Page 61 of Scoring Chance

“But you’re happy?”

“Yes. I love it.”

That was all that mattered to me. I could be supportive of the changes. I had to be, as long as she was happy.

“Do you think we can catch up soon?”

“Oh Derrek.” She sighed. “I don’t know when I’ll have a chance. We’re leaving tomorrow morning for three away games. I think I’ll be back next Wednesday. Maybe. Then we have a game the next day.”

“Wow you sound like me now.” Only I could make time for her.

“I have so much respect for you guys. I’m exhausted, and I don’t even have to play.” She chuckled, and I tried to join her but didn’t have it in me.

Something in the back of my mind told me to give up. Let her go. She was clearly doing well without me.

But I couldn’t just walk away. I cared too much.

“Are those guys being nice to you?”

“Oh yeah. I love them.”

I closed my eyes at the “l”-word. I didn’t want to hear that. What if she was dating one of them?

“It’s like having fifteen brothers. They tease me every chance they get, and boy do they stink sometimes, but we have a lot of fun together.”

Brothers? That was a good sign. You don’t date your brothers. I forced a laugh. “Don’t let them pick on you too much.”

“Oh, I can hold my own. Don’t worry.” There were more voices, and she said something away from the phone. “I’m sorry, Derrek. I’ve got to run. It was good talking to you.”

“You too.” She ended the call before I had a chance to say anything else.

I never could have imagined the call going like that. I felt like I didn’t even know her anymore, and it made my chest feel like it was cracking in two. Coach told me to figure it out, but I was more confused than ever.

I had to see her in person. That was the only way I’d know what was really going on, but from what she said, it would take a bit of planning and coordination to make that happen. I couldn’t do it on my own, that much was obvious. I was going to have to put aside my ego and ask Nikolay for help. I cringed when I realized I would need the Pride too.

Elena was the first person I wanted to talk to. She would know if Amelia was interested in someone else and if I had a chance. I had a feeling a grand gesture was in my future, but it would be worth it.

This feeling, knowing Amelia was slipping away, was enough motivation to kick things into gear. I couldn’t lose her. I wasn’t willing to surrender what we had. There was something more than friendship between us. I was a fool for not acting on it sooner. I thought she needed time to settle into life here. I didn't want to push her before she was ready, but somehow, she skipped right over me and into a new career.

I wasn’t going to give up. Not yet.

20

Amelia

I let out a shaky breath. When I saw Derrek’s name on my phone, I knew I couldn’t keep ignoring him, but I had no idea how hard it would be to hear his voice again.

I couldn’t believe no one told him about my job. I assumed between Elena, Nikolay, Madi, Olli, and Chloe word would have gotten around. I didn’t mean to blindside him, but I didn’t know how to tell him either. When Darrin offered me the position, my first instinct was to call Derrek. I wanted to know what he thought I should do. If he thought me traveling with the team would be too much. If he would miss me. If our schedules would make it too difficult for us to see each other.

But then I thought about the facts. He treated me like a friend. He and I spent time together, but nothing romantic had happened between us. No matter how much I wished things were different, I couldn’t sit by and wait for him to feel the same. The chance to be the Cougar’s assistant trainer was too good to pass up. It was something I thought I’d be waiting years for, and it just fell into my lap. I would be an idiot not to see that it was fate pushing me in a clear direction.

Waiting one day to tell him turned into a week, then two. The longer we went without talking the easier it was to breathe again. My heart was still hurting, but I had enough on my plate to keep my mind off it.

Tony, Kevin, and Chris wormed their way into my world and kept me entertained and distracted. I really liked them and they made sure the rest of the guys made me feel welcome. It was almost as easy as being around the Fury. Almost.

There wasn’t a group like the Pride. Most of the guys were single and the few that were married had multiple homes. The wives seemed to prefer the LA weather or the shopping in New York.

I wasn’t around for many of the practices since that’s when I worked one on one with the injured players, but I never saw a group watching like the Pride did.