Page 107 of The Game We Played

And when I say lie, I mean lie as in not telling the truth. That’s what she’s good at.

Nolan sighs. “Give him the article.”

Gage slaps a newspaper in my hands. “It’s the front page story.”

“I don’t want to read any story.”

“Read it,” Brock grumbles, “or the ball that hit you in the head will feel like a light tap.”

“Fine. Whatever.”

In a league built on teamwork, loyalty is often treated like a guarantee. But the reality is far more complicated. Contracts can be negotiated. Reputations can be managed. Even narratives can be carefully constructed. Loyalty, however, cannot be manufactured. It shows itself in who stands beside you when there’s nothing to gain. And who doesn’t. And in a sport where every move is scrutinized, the greatest risk isn’t always taken on the field. Sometimes, it’s trusting the wrong person off it.

My brow wrinkles. “I don’t get it.”

Nolan taps the paper. “Keep reading.”

Loyalty is not proven through words or carefully crafted statements. It’s proven through action, particularly when no one is watching. When someone entrusted with a player’s career chooses personal gain over protection, it doesn’t just fracture a relationship. It exposes a deeper issue within the system itself: that sometimes the greatest threat to a player’s reputation isn’t the media, the fans, or even their opponents. But the people standing closest to them.

Is she referring to my agent? Is she saying Sam lied? He chose personal gain over protecting me?

“It doesn’t make sense. Sam’s spent the entire summer suppressing the video.”

“Sam also just signed Victor Saunders as a client,” Nolan says.

What the hell? Victor Saunders is my biggest rival. While it’s not unusual for a sports agent to have multiple clients on different teams who are rivals, my rivalry with Victor Saunders is different.

He has a personal vendetta against me. Ever since I won the Heisman trophy when he was favored to win, he’s been out to ruin my career. He’s even shown up at clubs where I’ve been and snapped pictures of me with women in an effort to soil my reputation.

“Sam wouldn’t sign Victor Saunders.”

Brock grunts. “Wrong.”

“And if you were wrong about Sam signing Victor, you could be wrong about other things Sam did.” Gage nods toward the newspaper.

My hands shake as I read the rest of the article. Alaia doesn’t name names, but it’s clear this article is about Sam and his betrayal of me.

Damnit. Sam betrayed me. Not Alaia.

I messed up. I should have listened to her explanation of what happened. I assumed she was lying because that’s what my family has done for my entire life. They actually claimed not to have phoned the coach to have me cut from the team. Yeah, right.

But Alaia’s not my family. She’s not a liar out to betray me.

She could have released the video and made a shit ton of money. But what did she do? She wrote a classy article about loyalty in the sports world instead. She took the high road. And I couldn’t love her more for it.

I need to fix this. I need Alaia back. But how?

Chapter 33

BREAKING: LOCAL WRITER LEVELS UP Unfortunately, so do her complications

Alaia

I drum my fingers on the steering wheel as I stare up atHideaway Haven Resort.Should I stay or should I go?

I don’t want to run into Tanner. One vote for go.

But I refuse to let a man manipulate or control me. One vote for stay.