Loving Him Off the Field (Santa Fe Bobcats #2)(76)

The season was over. Killian slumped against his locker, unable to believe the time had come. For the first time since he’d started playing in the NFL, he didn’t feel relief. It wasn’t a weight lifted off his shoulders to know he didn’t have to worry about keeping himself distant for another play-off.

Partly because he knew he’d miss seeing his fellow Bobcats every day now. They’d become more than teammates. They were friends.

But the truth was, it was Aileen he’d miss seeing. She’d stopped coming around his apartment, stopped showing up at practices, and hadn’t answered his two phone calls. Crazy how, when she’d started showing up, he’d considered her a nuisance. A cute nuisance, but one nonetheless.

Now, four days of silence was driving him insane, and he craved even the barest glimpse of her. He needed to know if she was okay, if she was upset . . .

If she forgave him.

Trey, already dressed in the khakis and button-down shirt he’d come to the stadium in, walked over, and gave him a light tap on the shoulder. “Nice game.”

“We lost,” Killian reminded him.

“But you did your job. Two field goal attempts, two field goals. Can’t ask for more than that.” He shrugged. “Wasn’t our season. Maybe next year.”

“Yeah.” Killian tossed a towel into the nearby hamper and grabbed his suit pants. “What’s up with you for the off-season?”

“Cassie,” Trey said with a grin. The woman’s name came out on a sigh, like a prayer. He sank onto the bench beside Killian. “I very much look forward to spending some time with her where I’m not juggling practice and being on the road.”

Because jealousy was never attractive, Killian nodded instead of snapping, Lucky you. “Thank her again, please, for getting her sister, Irene, to babysit Charlie today.”

“Trust me, it was no problem.”

Killian hesitated, then asked, “Is she always that uptight, or was that because she was nervous?” When Cassie’s sister—Coach Jordan’s daughter—had shown up at his apartment, she’d been quiet, barely saying two words. Though when Charlie had raced out of his room to inspect the new visitor, she’d softened considerably. Enough that he was sure she’d be fine with him. And Mrs. Reynolds was across the hall, in case they needed anything.

“Irene’s a good kid, she’s just trying to find her own way. She’s been under their mom’s thumb for so long, now that she’s breaking out, she’s struggling to figure out what she wants instead of what her mom wants.”

“Well, I appreciate her missing the game to babysit.”

“I think Irene and her mom needed some space. They’re still working out . . . issues. Watching the little guy was the perfect excuse to skip out of the game with the family.” Trey nodded. “How’s Aileen?”

“Dunno.” He picked up his bag, then let it fall back to the bench. “How the f*ck would I know? She doesn’t answer her phone or call me back. She’s not hanging around here doing her damn job. She’s supposed to be interviewing me, isn’t she?” The last was said through his teeth. “So where the hell is she?”

“I think the interview’s off. She got fired.”

“What? You’re shitting me. That can’t be legal.”

“Probably is,” Trey said. “Cassie hung out with her yesterday. She’s on the hunt for a new job. Something about not finishing the interview . . .”

“I got her fired,” he moaned, letting his head fall back to smack against the locker. It hurt, but was less than he deserved.

Trey shrugged, zero help there. But clearly, he understood there was more than an interview in play. A few teammates walked past, slapping backs or shoulders. It didn’t make Killian antsy to bolt like it used to. And in the back, they were still sheltered from the media with locker room access. Somehow, the camaraderie was soothing as much as it was hectic.

“I’ve got to figure out a way to get her back, man.”

Trey drummed his fingers on the bench.

“I can’t not be around her. She’s stuck under my skin. Used to make me want to swat her off,” he said with a small smile. “Now I wish she’d cling harder. But she won’t answer the damn phone so I can tell her that.”

“Hmm,” Trey said, as if he had only been half-listening. “So Cassie and I have been thinking . . . now that the season’s over, it’s a good time to get the whole ‘we’re dating’ thing out in the open. Deal with it now, so it’s no biggie by the time next season rolls around.”

Killian watched him from the side, not turning his head. “Trey, no offense or anything, but I don’t really care right now.”

“That means,” Trey continued, as if Killian hadn’t spoken, “we need to find just the right avenue. A casual little interview, not making a big deal about it. No need to do Good Morning America or anything crazy. And we want someone we trust, who we know will respect the boundaries we put up and won’t screw us over.” He grinned when Killian turned his head to look at him square on. “Know anyone?”

Slowly, Killian processed what Trey was asking. “You want Aileen to do the interview.”

“We agreed she’s someone we both trust.” Killian nodded resolutely.