Page 11 of Jason

“I’m sorry,” I started to apologize for… well, I didn’t even know what, but when I looked up I saw her eyes wide and a look of complete horror all over her face. “Are you okay?”

“What is that?” she repeated, now pointing at her plate.

“It’s salmon and steamed veggies,” I said slowly, “It’s lunch.”

“You eat that for lunch?” Now her wide eyes were aimed at me, and I felt something in my gut clenching.

“Yeah, it’s in my diet,” I whispered, absorbed as the look of horror vanished and a new one, a soft one, entered her eyes.

“Oh, you poor, poor thing,” she patted my hand that was near her plate. “C’mon, let’s go,” she stood up, went for her things, and then started to go to the door.

“What?” I asked, that thing in my gut now trying to stop me from breathing.

I didn’t want her to go. Damnit, I wanted her all to myself, just for a little bit more. And then, I would not be thinking how things should have gone while I was under another cold shower.

“It’s your cheat day. We’re going for burgers,” she said like it was something we did all the time and I forgot.

She was almost jumping up and down on the spot the moment the word burgers left her mouth. I didn’t like fast food. I enjoyed my diet, but I didn’t tell her that. I went to her where she stood by the door, took my keys, and, through a smile, said, “Let’s go for burgers.”

From that moment on, she constantly asked me when my next cheat day was. She was determined to introduce me to all kinds of yummy food, as she called it. And every morning, she would taunt a donut or some kind of pastry under my nose. I didn’t feel even slightly tempted, the big order of a burger with fries and fried onion rings followed by cake left me nauseous for the rest of that day, but learning the fact that my Rory was a food and sugar addict was amusing enough.

“We need to talk,” Curt said, watching my hands as I fussed over the treats I laid out for Rory.

I needed everything to go perfect when she got here, so I could tell her she was mine, and then I would be able to actually cross some stuff on my list of things I planned on doing to her.

“About what?” I decided to get this over with.

It was easier to let Curt say what he came here to say so we can have peace later. Otherwise, he wouldn’t get out and that would piss Rory off and ruin my plans of a fun private afternoon.

“About your contract.”

Looking up I could see Curt had now gone to the couch and was sitting on it like he owned the place. Shit, he was going to drag this out.

“What about my contract?”

“I think you should reconsider signing a new one with the Denver Thunders.”

The words that came out of his mouth had me seeing red. Was he out of his mind? If he didn’t spit out and explain and do so soon, I feared I was going to kill him. I didn’t have the patience for Curt today. Actually, no, I didn’t have the patience for him at all anymore. And not ever if he was coming to my home with this bullshit.

“What?” I hissed, rounding the island and coming to stand in front of the coffee table. I watched Curt brush off an imaginary piece of lint from his tie then spread his arm wide on the back of the couch.

“I have a few new offers for you. Better ones. Generous ones,” as Curt was talking, a slow, calculating smile spread across his face. “Ones that would make you a very rich man and take you closer to home.”

“I don't want them. Tell them no. I'm staying with the Thunders.”

“Now, look here. Don't be like that. Did you hear what I said?” the smile was no longer present. Now, there was an undertone of rage hiding under Curt’s normal mask.

“I said no,” I repeated.

“Listen to me,” Curt stood up, pointing a finger at my chest.

“I said no!” I roared.

My whole body was twitching, fighting between staying in place and charging at Curt. How could Curt be so stupid? He knew how much the Denver Thunders meant to me. He knew how hard I worked all my life just so I would be where I was now. A starting QB for the Denver Thunders. And he wanted to take it all away from me?

“Is everything all right?” the soft question came from my left.

Rory was standing just inside the door, a nervous look on her face, ready to get out if needed.