Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
I need this ended. I hate this feeling of not knowing what’s going to happen. I hate that I’m so far away from her. Most of all, I really fucking hate Bridgett Stamper. I just can’t figure out why she hates Tessa. One meeting that was mere minutes and they simply said hello…. What’s her endgame with this? I just can’t seem to figure it out.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, Joseph’s flight was delayed. He chartered a plane, and apparently, there was something going on with the engine, so he didn’t get here until today. Saturday. Saturday, as in the deadline that Bridgett gave me to publicly announce that it’s over between me and my girl. Something I refuse to do. Consequences be damned.
The entire team is in the private dining area, eating dinner. Today has been a lazy day, as Coach calls it. We ran through tapes this morning, but other than that, it’s a chill day at the hotel, getting rested up for tomorrow’s game. I scarf down some grilled chicken and vegetables, but I don’t taste them.
My time is running out. She said midnight, and it’s already pushing eight. I don’t know if she was bluffing or telling the truth. Something tells me it was a bluff, but it’s risky not to take her seriously. I just hope Mr. Stamper can handle this quietly.
“Landon.” Coach Neil appears beside me. “Got a minute?” he asks.
“Sure, Coach.” I catch Case’s eye from across the table, and he gives me a subtle nod. Trent does the same. I broke down and told him last night. It was driving me insane, and since we’re rooming together, he knew something was up. I know they have my back, but at the end of the day, it’s Joseph Stamper I need in my corner. I just hope Coach Neil is right, and he’s going to be.
Silently, Coach Neil and I get in the elevator. Neither one of us speaks as it takes us to the top floor of the hotel. I follow behind him and wait as he knocks on the door. “Come on in,” Joseph says. “Have a seat.” I want to tell him that I’ll stand, but I don’t need to piss him off, too. I want him on my side. “What’s going on, Neil?” he asks.
“I’ll let Landon tell you.”
So, I tell the story again. I make sure to keep my anger in check, knowing I’m speaking about his wife. I look him in the eye as I recount her visit with me. By the time I’m finished, my hands are fisted at my sides, and he’s looking… guilty?
“I don’t care what she threatens to do, I’m not ending my relationship with Tessa. If I have to give up my career, then so be it.”
“Wait, hold up.” He holds his hand in the air and stands from where he was sitting on the couch. We’re now standing eye-to-eye. “You’re not giving up your career, and you’re not letting go of Tessa.” Her name is spoken with reverence. “I know why she’s targeting you, and I’m afraid it’s my fault.”
“Explain,” I say through gritted teeth. If he made a pass at her, I’ll kill him. Why didn’t she tell me? There are a million scenarios racing through my mind.
“Have a seat.”
“I’m good.” I cross my arms over my chest and square my feet. I’m not backing down to him. I don’t give a fuck who he is. “Explain,” I say again.
“After I saw you climb the wall, and the pictures of you and Tessa were everywhere, I realized that she looked familiar to me.”
“You said that,” I say, remembering our conversation.
He nods. “You see, there was this woman. Beautiful dark hair, big green eyes, looked a lot like Tessa back then. We met for a week when we were on spring break. We were inseparable that week, and I was going to ask her to try long-distance until we could work it out. She was amazing, vibrant, and full of life. In just six short days, I fell hard. I knew she was the love of my life. I wanted to fight to make it work. Our last night together was… one I relive every single day of my life. The morning after, she was gone. Nothing but a note thanking me for the amazing week and that she would never forget me. It wasn’t until that moment that I realized I didn’t know her last name. I never gave her mine either. My father was the owner of the Los Angeles Cougars, and I was sick and tired of women coming onto me for what they thought they could get. I just wanted to be Joseph. That’s who I was with her. Just me.”
“What does this have to do with Tessa? Other than the resemblance? Does Bridgett think you want to be with my girlfriend?”