Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 115308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
“You ready for this?” Baird asked.
I glanced around to make sure there wasn’t anyone in immediate earshot and then I turned to him and asked quietly, “Where were you?”
His hand fell away from my waist at my tone. “I know I’m a bit late. Traffic was busier than I thought it would be.”
“I know traffic was busier. I know this because the taxi cost me over a hundred quid to get here.”
Baird winced. “Shit. Sorry.”
“I don’t need to rely on you to take me anywhere, but next time, give me more notice so I can arrange better transport.”
“Maia—”
“Were you out carousing last night?” I studied him, looking for signs of a hangover.
Baird’s eyebrows pinched together. “No. I wasn’t.”
I waited for him to tell me where he was.
At his silence, I shook my head. “This is a disaster. This is going to fall apart. I’m going to lose my job.”
Suddenly, he took hold of my right biceps and tugged me toward the trailers.
“What are you doing?” I hissed. “People are watching.”
“Fuck them.” He threw open the trailer door, and I hurried in after him, my cheeks blazing with embarrassment. Baird released me to stride through the trailer, checking to make sure it was empty, and then he turned to me. “I had the worst fucking weekend of my career. We thought we had it. And we lost. You have no idea what that feels like. And it would be nice if you could think beyond yourself for just one bloody second.”
I swallowed hard at his uncharacteristic reprimand. “I … I am really sorry about the championship, Baird. You know I am. And you know I feel that for you. But this”—I gestured around us—“is terrifying. And the first day we start it, you’re nowhere to be seen and you’re off getting fucked somewhere on who knows what with who knows who. You promised. You promised you wouldn’t and that you could do this for three months. Just three months, Baird, and then you can go back to your empty parties and as many women as you want.”
Suddenly, the air in the trailer grew thick as I watched Baird’s eyes darken with the kind of anger I’d never seen from him. At least not directed toward me.
“Well?” I jutted my chin in defiance of his outrage.
He kept his distance and sucked in a breath before releasing it. “Do you want to know where I was last night? I was with Callan, collecting John from Newcastle. Because before the game, the owner told John he’s not renewing his contract. One of my best mates is off the team. The gaffer was pissed as hell because he knew that would mess with our heads going into the game, and it did. So not only are we losing John to Canada, but we also lost the championship, and we’re going forward with an incompetent fucking owner who didn’t have the common sense to wait until he delivered that soul-destroying news.
“John fucked off to Newcastle to get absolutely smashed, got into a bit of bother, and Callan and I hauled our arses down there to get him. I didn’t get home until four o’clock this morning, and I was late getting here because I was trying to get a bit of sleep before launching into this circus with you.”
I closed my eyes as regret and shame filled me, followed by sadness for Baird and John. “Bear …”
I opened my eyes as Baird finally closed the distance between us. He bent his head toward me and I flinched at the reproach in his expression. “I wish you’d stop deciding who I am for me. I wish you’d start trusting me. I’m not your mum, Maia.”
My body physically jerked at his words.
His reproach softened to regret. Then he shook his head and muttered a harsh fuck under his breath before he marched out of the trailer.
CHAPTER TWELVE
MAIA
My stomach was sick as we approached the hot air balloon, and it wasn’t nerves about the flight. Before this morning, I’d been looking forward to it. I’d never been up in a hot air balloon before. Will and I had the opportunity when we were in Barcelona last year, but Will said he was pretty sure I’d hate the experience, so we didn’t bother.
Yet another unsubstantiated comment I’d swept under the rug.
I glanced up from beneath my lashes at Baird who hadn’t looked at me since I’d followed him out of the trailer. Between the murmurs and worried glances, I knew the team could sense we were at odds with each other.
What I was just beginning to realize was how much I detested being at odds with Baird.
It was confusing to find myself arguing with him when I never argued with Will about anything, and yet I felt wretched at the very thought of Baird hating me.