Page 20 of On Her Team
Tanner laughs. “Because you didn’t need to. We were there when she rejected his ass.”
“She didn’t reject me.”
“She rejected you,” Brock grumbles. “Even Corbin agrees.”
Corbin nods. “It’s true. She didn’t seem happy to see you.”
“Especially when she slammed the drinks tray on the counter next to you,” Tanner adds.
Wait a minute. I didn’t go to lunch with my teammates yesterday when Addy slammed the tray. “Did you assholes follow me toFive Fathomsyesterday?”
Brock grunts. “I was hungry.”
“Their burgers are amazing,” Corbin adds.
“The burgers were good but the entertainment was amazing,” Tanner says. “I especially enjoyed when you dropped a tray of beers on the floor.”
“You should work on your upper body strength more,” Corbin says. Unfortunately, he’s not joking. Corbin doesn’t joke.
“My arms were tired from yesterday morning’s workout.”
Coach crosses his arms over his chest. “I realize training camp hasn’t officially begun yet, but—”
“But we should maintain our goal weight and stay in top physical condition. Yada yada yada.” Tanner rolls his eyes.
“And you should stay out of trouble.”
Tanner bats his eyelashes. “Trouble? Me?”
“I’m serious, Long. You need to stay out of trouble. The news is going to publish the story eventually. Your manager can’t pay off every magazine.”
“I’m about done with everyone threatening me with the news breaking.”
Coach sighs. “No one’s threatening. We’re merely pointing out how it’s going to happen sooner or later. Getting into more trouble is not going to help the situation.”
“Whatever.” Tanner flicks his hand as if the problem will disappear on its own. Someone needs to grow up before he loses his career. “I want to discuss Gage and Addy.”
“There’s nothing to discuss.” No matter how I might wish it otherwise.
“Because she rejected you.”
I swallow my anger. Tanner isn’t being deliberately cruel; he’s deflecting away from his own problems. “We’re friends. Nothing more.”
Not because I don’t want to be more. And I plan to have more. Addy needs time to realize how good we could be together. I’ll give her time but I’m not a quitter. I don’t give up on something when I know it’s what I want.
Brock squeezes my shoulder. “We should visit your friend. I’m hungry.”
“I thought you needed to pick up Jace.”
“Jace needs to eat, too.”
“It doesn’t matter. Addy isn’t working the lunch shift.”
“You know her shifts?” Nolan asks. “Are you stalking her?”
“I’m not stalking her. I would never.”
Enough of my fellow teammates and their partners have had stalking issues. I would never cross the line to harassing Addy until she felt unsafe in her home. Uncool.
