Page 115 of Forever Offsides

“So keeping it a secret was your idea?” Braelyn checks.

I glance around, making sure no one is around us. Like my mother. “Neither of us knows what to do so we’re giving ourselves time to see what this is and waiting until the end of the season. We don’t want to make the news or throw the team off course. And besides, neither of you is in a position to give me crap about secret relationships.”

“Fair,” Braelyn agrees, holding up a hand. “Fine. We love and support you, and if you’re happy with the hot coach, then we’re happy for you. Clearly, the sex is good because you have that look about you.”

Skylar snorts. “Oh my god! That’s exactly what my grandmother said to her. Though she didn’t mention the sex, just the glow.”

Brae’s phone vibrates with a text, and she pulls it out and frowns.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

She peers up at me with an apologetic grimace. “You’re not going to like this.”

“What?”

She flips her phone around, and it’s a text in our group chat from Roman.

Roman: Quinn, you are so grounded. *Video attached*

I read the headline before we click on the video: Star Wide Receiver Goes on the Record About Girlfriend.

Bile climbs up the back of my throat, and my ears feel hot. “I don’t think I want to see this.”

Braelyn clicks the video but holds up her phone so we can listen and watch with the volume low.

The image comes in with Russel in the locker room with reporters around him. “Russel, do you feel the team is ready for tomorrow after last week’s loss?” a reporter questions.

“Absolutely! We practiced hard all week and are just getting into our flow. Kansas is a tough opponent, but we’re ready.”

“Your reputation has improved since you’ve returned to Boston. Can you tell us the reason behind the drastic change?”

Russel chuckles ruefully. “I did a lot of soul-searching during the off-season. I believe the move from Dallas back to Boston was exactly what I needed to get myself realigned. I came to realize that being a winner means being on a winning team but also being part of that team, not solely as an individual player or contributor. I’ve been selfish in the past. It’s taken someone very special to me to teach me that lesson, and it’s not one I take for granted anymore.”

“Are you referring to Dr. Quinn Reyes? Do you care to make a formal statement about your relationship with her?”

“Quinn’s an amazing woman, and I care deeply about her. We care deeply about each other. We’re still figuring things out, but she’s special and worth everything to me.”

The video cuts out, and we look up, our eyes locking.

“Party’s over,” Skylar states.

Yeah, I guess it is.

An hour and a half later, after a literal truck delivered all the presents to Skylar and Aston’s house, we’re all sitting around her family room, having drinks, eating more food none of us are hungry for, opening presents, and discussing my latest drama.

Zoey, Aston’s daughter, was picked up by her grandparents for a sleepover so it’s just us.

“Sweetheart, what on earth is this?” Aston asks, holding up a box. There is a mountain of wrapping paper in the corner and presents and boxes everywhere.

Skylar makes a disgusted noise while Micha chokes out a laugh. “I can’t believe someone bought you that.”

Skylar sighs. “I can. I bet it was one of my bitchy nurses who swoons over my husband.”

“They don’t swoon over me,” Aston defends, but we all give him a look because we know that they do.

“Aston, I love you. You’re my brother-in-law and my best friend, but shut the fuck up.”

Braelyn high-fives Micha.