Play Maker(63)

My mom’s face softened. “I just don’t want you to get hurt again.”

“You love him, don’t you?” Maya interjected.

“That’s not the point,” I argued, trying to ignore how much that hurt. Because I didn’t want to feel anything towards him. Certainly not love.

“Isn’t it?”

“You want me to excuse his cheating just because I was stupid enough to fall in love with him?” I felt as if I was on the verge of tears. And I was so tired of crying over him.

“No,” Maya said, gently taking my hands. “I want you to listen to him. That’s all. I just want you to have all the information before you make a decision. Before you shut him out completely. Doesn’t he deserve that?”

“I don’t know.” I sank back down onto the couch. Mikey was silent at my side.

“Maybe Maya is right.”

My head shot up, surprised at my mother’s complete reversal. Quietly she came and sat down next to me.

“I know I haven’t been the best mom,” she said, her voice halting. “And if anyone didn’t deserve a second chance, it was me. I did some unforgivable things. But I know that I am grateful every single day that you have allowed me back into your life. So maybe…” She took my hand. “Maybe it’s worth listening to what James has to say. But that has to be your decision. Just know that I want the best for you.”

My heart ached. I had never felt closer to her, and my resentment over her leaving us had finally begun to lift. I believed what she was saying. And maybe she was right. I didn’t have to forgive James, but I could at least listen. My heart was already broken, he couldn’t do anymore damage.

But how I wanted to believe Maya. How I wanted there to be an explanation for all of this. Because I missed him. So very much.

I gave her a hug. “Thanks, Mom.”

Maya handed me the remote and I took a deep breath before turning on the TV. It took a few moments before we found one of the many seemingly unnecessary sports channels that our cable company gave us. For the first time I was grateful for them.

And then, all of a sudden, there he was, standing at a podium, camera flashes going off, a room full of reporters muttering and taking notes. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He was as handsome and perfect and infuriatingly sexy as always. My heart gave a jolt.

My mom took my hand. Maya stood next to us chewing on her bottom lip. All of us seemed to be holding our breath.

“He looks like Ten,” Mikey said, pointing.

“Thank you all for coming,” James began. He was wearing a suit – brown, just like David Tennant wore on Doctor Who. He looked professional and polished and nervous. I had never seen him nervous before, and it wasn’t obvious, but I could tell. Something about the way he cleared his throat and the way his hand kind of fumbled with the mic. I wasn’t sure why, but it made me feel a little better.

“Before I share my initial reason for calling this press conference, I want to address something that has been in the news and in the tabloids for a while now. And that is my reputation.”

He glanced off-screen to his left and I imagined he was looking at Ethan.

“Ever since I started playing football, or soccer as you Yanks like to call it.” He gave the press room a small wink and I could hear a wave of laughter. “Well, I’ve gotten a bit of a reputation for being a ladies’ man. I’ve even been given a charming nickname”

“The Play Maker!” someone shouted from the audience.

James pointed in their direction. “That’s the one.”

This whole thing was not making me feel better. I reached for the remote, thinking that I had made a mistake and that I should turn it off, but Mikey grabbed my hand before I could.

“Mikey!” I was surprised. No one had been more upset about the betrayal than Mikey.

“When people make mistakes they apologize,” he told me. I had told him that when our mom returned.

“Don’t give up yet,” Maya urged.

I put the remote down and tried not to think about the empty ache in my heart.

“The truth is,” James was saying on the screen, “that my reputation has not been honestly earned.”

A ripple of murmurs went through the crowd.

“Yes, I’ll admit that there are photos of me out there. Particularly recently. But most of them are not me.”

My mouth went dry. What was he saying?

“But your jersey number!” someone in the audience shouted.

“Who is in the pictures?” someone else asked.

James looked immensely guilty. “I allowed a teammate of mine to hide his indiscretions behind my number. It was wrong. Not only because it allowed him to lie to someone who trusted him, but because it destroyed the trust I had earned from someone I care deeply about.” He looked straight into the camera. “Someone I love. Someone who deserves better.”

My mom let out a gasp. Maya pumped a fist in the air. I just stared at the TV. My entire body felt numb. All of this felt like a dream.

“What happened?” Mikey asked, clearly confused.

“James just said he loved your sister,” Maya explained, a huge smile on her face.

“How do we know?” Mikey wanted to know. “He didn’t even say her name.”

Everyone went silent. I didn’t know what to say or feel. Because Mikey was right. Even though I knew James was talking about me, I didn’t feel relieved or even happy. Because it didn’t feel real. It didn’t feel like he was speaking to me. It felt like he was talking to a room of reporters. And what did he mean when he said I deserved better? Was that it? Was that his way of ending this officially? I felt a little sick, actually.