Page 66 of Face Off

How was I still talking? I felt like my heart was going to explode from my chest.

She stared at me with wide eyes.

She pursed her lips.

Opened them.

Shut them.

Blinked.

“I need to check on Sadie.”

She hurried away before her words even sank in.

Did I just destroy everything?

I watched her hug Sadie and then slide past me on her way out the door. She didn’t look at me, let alone say anything.

What was going on in her mind? What had I said wrong? I wasn’t necessarily expecting her to agree and say she was ready to merge our lives, and I did tell her to think about it, but giving me no reaction was worse than an outright rejection.

Now I had to sit in front of Sadie and all her classmates and pretend like I wasn’t having a mental breakdown.

* * *

I didn’t hear from Holly for two days. Not a single call or text letting me know what she was thinking.

At least Jackson called. He’d done some digging and found out through his contacts with other agents that a multi-team trade had been in the works, one that involved the Fury. They needed to free up money and a spot on the team, and were focusing on my vulnerability from my injury. But I wasn’t the only one. Two of the rookies were being looked at too. They just didn’t tell anyone.

It was infuriating that our lives could be manipulated, but it only fueled my need to prove I wasn’t someone to toss aside.

When I entered the locker room before our game, Olli and Brandon smiled at me like they knew something I didn’t.

I glanced around and didn’t see anyone besides the team, but when I got to my locker, I understood. A hand-drawn picture was taped up for everyone to see. There were three figures, a smaller one between the other two, holding hands in a line. Below it, our names were written. Holly, Sadie, Mikey. Like we belonged together.

My rage dropped to a simmer in my gut.

They were what mattered. What I wanted for my future.

I flipped it over and saw a note.

Good luck. We’ll be cheering you on! Love, Sadie and Holly

Was that coming from Holly, or did she just write what Sadie told her to? Was I overthinking? Definitely.

But it was something. Anything was better than silence even if it left me with more questions than answers.

“You got some fans watching you?” Lance said from beside me.

I smiled and nodded. “I guess so.”

“Have you heard anything else from her?”

I’d filled him, Mitch, and Parker in on what had happened, hoping one of them could provide an explanation for her reaction, but they were at a loss as well. Women were often an elusive mystery, and knowing she was just a few floors away made it even worse. It might as well have been another planet. I was giving her space since it was obvious she needed it and some time.

“Nope.” I turned to Parker. “How did last night go?”

I felt like an awful friend for not asking sooner, but my mind was a little preoccupied.