Page 30 of The Marriage Playbook

He went to the window. The opening kickoff was happening, and he watched Sandusky run out to receive it. The kid caught it, but it was an easy catch, and Liam was sure he could have done it.

“Missing it?” Brennan asked, coming up alongside him. There was a bite in his voice. “You know, I don’t know why they kept you on the team as long as they did, Sims. You’ve got good hands, but you always were more trouble than you were worth. I used to tell the coach that you’d cross the line one day. I guess you finally proved me right.”

“I left to get married,” Liam said through gritted teeth.

“Nobody believes that,” Brennan scoffed. “Oh, your fans might want to believe you’re some kind of hero. But everyone who’s met you knows that you’re just a cocksure mess. I don’t know how you tricked this woman into marrying you in the first place. Probably a stunt of some kind. I wonder what she’ll do when she finds out what you’re really like?”

Smirking, he wandered off.

Liam’s blood boiled.

It was just too much. After everything he’d said to Cara in Rose Valley the other day…he had trusted her with who he really was. Had that been a mistake?

She hadn’t run from him. She was still here. But she was a professional. She wouldn’t take off just because she realized he was unlikeable.

She always thought I was unlikeable.

And Brennan had a point. Everyone else in his life had turned on him eventually. His father had never given a damn about him. No woman had ever taken an interest in anything but his fame and his money. Now his team had dropped him as if he’d never mattered.

He couldn’t stand here and go through this charade anymore. It was all too painful.

He waited until Cara was looking out the window, then opened the door and slipped out.

Half an hour later, he was at the bar down the street with his third shot in front of him, filled with self-loathing.

How can I expect anyone to help me when I can’t even help myself?

“This new guy is a real winner,” said the man on the barstool next to Liam.

Liam looked over. The guy was in his mid-forties, and he was staring up at the TV in appreciation. Garrett Sandusky had just caught a touchdown pass, and he was dancing around in the end zone like an idiot.

“He’s not any good,” Liam grumbled, slamming down his shot.

“Did you see that catch?”

“Anyone could have made that catch.” Liam signaled the bartender for another beer.

The bartender looked at him skeptically. “Maybe slow down a little there, friend.”

“I’m not your friend. I’m the guy who’s paying you to bring me liquor.”

The bartender raised his eyebrows. “Okay, well, I’m the guy who’s cutting you off.”

“What? I’m not even drunk, come on.” Liam slammed a hand down on the counter. The man next to him jumped up in alarm.

“Hang on,” he said. “I recognize you. You’re Liam Sims, aren’t you? The guy who got thrown off the Stingers for brawling in a bar?” He was backing away. “Maybe we should call the cops.”

In the space of a few seconds, it all flashed before Liam.

They’d call the cops. He would be arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. He’d be photographed taking a breathalyzer, and there would be articles about the whole mess, whether he went to jail or not. There would be a court date. Everyone would know. And there would be no hope of saving the situation.

“Hold on,” he said, raising his hands. “I don’t want any trouble, okay? I’ll leave. I’m sorry. Just let me make a quick call.”

He retreated to the back of the bar. The bartender watched him like a hawk, but he didn’t follow, and Liam breathed a sigh of relief as he took out his phone and dialed the number.

It didn’t even ring once. “Liam?” Cara’s voice was high-pitched, panicky. “Where are you? What were you thinking? You can’t just…”

“I’m at the Lion’s Den,” he said. “It’s a block away from the stadium, and…they want me to leave. I kind of lost my cool.”