Finally he heard footsteps. “Go away,” she yelled through the door.
“Nicole, I know you don’t want to see me, but this is important.”
She didn’t say anything.
He pounded on the door again. “I was wrong, okay? I was a jerk. I’ve known Raoul for years now and he’s known you for a couple of months and he stood up to me because of you. I wasn’t expecting that. I didn’t realize he’d become a man. He challenged me. He was willing to take me on. It’s not supposed to be like that.”
