Page 58 of Forever Offsides

He laughs, but there’s no humor to it. “I’m sorry for the way I broke things off. It’s something I should have done in person, and I didn’t because I knew if I saw you and told you to your face that I was leaving, that I might not go, and I needed to. I’m sorry. I’m truly so sorry.”

I don’t know how to respond, so I don’t say anything.

“Quinn, I fucked up. I know I did. I hurt you, and you deserved better than that and better from me. I hope you can accept my apology and eventually forgive me.”

I narrow my eyes suspiciously. “Why?”

He tilts his head, surprised by my question. “Why what?”

“Why are you apologizing to me? For my brothers? So they’re okay with you being on the team and don’t kick your ass again?”

He smiles as if my question were comical. “No, though them not breaking my nose in your honor again would be nice. What I did to you, letting you go the way I did, has haunted me since I left. I loved you. You’re the first and only girl I’ve ever loved, and this is my chance to make it right.”

“Apology accepted. You’re forgiven.”

He blinks, his eyelashes fluttering. “Really? Just like that?”

I shrug indifferently. “Sure. It was a long time ago, Russ. Like I told Crew and Mason, I’m over it.” And I like your dad’s dick more. I nearly snicker. I’m sick.

His smile falls, his eyes flickering with disappointment, but I honestly don’t know what he was thinking. That he’d apologize and we’d pick back up where things left off four years ago?

“Quinn, I’m going to be spending a lot of time with you⁠—”

I shake my head, cutting him off. “Nope. You’re not. I don’t spend time with the players. I treat them if necessary. You’ll be on the field where you belong. That doesn’t concern me.”

He kicks a small rock and watches it skitter away. “So much for forgiveness.”

I scoff. “Forgiveness doesn’t mean anything beyond that. Frankly, the only reason I forgive you is that I no longer care. I’m not the same person you walked away from. Honestly, I’m a hell of a lot better. I don’t know what you could possibly have in mind with me four years after the fact, but Elsa that shit now.”

“Huh?”

“Let it go.” I move around him and head back toward the hospital. “Best of luck with the team.”

The automatic doors swoosh behind me, and I continue without looking back. It isn’t until I reach the wall near the elevator and the coffee kiosk that I slink off to the side to catch my breath.

I wasn’t lying to him. I do forgive him.

I knew exactly why he left me all those years ago. His reasons were clear, and I understood them.

That doesn’t mean I agree with how he behaved or that I would ever consider getting back together with a man who did something like that.

But to hear the things he said… fuck him. He doesn’t get to do this. He doesn’t get to mess with me. Not again.

Unfortunately, the worst part of this is that Rhett is his father. It makes me hate Russel a little more than I did before. Because while Rhett claims I’m the first woman he’s liked in decades, he’s the first man I’ve liked since his son.

18

QUINN

On Sunday, I wake up to early-morning sunshine. It’s barely six, and I shouldn’t be awake, but resident life means I wake early and function on too little sleep. On a perfect morning like this, I’m not too angry about my early wakeup call. This is full-on blue skies, golden rays, and barely any humidity. It’s the kind of day that makes it impossible to stay in bed.

Which sucks.

I had plans.

The kind of plans that had me in my PJs with a book, a cup of coffee, and a freshly baked croissant, courtesy of my favorite celebrity chef, Roman Fritz, who knows they’re my particular weakness and makes me dough that I freeze and bake as desired.

I end up throwing on a pair of exercise shorts and a tank top and head out the door. As fun as it would be to stay lazy, instinctively, I know the run will be good for me. It’ll clear my head, something I need.