Page 78 of Offsides

Flipping around her laptop, Felicity adjusted the screen to avoid glare. When she was confident that they could both see it, she hit play on the video filling the screen.

“Despite the tension in the air, it was clear which team was in charge,” Theo’s voice narrated, footage of the Fremont Cup final playing. “There was no doubt once this team got going, who was going to win. Even with the late equalizer from Chicago. All that did was serve as the catalyst, igniting a fire inside this team. The hero of the moment soon emerged, with a play that made it look so easy, anyone could have done it.”

Cowboy’s eyes were glued to the screen, watching as Dash danced around the goalie. He knew what was going to happen, but still, his heart sped up. Just as it had in real life, the ball hit the back of the net, the camera cutting to the team on the sidelines, their celebration already underway.

“For some it still might be too early to declare, but actions speak for themselves—the Atlanta Rising are the most successful expansion team in league history. With one piece of hardware under their belt and a solid campaign for the league championship, they are a team that is already steeped in ritual and tradition. And that is something that can’t be replicated.”

The video faded to black, leaving Cowboy confused. Where was the rest of it?

“Is that it?”

Felicity nodded, trying to fight a smile. Staring at his boss, Cowboy tried to make sense of it. Why hadn’t she included Dash? Certainly it wasn’t because he’d asked her not to. He knew that deep down—she held too strong to her convictions to give up on that.

“No Dash?”

“Not in what she sent. Her note says that this is just a snippet, but it’s how she plans on closing out the feature.”

The end. That was how she planned on ending her piece. Ritual and tradition. Two things they’d talked about at length—how important they were to him and how those were two core values of the team. Her focus had been on what made the Rising special—just as she had always said it would be.

Dude, you are definitely the dumbass here…

Cowboy looked over at Gunnar, who was sitting there with his arms crossed, a smug look on his face knowing that he’d been right. Since he’d been right about that, then maybe he’d know how to fix this too. Cowboy could only hope.

“So, how does one win back the woman he loves?”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“What are you doing in here?” Matthew asked, sticking his head in Theo’s office.

Theo looked up from the game of Yahtzee she was playing on her phone, taking in her counterpart’s kind, but confused features. Was having a pity party an acceptable answer? There were a hundred and one things she could be doing right now—should be doing even—but the only thing she could begin to concentrate on was her quest for a large straight in this stupid game. Her whole body felt drained—eyes puffy and scratchy from all the tears, her heart still bruised from the parking lot argument.

Four days.

That’s how long it had been since she’d last felt Cowboy’s arms around her, tasted his kisses, or heard his laugh. Four of the longest days of her life. And that was saying something—because she had experienced long, painful days. After the debacle with Tim, there were days and weeks that seemed like they were never going to end, that there would never be a light at the end of the tunnel. But she would gladly go through all of that again—the legal battle, the financial hardship, all of it—if it meant never knowing what losing Cowboy was like.

“Just playing catch-up,” she answered, after what was probably too long of a pause. Matthew was going to think she’d lost her mind.

“I figured you would be in studio C with Dana.”

Theo looked at Matthew quizzically. Now it was her turn to be confused. Why was Dana in the studio where they filmed their talk show? It was the smallest studio at the station, used mostly for Sports Down South recordings, but occasionally someone else would pop in if they needed a more intimate place for a one-on-one interview. Theo hadn’t seen anything on the schedule about that studio being booked. Then again, she’d been a heartbroken zombie ever since getting back from Vegas, so it was entirely possible she had missed something.

“Who is she in there with?”

“No idea. I didn’t even realize she had something today, until Krissy from traffic asked what was going on. She figured I would know since Dana said the only person allowed in the studio with her was you. Apparently, whatever it is, is all hush-hush.”

Hush-hush? This was not making any sense. Theo couldn’t think of anyone Dana would be interviewing that would be so secret that she wouldn’t have told her and Matthew. Then again, according to Matthew, Theo was allowed in there, so maybe Dana had told her. No, she would have remembered. It would have been something to take her mind off Cowboy.

Turning to her computer, Theo frantically shook her mouse, trying to bring the machine back to life again. She must have missed a memo. A quick scan of her inbox didn’t show anything though, making this whole thing that much weirder.

“I have nothing from her about an interview today,” Theo said, clicking over to her spam folder.

“Why are you wasting your time looking for an email? You’re the one person allowed in. Get your ass in there and go find out. And then text me so I can know and rub it in Krissy’s face.”

Theo laughed softly, shaking her head at the ridiculousness of Matthew’s comment. One of the worst kept secrets in this place was that Matthew and Krissy had been hooking up for years. Knowing the two of them, one knowing a piece of office gossip that the other didn’t was probably some kind of weird foreplay. Whatever worked for them—who was she to judge. At least they were happy.

Pushing up from her chair, Theo slipped passed Matthew, turning left to head to studio C. She heard him holler out a thank you, waving her hand over her head in acknowledgement. She did have to admit, her interest was piqued. There was so much about this situation that didn’t make sense. Dana must have had her reasons though; she always did. Reasons that while sometimes unconventional, tended to work in her favor. It was part of the reason Theo had wanted to work with Dana so much all those years ago, and why she was still thankful for the woman’s involvement in her life.

A plain white piece of paper was taped to the studio door, the words “DO NOT DISTURB, DANA AND THEO ONLY” in all caps, hastily scribbled in a Sharpie. Theo sighed—this was thoroughly strange. Best way to draw attention to something was to tell everyone to keep out. Yet, everyone was staying away. Twisting to look around her, Theo noticed she was the only one down the side hallway that led to the studio. Goosebumps crawled up her skin, her pulse kicking up a notch as she opened the studio door.