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His expression remained unchanged. Heat climbed my throat. Why had I blurted that? It had to be the silences and the clinical, detached way he studied my face like a scientist might examine an interesting specimen in the lab.
“I haven’t told anyone on the team. Please don’t tell anyone. You’re not going to tell Miri, are you? Or Gabe?”
His level tone softened. “I won’t breathe a word.”
Silence fell between us again.
“Sean’s been texting other girls.”
I felt Reece’s eyes on me, but I couldn’t look up from my fingers gripped tightly in my lap. “You’re sure you won’t tell Miri, will you? Nobody can know about this. Sean is a big name. This isn’t just about me. It’s about the men’s team as well. If the story blows up, it’s going to be a media circus. The football club is all that matters. Sean feels the same. We’re dealing with it discreetly.”
“I understand. You can trust me with confidentiality.”
Reece smoothed his tie and crossed his legs at the knee. His brogues gleamed like polished wood. I’d never seen a man dressed so immaculately. With that crisp white shirt and artfully disheveled hair, he was flawless.
“You haven’t told anyone at all? That must be difficult. A breakup can be stressful. I’m sure there are people here that would want to support you.”
“It would be terrible for team morale. Everyone is relying on me to get them to the end of the season. We’re so close to getting promoted. Everything is hanging on these last three games. I need to look like I’m in control.”
He cocked his head, his tone somehow soft yet uncompromising. “Are you in control, Skylar?”
“Yes. Always. I’m the captain. I don’t lean on the girls with my problems. They lean on me.”
“Even captains have problems.”
I pasted a rueful smile onto my lips, despite the ache in my heart. “Not me.”
Silence swirled between us. I’d told him too much, but my confession had made the horrible scratchy gnawing in my chest loosen its grip a little. I hadn’t told anyone, not even my parents. Still, this guy was here to do coaching and motivational stuff, not counsel me through a relationship breakup. I didn’t need a therapist. This was Miri’s brother, for goodness’ sake. A sudden awkwardness came over me and I stood. “Anyway, this isn’t why you’re here. You’ve got better things to do than talk to me.”
His intense eyes met mine. “No. I haven’t, and I’m here because my family wants to get me out of the house because I annoy them.”
“Why would you annoy them?”
He kept his expression perfectly level. “I don’t know. I’m the picture of sanity. If you were ever wondering what emotional stability looks like, then look no further.”
So dry. So deadpan. Not even a hint of a smile. I couldn’t help my chuckle to hear my words parroted back to me. His eyes riveted to my face and it made my pulse pound.
“Do you promise you won’t tell anyone any of this?”
“I promise.”
“It’s a relief, honestly. It doesn’t even feel real. Me and Sean are over.”
“How does it feel to hear yourself speak those words?”
“It feels… great. Is that weird?”
“No. Not if the relationship wasn’t working.”
“It wasn’t. Not for a long time.”
A suffocating silence enveloped us again. This was what he did. The long pauses made you say more than you wanted to say. I needed to run before I gave him more messy facts about my messy life. This man was dangerous. I wouldn’t be back in a hurry.
I moved to the door. “Anyway, I should go. Time to hit the gym. If you need anything or you get lost, give me a shout.”
“I will. Come back if you want to talk again.” His dark, inscrutable gaze locked with mine. “My door is always open to the captain.”
Chapter 5
