Em tried to think of the reasons Frida would go. As far as she knew, Frida wasn’t even that big of an MASL fan. She hadn’t started going to games until recently.
She sat back down and pulled out her phone. Her hands shook as she texted Frida and asked her how the conference was.
Her response came just a moment later. It’s okay. Boring.
Em squeezed her hands into small fists. Was everyone she cared about going to disappoint her tonight?
First it was Grant with their pseudo-breakup. Then, Frida had lied about where she was. The only person who hadn’t betrayed her was Finn.
Finn.
All the air swooshed from Em’s lungs as the realization hit her. Frida was there to see Finn play. She was sure of it. And they’d been keeping it a secret. Em couldn’t believe they’d been lying to her. She wondered what else she didn’t know.
Her fingers flew across the screen. How long have you two been dating?
This time Frida took much longer to respond. Em’s finger tapped impatiently on her thigh as she waited for an answer. Eventually it came.
How did you know?
So, it was true. Seeing the words hit hard even though she was sure her suspicions were right. How long? She asked again.
Frida’s response came faster this time. Two months. I wanted to tell you, but Finn thought we should wait.
Two months? That was a long time to keep a secret, and Em only knew her best friend and brother were dating because of an Oregon cameraman with a sense of humor.
She wanted to cry, but she’d already shed enough tears that day. Em powered down her phone, turned the TV off, and went to bed—though it was several hours before sleep finally overpowered her.
Grant
Grant walked into Big Results, alone.
He could now walk without his crutches or a limp, but he still had another week until his doctor and the Storm’s athletic trainer would let him do regular workouts with the rest of the team.
Not that he wanted to see the rest of the team after what had happened.
Since the scene in the locker room, Grant hadn’t had more than a passing “hello” with his roommates. Grant tried to leave the team house just before his roommates got back from Big Results. That way he wouldn’t see them at home. And by the time he got to the gym, they’d all cleared out. It had been working out perfectly.
Cool air hit him as he entered the large building. He might not have been allowed to workout as hard as he wanted to, but he could still focus on his core and upper body—as well as run through the exercises he’d been given to strengthen his ankle and promote faster healing.
Grant didn’t put any unnecessary strain on his foot other than when he’d blocked the ball for Em. He followed doctor’s orders to a tee in hopes of getting back to the game sooner, but now he wondered if that was what he really wanted. Of course he wanted to play. Soccer was his life. But everything that happened with Finn tainted the game for him.
Grant lifted some weights from the rack and started doing bicep curls in front of the mirrored wall. He was so consumed with his thoughts that he didn’t notice Bastian until he’d finished his first rep.
The defender crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re a hard guy to get a hold of.”
Grant didn’t bother holding back his groan. “What are you doing here?”
Bastian took a long drink from his water bottle. “I thought I’d spend some time working on my arms.”
Grant highly doubted that. He set the weights back on the rack. “Why are you really here?”
Bastian released a long sigh. He jerked his head toward the front of the gym. There was a small in-house café with several small tables in front of it. “Wanna sit for a minute? Get a smoothie?”
He’d come to workout and just walked through the door. Sitting and having a drink with Bastian was the last thing he wanted to do. He narrowed his eyes. “Not really.”
Bastian surprised him by laughing. “I’m not here to fight with you, Grant. I just want to talk.”
Grant lifted his hands. “What is there to talk about?”
Bastian looked down at Grant’s feet. “Your ankle?”
“Still sprained.”
“Finn?”
“Still a jerk.”
“Look.” Bastian shook his head. “I’m not the bad guy here.”
Grant took a step toward him. “Aren’t you though? Maybe not to me, but you and everyone else on the team want to all pretend like what Finn is doing to Em is okay. I question it and end up on the receiving end of his right-hook.”
“I’m sorry, man.”
Grant’s blood was boiling. He didn’t want Bastian’s apology. He wanted everyone to stop letting Finn manipulate Em. “Maybe you guys don’t see it because you’ve been playing together for so long, but this whole thing is messed up.”
“I—”
“And based on what you told me that first night at City Bar, it’s not the first time Finn has let his temper get the best of him. No one is going to stand up to him, so why don’t you just say what you came here to say.”
Bastian rubbed a hand over his face. “Fine. I came here to find out if you’re still talking to Em. She’s been ignoring Finn, and he thinks it’s because you guys are dating.”
Finn again. Grant’s answering laugh was cruel. “If that’s the case, then why doesn’t he ask me about it?”
“Because we won’t let him. Vinny has been running interference so that he doesn’t show up to your house.”
Grant couldn’t believe the same guy who had delighted in Grant and Finn’s fight was now trying to prevent another from happening. “Really?” he asked.
“No
