by Zoë Lane
“Rose, we’ve seen the post.”
The first call I made was to the GM. I owed her an explanation before anyone else. She had the power to fire Landyn on the spot, and would be the one to do so. “It’s all lies,” I said quickly.
“So he wasn’t at the club with this chick?”
“The ‘chick’ is his sister. Did you see the pictures?”
“Of course I did. The ones with her butt out, slung over his shoulder like he’s a caveman. What do you mean, his sister? That was Lacey?”
“He’s obviously not dressed for a night out. And his sister was intoxicated. She’s underage and he went to get her.”
“You can’t be serious. Are you sure? Is this what he told you or do you know for a fact?”
“Ma’am, I’m at the hospital right now. Lacey hasn’t regained consciousness. Her stomach had to be pumped. She’s suffering.”
Rochelle sighed over the line. “What her father said couldn’t have helped.”
“Landyn thinks that’s what broke her.”
“How is he doing?”
“Other than being covered in his sister’s vomit? He’s disappointed in her. Angry at his father, but probably more at himself for not stopping this.”
“I see. He’s blaming himself.”
“I’m working on a countermessage right now. Should have it emailed to the press outlets if you give me ten minutes.”
“Of course. We’d like to see you back here, when you have a chance.”
Now? “Um, sure. I can do that.”
“Appreciate it. Thank you, Rose.”
The line went dead. Rochelle’s voice sounded cold and clipped at the end. I’m fired. They couldn’t just do it over the phone so I wouldn’t have to drive halfway across the city to hear two words. No. No, the organization did things in person.
*****
“They can’t do this to you. If they fire you, then they’ll have to fire me too,” Landyn said with grit while he paced the small waiting area.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re under contract. There’s a lot of money riding on you. If they fire you, you’ll get picked up by another team. They can’t risk that, no matter what they’ve said in the past. Landyn! Stop pacing.”
“I’ll call the GM.”
“No, you won’t. This is my job. My problem to handle.”
“That I caused.”
I smiled and took his hands in mine. “This may shock you, somewhat, but…not everything is about you.” I winked.
He grinned back, leaned his head down and slanted his lips over mine. “I think I’ll get over it.”
“Good. Now let me go handle it and see if I still have a job after this is all over.”
“Rose—”
“It’s okay, Landyn. If they let me go…I’ll be okay.”
His brows meshed. “I know you will. You, Little Mouse, are a—”
“If you say rat I’ll punch you.”
He laughed. “I was going to say warrior. You’ve had this ever since you caught my throw. But…are you sure?”
“I know a rich baller.”
“Need your bills paid?” he chortled.
I chuckled. “Not yet.” I grabbed my laptop case from the table. “Everything’s been taken care of. I put the story out there that your sister was upset by the hurtful words your father had said about the two of you, wanted to spend the night with friends and be cheered up, but miscalculated what she was drinking.”
Tension creased Landyn’s brow and the corners of his eyes and mouth. He nodded wordlessly.
“I had to admit she was drinking. Too many people had seen her, and now she’s in the hospital.”
“I get it,” Landyn said. “I believe it’s not about making me look good at my sister’s expense.”
“Of course not,” I breathed, clutching his arm.
“What else?”
“You went in to rescue her after spending the evening relaxing and preparing for the season’s opening game. She’s being treated by competent physicians. You’re by her side but will be ready to play, as that’s what your sister would want.”
His gaze softened, as did his expression. “Your company would suffer if they lost you.”
I laughed nervously. “I doubt that, but I love you for saying it.” I gasped and clasped my hand over my mouth.
What.
Did.
I.
Just.
Say?
Landyn’s eyes went wide, and his lower lip dropped. I felt a rush of paralyzing embarrassment. What was I thinking? I can’t say “I love you” first. Not to this guy. A man who enjoyed the fast life that was killing his sister. A man fresh out of college and playing in the NFL who’d want years of groupies before settling down. Is that how I even meant it?
Landyn smiled widely. He took my head in his hands and kissed me softly. “I love you, too,” he whispered against my lips before placing another tender kiss there. “I don’t know when it happened, but I know how.” His eyes burned as they stared into mine. “You are a phenomenal woman. Smart, funny, terrifying,” he laughed. “My little mouse…you are fierce. A man would be crazy to let you out of his life.”
My body had warmed so much that I was sweating beneath my shirt and between my legs. “Landyn…” I couldn’t form words, and I needed to in order to keep my job. He kissed me again, this time slipping his arms around my waist, holding me close.
“I have to go save my job,” I said, out of breath, never having been kissed so deeply.
With a groan he released me. “I love you,” he said again.
“I love you, too.”
Yeah, I meant it.
“Go get ’em.”
I backed away and stumbled into the door frame. Landyn dragged a hand down his face. “Please don’t hurt yourself.” He half-frowned, shaking his head. “I can’t handle both women I care about being in the hospital.”
My face was on fire. I gave a childlike wave and hurried out of the room.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
LANDYN
“Come on, Lace.”
She didn’t stir. Hours she’d been asleep. The doctor was beginning to worry, and I was losing my mind. How could she just pass out and not wake back up? Why hadn’t I seen what she was going through earlier?
Because I’d been away at college, having the time of my life, and my sister was out of the house. We were alive and okay. What else could possibly be wrong with us?
My phone vibrated across the table I’d placed it on near an outlet so it could charge. The coach. I inwardly cringed. It was nearly midnight. If it couldn’t wait until morning, then it was definitely bad. “Coach?”
“Landyn, I heard about your sister. How is she?”
“She’s going to pull through.” I think. “She’s resting.”
“Good. Good. Sorry to hear about what happened.”
“Thank you. And don’t worry, Rose is fixing it. She got a post out and everything.”
“Landyn, Rose is going to be fired.”
It was like a shot to the gut. Fired? Fired? “For what? She’s my fixer!”
“Who’s too junior to handle you, apparently.”
“No, she isn’t. Listen, Coach—”
“No, you listen. We made it clear to you in the beginning how we wanted this to go. We’d hope you would cooperate and put the team first over your need to satisfy your lingering frat boy ways. But the fact of the matter is, you’re worth a lot more than she is. We didn’t pay nearly as much for her services as we’re paying for yours. Can’t bench you since the game starts tomorrow. That’ll be an even bigger publicity mess than what you’ve done so far.”
Rose had been right. The team was paying a lot of money, and at the end of the day, they would back me. “You can’t fire her. It’s not her fault that my father—”
“We can and we will. The heads of the firm will be taking over and running interference for whatever you do from now on.”
“If she’s fired, I walk.”
Silence.
That got him. I could hear nothing but the thumping sound of my heart beating at breakneck pace. Rose had told me not to play this card, but she wasn’t here, and this wasn’t right. “My father said some pretty terrible things, Coach. We all heard him. My sister was only trying to treat the pain.”
“Landyn, I understand that, but—”
“Bench me. Play Kyle.” I ended the call.
I was wrong on so many levels. Hanging up on the coach, benching myself, jeopardizing the team’s chance at winning its first game.
Put the team first.
I hadn’t. Not then, and I still wasn’t now. Not by leaving them with no choice but to play Kyle. I groaned. My head hurt, I was exhausted, and my sister—
“Landyn?”
I dropped my phone and rushed to the bed. Lacey’s eyes fluttered. “Lace? Lacey, can you hear me?”
“Why are you yelling?”
I laughed and kissed her cheek before calling out to the nurse to get the doctor. “Don’t try to talk, Lace, you’re okay. Just rest.”
“Where am I?”
“Hospital. You passed out.”
“I think I drank too much.”
I didn’t have the heart to agree with her because I didn’t want to tell her she’d drunk enough to be in danger of renal failure. “You’re gonna get help, Lacey. I’ll be here to help you.” I clutched her hand. She smiled, and her eyes closed again.
The doctor came in and asked Lacey a few questions about pain and the day of the week. A few of her words were slurred, but she had just woken up from something like a coma. I texted Rose that Lacey was up and not to worry about anything, we’d figure it out.
“What’s wrong?”
“Hmm?” I returned to Lacey’s side.
“You look so…defeated.”
“You’re feeling better, huh?”
“Not as groggy. Today’s game day.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m staying here with you.”
“All day? No.” Her face scrunched up and she shook her head. “I’ll be fine. I’ll watch you on the TV and eat Jell-O. Go play.”
“I can’t. Already told the coach to bench me.”
“Because of me?”
“Because of Rose. She’s…” I hesitated to tell Lacey Rose would be fired, because then she would feel bad. I just wanted her to concentrate on getting better. If there was blame to be placed, it’d be firmly at the feet of my father.
“What?”
I kissed Lacey’s forehead. “Nothing. Rest. I’m going to make a phone call. I’ll be right outside.”
She yawned. “I’m not going anywhere. Too tired.”
“Uh-huh.” Soon she was asleep again, and I smiled. My sister. Naive, clueless, a fighter. I loved her for her strength and vulnerability.
I called Rose’s phone five times and five times got her voicemail. By the fifth time, I had to stop myself from yelling in the phone. I peeked inside my sister’s room and she hadn’t stirred from the position she had fallen asleep in. I scribbled a note that I’d gone to the office and told the nurses at the station I’d return in a couple of hours.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
ROSE
I bit my lip, waiting for my sentence.
I’d spent the better part of the last hour detailing everything I had accomplished as Landyn’s crisis manager. Social media, press clippings, online reports. Everything. By my office’s analytics, the public’s perception of him had changed for the better. Sure, he was still seen as a partier, but he’d just graduated college and was new to money and fame.
And he was hot as hell.
And, unfortunately, he had a tragic past that made many willing to excuse his present behavior.
It’d be weird if he wasn’t seen as someone who was taking advantage of all the fields he could sow his oats into.
I would be lying if I said he should keep a bit of that allure—for all the females he could attract to the television and the stadium. Truth was, I didn’t want all those fields open to his plow, even if I couldn’t stop them from offering. I wanted only one field on his mind.
“Rose…” The GM didn’t finish. If she had doubts…
“I understand that the stigma is still there, but as you can see, it’s been greatly diminished. The brand your organization is trying to portray to the media and the rest of the country will still be intact.”
“But it’s a young brand.”
“That will grow with Landyn.”
“The organization will inevitably evolve, I understand. I just don’t want—”
“No one sees this team as a college-level team. Others have survived players with worse reputations. With the additional work my colleagues at MacCallister, Wembly, and Poach have done in showcasing all the good this organization is doing for Richmond, I firmly believe you’ll be pleasantly surprised come tonight during the game. The commentators will spend less time talking about Landyn’s antics and more time discussing the possibility of this team making the playoffs.”
Rochelle gave me a small grin. “You talk a good game, Rose, for someone with no experience. I’m assuming that’s one of the reasons you were hired into such a prestigious firm.”
“Yes, it is.” I wouldn’t deny it. “And I’m a fighter. Landyn and I have worked hard, despite a few setbacks. He’ll be seen as the hero older brother. A man to look up to. I guarantee it, or you can have my job.”
There. I’d put myself on the line. I stared right back at Rochelle, not breaking her gaze.
“You believe what you’re saying.”
I did. “I do.”
She sighed and put down the quickly drafted prospectus that I was working on finalizing for later this morning. “This was a good rundown, thank you.”
Oh, good. It was amazing what you could accomplish at midnight with no sleep and the man you loved agonizing over a sick sister. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“And you’re correct. You have done exemplary work. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Going into tonight’s game, I’m sure we’ll get more cheers than jeers.”
“Richmond’s never had a team. That’s going to go a very long way.”
The office door crashed opened and I jumped. Landyn, disheveled and still wearing puke-stained sweatpants, rushed forward to the desk. “You can’t fire Rose. She’s amazing. It’s after midnight, and look where she’s at.” He gestured in my direction. “You’re not going to get that kind of loyalty or service from anyone else.”
Rochelle arched a brow at me, and I willed my cheeks to remain cool. Landyn panted heavily, as though he’d run all the way up here instead of taking the elevator. I couldn’t stop my mouth from parting in a smile.
“She’s not fired, Landyn.”
He looked at me with a shocked expression. “I was told—”
“Prematurely, I think,” Rochelle answered.
“That’s my fault, actually.” Coach Hicks walked in. “I went ahead and pulled the trigger on Landyn based on…the agreement we had with Ms. Mackleby.” He eyed Landyn with a slitted stare. “And then our quarterback went and said something stupid.”
No, he didn’t.
“He said to bench him and play Kyle.”
Rochelle’s eyes snapped to Landyn. “Is this true, Landyn?”
Landyn’s gaze caught mine. I became breathless at the love and loyalty I read in his eyes. “It is, ma’am. The fact that I’m back in the news for being at a club is not Rose’s fault. She couldn’t possibly predict what my father would say, nor how my sister would take it. I didn’t even know Lacey had gone to the club.”
“He thought our decision wasn’t based on all the facts and was unfair,” Coach Hicks added.
“She’s shown me what her and the firm’s work have accomplished these last couple of weeks.” Rochelle offered the prospectus to Landyn, who snatched it from her hand and began reading it.
“I know she has.” He gave me a quick glance. “I’ve been incredibly grateful
for all of her hard work.”
“Landyn, you have to talk to us, son,” Coach Hicks came forward. “Your father…what he said… We understand there might be repercussions on your end.”
Landyn put the prospectus down on the desk and took a seat beside me. The coach sat on the edge of Rochelle’s desk. “I know, I’m sorry. Ever since I went to college, I’ve felt free.” He gave me a lopsided grin that dipped downward. “And I’ve been enjoying my freedom ever since.”
“We know,” Rochelle said quietly.
“When I signed the contract to be quarterback for this organization… it’s a different level of responsibility than at the college level. A lot more people are involved…more consequences if I screw up…more money involved that I could lose if I, you know…”
“Screw up,” Coach Hicks finished for him.
“Exactly. I’ve always been good at handling pressure on the field. I underestimated how well I could handle all of this. And I’ve forgotten—or at least tried to forget—the pressure I was able to take growing up. ”
“But are you up to it?” Rochelle asked. “We’ll need you to match Rose’s level of hard work and discipline this season when you’re off the field. We want to make it to the playoffs, if not the Super Bowl.”
Landyn nodded, his eyes meeting mine. A saw glimmers of respect and admiration. “This is good,” he said to me.
“Thank you, Mr. Gallagher,” I whispered.
“How’s your sister, Landyn?”
“Better, ma’am. She woke up not too long ago but is sleeping right now.”
“Will you need—”
“She’ll get the care she needs, I promise. She won’t be a distraction.”
Rochelle’s face became downcast. “You two have had it rough, and I’m sorry. We don’t want you to think we’re tyrants. We’re family here and want to offer you support, if you need it. If we care for one another, then we can get through anything.”
Coach Hicks nodded. “She’s right. You always have the team. A lot of the players you know very well. You don’t have to do everything alone. All of it is not riding on your shoulders.”