Page 53 of The Lockdown Mann

“He doesn’t deserve you either,” I remind him. I don’t know if Hunter sees that yet. I think there’s a part of him that still feels like he owes Coach Blake something, even though he sees how terrible a man Coach Blake is, even though he doesn’t want anything to do with him either.

“I know.”

“I think Des hates him more than anyone.” The second the words spill free, I realize my mistake. Yeah, Des hasn’t made a secret of his feelings about Coach Blake, and he’s the main reason Des left Kansas City, but why would I bring up Desmond in this situation at all? Why did I make it sound like we talked about him, even though we absolutely fucking did? As far as Hunter knows, I don’t talk to Des at all—at least when we’re not in the same place because of him.

Hunter cocks a brown brow. “What? Are you guys friends now?” He says it in a playful voice, but the question is real.

“We’ve always been cool,” I admit. “He’s just annoying as shit.” There. That’s the truth, isn’t it? I never hated Des. He just liked to get under my skin, and honestly, that hasn’t changed.

“More so with you than anyone else.” Hunter chuckles, but luckily changes the subject after that. I don’t know why I don’t just tell him that Des and I are friends and that we’ve been hanging out. It’s not as if he’s going to be suspicious about anything, because Hunter thinks I’m straight and in a relationship with Serena.

We finish eating, and then the team spends about an hour going over film.

When we’re released for the night, Hunter and I head up to our room, where our phones are waiting for us. We’ve been roommates ever since our first season playing together.

Hunt immediately calls Lucas while I press Tiana’s name on my screen. I call her every night, every time I’m gone. It’s a routine we’ve always had, and one I hope will never change. “Hey, baby girl,” I say when she answers, sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard with my feet out in front of me.

“Hi, Daddy!” she replies. “Are you ready for the game tomorrow?”

“I am. I’m beginning to think you love football more than me, though,” I tease.

“That’s not true. I just love football almost as much as you.”

I laugh, and my little girl does too. We talk about her day, and every word she shares makes my heart grow more.

“I’m gonna watch the Inferno game too,” she eventually tells me.

“Is that right? You’ve never been an Inferno fan until this season.”

“Yeah, but that was before they traded for Desmond Jackson, and I’d never met anyone from the Inferno before. I gotta root for L.A. all the time, but the Pulse is always my number one.”

I chuckle. “As long as I’m still your number one.”

“Always. You and Mama are the best. I love our family.”

My heart swells like a pumped-up balloon before deflating again. We’re still a family, I remind myself. Just one that looks a little different from how we did before.

“I do too.”

“Mama just came in. I gotta go take a shower.”

I smile. “All right, baby girl. I love you.”

“Love you too!”

She ends the call, and I glance over at Hunter, who is still on the phone in the other bed. For just a moment, I consider calling Des, but that would be weird as hell. Not only would Hunter wonder what I was doing, but Des would too, so instead I pull up my text messages.

Me: Apparently, T is watching your game tomorrow. She’s a new Inferno fan, but I’m still her number one.

Des: She’s got good taste.

Me: Because she’s an Inferno fan?

Des: Yeah, but also because you’re her number one.

I shift on the mattress, body feeling at least ten degrees hotter than it did just a moment ago.

Des: Did I make you blush?