Page 210 of Tangled with the Tight End

“Yeah. Yeah. I’m here. You don’t need to worry. I had already decided I needed to break up with her.”

Saying it out loud makes me physically queasy.

“Well, good. I know you’re levelheaded. At the end of the day you always do what’s best. You’re doing her a favor.”

“Yeah. Well, just know I’m not doing this because Dad called demanding I call it off.”

“Demanding might be a strong way of putting it.”

Dad comes on the line. “I’m glad you came to your senses, son.”

“It’s not what you think.”

“Nothing ever is. I may not have all the facts. But I have the ones that matter.”

I don’t argue. A wave of exhaustion sweeps over me—and not because I played today.

“Okay. Well, I’ll talk to you two later.”

“We love you, son.”

“Love you too.”

I hang up. Before I change my mind, I call Kate to tell her I’m going to be ending my relationship with Winona.

“That will help move the spotlight off her, right?” I need to know.

“In time, yes. There might be a spike in interest after a breakup, but generally, the spotlight will follow the player, not their romantic interest.” She pauses and then she asks, “Are you sure about this, Declan?”

“If you’re asking if I want to break up with Winona, then no. I don’t want this. But if you’re asking me if I’m sure that I want to move the spotlight and hate and harassment away from her life? Yes. I’d do anything to take this away. Including breaking up with her.”

“This storm will pass.”

“I agree.” I practically beg Kate to prove me wrong with my next question. “Can you tell me this will be the only one? The media won’t constantly come for her? Every escalation of our connection won’t be clouded by accusations that she’s gold-digging? Fans won’t harass her at games? Photographers will never storm her porch again? Once this storm passes, we’ll be in the clear?”

She’s quiet. I wait for her to tell me there’s some way to ensure Winona can live a normal life and still be my girlfriend.

“I can’t promise that, Declan. As a matter of fact, my experience is that a public narrative carries weight and continues to have more lives than a cat. In other words, now that the public views her as a gold-digger and calls her Plain Jane, that’s who she will continue to be. You two will have seasons of reprieve, but anything could reheat the embers and you could be in this same situation without warning again and again.”

I’m silent. An odd peace fills me. It’s not pleasant, but it’s certain. I can’t protect Winona without breaking up with her. Kate said it herself.

“Thank you for being honest with me.”

“I wish I could give you an alternative.”

“Thanks, Kate. You’ve earned your paycheck through all this. I’m grateful for your support.”

“I’m here for you, Declan. And for Winona, for what it’s worth.”

I hang up with Kate and stare at the abstract painting of me on the field. All I ever wanted was to be a professional football player. Now, all I want is to save the woman I love from another moment of pain.

Winona texts me goodnight. Says she’s too tired to talk and she’ll call me tomorrow. I text her back that I love her.

The next day, I wait until I think she’s awake and I call her.

“Hey,” she answers, her voice brighter than it was yesterday.

“Hey. I’d like to talk sometime today. Do you have any free time?”