“The freak is going to be in pain for a long time. Hopefully he’ll be shipped off to the nut farm, if not prison.” JD whispered, “Cooper got him good.”
He smiled as Dani gasped, “You know.”
“It’s just between us.” He stood as her mother bustled back into the room. Seeing his time was up, JD kissed Dani on the forehead then pat Trisha on the shoulder as he left, saying, “See you soon, Maxwell’s.”
Her mother slumped into the green vinyl chair on a groan then burst into tears. Dani reached out to hold her hand. “It’s alright, Mum.”
“Don’t say this is alright. This is so not alright.” She sniffled a few times, eyes pained with guilt. “This is my fault, I should never have agreed to snoop around that crazy boy’s house. Look at what he’s done to you.”
“What did the police say?” Dani asked, unsure what she wanted to hear other than Fisher was dead and his sidekick Birgetta had followed him to Hell.
“They need to talk to you before they can formally lay any charges. They have JD’s statement but his memory finishes with you still untouched.” She put her head down again and strangled her way through another bout of tears. When she looked up her eyes were haunted, “The police said Fisher was planning on taking photos.” She paused and licked her lips. “Did he touch you?”
“No, Mum.” Dani soothed, “I thought he had a real gun but as soon as I knew it was plastic it all went crazy. We fought, I won.”
“Thank God.” Her mother closed her eyes as if praying. “Your father’s a mess. He couldn’t even face training, and your brother is devastated.” She blew her nose on a tissue, “Marcus and Stacey have been in. Marcus is digging harder into Birgetta and Fisher. He’s certain he’ll find something since Fisher says Birgetta is paying him. Do you think she’ll leave us alone now?”
Sad and lonely without Cooper, Dani studied her blanket. “I really hope so.”
Her father arrived, seeing her awake his gruff face ease slightly.
“Hi, Dad.”
Trisha gushed with pride, “He never touched her. She didn’t let him.”
Jacob sagged in relief. “Dani, you make me proud.”
“I told you I wouldn’t give up my virginity without a fight.” She joked, hoping to clear away that awful fear that clung to them like sweat. It was nice to be loved and she wondered how Cooper survived with no one to support him.
Jacob rolled his eyes. “This is no laughing matter.”
“I’m not going to cry over it either. I’m fine and the bad guy got caught. We’ll put this behind us soon.”
Trisha nodded at Jacob who glanced at the door like he had something private to say. “I know Cooper did that kid over and I’ll be forever indebted to him.”
“Don’t be too thankful, he only finished him off.” Dani then peered out the window swiping at a slow tear. “I suppose I should be grateful too.”
“Then why aren’t you?” Trisha hissed.
Dani thought this through, “Because he didn’t care enough.”
Her parents said no more, they had their daughter and if she didn’t want to be grateful to Cooper they would be.
Later, Andrew visited for a short time. He was subdued, uncertain where to direct his anger. Then the police arrived, a tall female officer claiming the fractures to Fisher’s body were the result of tremendous force usually only caused by an extremely strong opponent. Hinting it was someone stronger than Dani.
“I was very angry.” Dani replied through a clenched jaw, “He threatened to rape me and I fought back. I wasn’t raped.”
The officers asked more questions and before they left the tall woman quietly said, “You are very lucky you’re so strong.” Dani could live with that.
◆◆◆
She left hospital later that day with pills and prescriptions. She stayed with her parents in her old room and life moved on.
Her bruises were yellow when she finally left the house.
She had not heard a word from Cooper.
With what had happened she retook her exam and passed easily. By then it was time for the three match rugby tests in Australia and Dani said goodbye to her family for the next four weeks.
Her wounds were healed, the bruises faded. She was not certain how she felt about Cooper and without her family she soon felt unraveled. She had held it together for them, to keep up the charade of coping.
Not ready to return to the bar Dani also postponed her personal training sessions until she was fully recovered. Without study to keep her busy time became her enemy. It bought her back to Fisher and what he had tried to do. She obsessed over Cooper too but not in a romantic way. She had wanted Cooper to kill someone for her. After all he had been through and Dani’s assertion he was no monster, she had expected him to do something abhorrent because he liked her. She had tried to use him just like the Growler and Fisher Davis.
She wanted to call him to apologize but just couldn’t pick up the phone, didn’t want to hear his voice, to miss him, to have him ask if she was alright. She didn’t deserve his sympathy. She had been willing to feed him to the lions for her purposes and he would still want her, still think he was unworthy. She resolved to leave him alone because being near him hurt and she now knew she could betray him.
Public opinion was changing and he would soon be back in the high life with adoring women who would do anything for him. Who could resist them?
Exhausted from doing nothing Dani eventually turned up at Balls & All.
“What are you doing here?” JD asked, concerned at her vacant stare.
“I’m bored, thought I’d come in and see if I’m ready for work.”
“And are you?” He asked, “I’m desperate for the extra set of experienced hands but not if there’s going to be more drama.”
She shrugged, “Can I have a beer while I think about it?”
For the next hour she sat and watched the early evening crowd enjoy themselves, loosening up. The place filled and JD was rushed off his feet, trying to serve while teaching a new girl the computer system that ran the tills.
Without giving herself time to think Dani moved to serving behind the bar, soon immersed in the rhythm and tone of the crowd, promising JD that if she felt uncomfortable she would leave. He trusted her and left her alone.
The big screens were all set to Jacob Maxwell’s team playing Australia. Few knew Jacob was her father and no one would recognize her from the smear campaign against Cooper either so her anonymity was still intact. When anyone mentioned her ghostly bruises, she told them she was training to become a professional boxer.
When the game came on Dani tried not to watch but it was unavoidable and she even managed a grin when Andrew scored a rare and convoluted try for a prop. The cameras cut to her father’s reaction in the coach box and Dani’s heart clenched at the sight of Cooper next to him.
She called to JD, “Is it alright if I go home now?” She wouldn’t meet his eye, even when he asked if she would do a couple of hours the next night.
“I’ve got to find a real job.” She dithered and JD wrapped an arm around her as he led her outside.
“Call if you want to come in, if I don’t hear from you I won’t expect you.”
Relieved, she hugged JD tightly before planting a long kiss on his cheek, “Thank you, for everything. You’re a great friend.”
“Are you kidding?” JD beamed, “I’m scared, look what you did to Fisher.”
“Funny man.” Her smiled was genuine as she walked away, wishing life were simpler and she could have fallen for the charming and uncomplicated JD.
◆◆◆
Birgetta was keeping a low profile. The police had interviewed her about her involvement with Fisher Davies and the public spat with Dani Maxwell. Birgetta admitted to buying photos of public interest from Fisher, which was not against the law, and that Dani had taken exception to the interest in her relationship with Cooper. Birgetta was stunned that Fisher had improvised with lewd shots of Dani. She had no
idea the boy was so creative and if he wasn’t going to prison she would have hired him again permanently.
Her boss, Michelle was pouring on the pressure for more dirt on Cooper but Birgetta was coming up empty handed. He wasn’t going anywhere, not even for meals. He was either at practice with the team or at his horrible little apartment. He avoided all social engagements and even press calls. She couldn’t imagine how bored he must be. He hadn’t been near Dani Maxwell since the Fisher incident either so Birgetta concluded their little tryst had fallen at the first hurdle. What a shame, Birgetta would love payback on that tough little bitch. Fixing her extentions had cost a fortune.
With only Fisher’s word, the police warned Birgetta against any contact with Cooper or Dani. She told them if she uncovered information of public interest she would use it.
“There is still such a thing as freedom of the press, I assume.” She had sneered, terrified they would look in her bag and find the pills and powders she used, mostly for work purposes. Michelle knew all the right people to get all the right chemistry.
“Within reason, Miss Growler.” The male officer had eyed her perfect breast augmentations. God, men were all the same.
Michelle was refusing any contact until there was new information on Cooper and Birgetta’s supplies were getting low. She was still in control. Birgetta Growler always got her man. This was amusing since it had been a long time since she had been able to relax enough to worry about her love life. When things were squared away with Michelle, when she had those photos and that hateful video back she might even retire with a rich man. She wanted to smile at the sweet thought but worried about wrinkles.
It was weeks later that Birgetta got a small shot of luck. By then Cooper had flown overseas for more stupid games. A photography student, hungry for notoriety, sent her photos of Dani Maxwell kissing the manager of her father’s bar right there on the street.
Michelle Brink may want Cooper broken but Birgetta craved to see that feisty Maxwell bitch bought to her knees. The police couldn’t stop her.
She decided to treat herself and hauled a huge bottle of chocolate milk from the fridge, downing most of it before double checking her handbag pharmacy. It had become a habit to count out the pills and imagine how to use them. She had enough to get by for a little while longer.
◆◆◆
Cooper was offered a London newspaper on the flight back to London. It was yesterdays. Being on his side of the planet had been strange. Nothing about Fisher’s assault had made it to the media which had been refreshing but also left him anxious, waiting.
Bored, he accepted the paper. These flights were a killer, his body too big for the seats, his inability to sit still meaning Jacob refused to sit next to him again.
It had been weeks since the last meeting with JD, longer since he had seen Dani. The tour had been a frustrating draw, the games patchy and scrappy. The scrum was working better. There was work to do but Jacob was delighted with the improvements. For that Cooper should be on top of the world. Instead he was miserable.
He thought back to the meeting with JD before he had flown out. The man’s head had still been wrapped tight, hiding stitches, but he was back at work. They had avoided what had happened at the bar, talking properties instead. JD had money save but it was soon clear that Cooper had more and they came to an agreement to fund the first venture. JD would be in for thirty percent of the outcome, good or bad.
Cooper liked JD, he was open and honest and easy to talk to. It would be nice to have friends outside of rugby. He loved the game but got sick of talking about it.
JD had been emailing through properties which showed potential according to his simple rules and Cooper was deliberating on two of them when the paper landed on the tray in front of him. It was upside down but Cooper recognized the two people in the small photo at the bottom of the front page. Someone had pulled major strings to get this out there and he wondered what was being said on social media.
It was a clear photo of Dani and JD kissing. Cooper grimly turned the paper around the right way, his gaze trapped by how comfortable they were together. They were well suited. As Jacob had said, Cooper couldn’t make Dani happy so she would eventually find someone who would, and jovial, easy going JD was a great fit.
Glancing at Jacob across the aisle, Cooper slid the paper beneath his chair. Could this photo be a hatchet job? Did it matter? Dani was not his and never would be. She hated him because he couldn’t keep her safe.
With sinking disappointment Cooper realized that as much as he liked JD, he couldn’t work with him if he were dating Dani. Cooper would eventually want to break JD’s face which was bad for business. Better to end things now rather than later when lawyers were involved. Christ, this was like a marriage. And just like a marriage it needed to be a workable proposition to begin with. When Dani was added to the mix it was just not workable for Cooper.
He decided to call JD when he got back and tell him he had changed his mind and was no longer interested in property, that he would go for shares instead. He’d tell JD this face to face. Dani wasn’t working at Balls & All so a meeting there was safe. Cooper couldn’t cope if he found her at JD’s house.
He wondered if JD would understand and be disappointed. It didn’t matter, they were all going to be unhappy for one reason or another and were just going to have to suck it up and be adults about it.
Chapter Thirteen
The day her family came home Dani was nervous. She had not returned to her cheap apartment near the university but had not quite moved out either. Her parents may decide on one of their infamous informal parties at home with the team, it was something that Jacob liked to do. So instead of possibly facing Cooper, Dani made her way to Balls & All. She wanted a few hours work and still needed to apologize to JD about that photo that had shown up everywhere, even the papers.
The Growler was going to cause more problems, but what could Dani do about it? She imagined her father’s reaction and what he might say to JD. She could only hope he would see it for what it was, two friends saying goodbye.
When she entered the bar JD held the paper high as if in victory. Dani laughed, relieved, grateful that JD didn’t take anything seriously.
“I’m sorry.” She said while tying on a green apron.
“Don’t be.” JD laughed, “I’m famous.”
Then, with no warning, the only time she wasn’t thinking about him, Cooper walked in and Dani felt the world start spinning again, like until that moment it had been on hold, awaiting his return.
He saw JD and smiled tightly then his gaze flicked to Dani beside him and he froze, his hand still raised in greeting. Dani frowned but let them all off the hook by putting her head down and turning to empty a glass washer. She had no makeup on, sick of covering the last of Fisher’s marks and knew she looked tired, the surprise of seeing him had probably drained her of any color too. She refused to let him see how much he still affected her. If nothing else she had her pride.
A gentle hand touched her shoulder but Dani still wouldn’t look at him.
Cooper said, “Can I talk to Dani out back for a minute, JD?”
“It’s up to Dani.”
Robotic and numb Dani let Cooper lead her to the back area that she still avoided if she could help it. Clearly uncomfortable in the surroundings Cooper flicked the big metal bolt and pushed his way out the back door and into the dark alleyway.
“Are you seeing JD?” He demanded.
“What do you think?”
“I think by that photo you’ve hooked up with him.” His voice was strange.
“It was the Growler.”
“There’s nothing between you two?”
Dani’s anger ignited. “Of course not. What do you take me for? I’m not one of the sluts you’re used to, I’m not ready to see anyone after . . .”
He shut her up by lowering his head and touching their lips together.
It was like magnetic energy and Dani’s many valid reasons why s
he shouldn’t let Cooper kiss her fled. Stunned, she simply held on, enjoying it for what it was and nothing more. Cooper was complicated and she had no idea what he wanted from her and even less idea how much she was willing to give him. She had hurt Cooper, asked him to do something terrible after pushing him into a relationship he wasn’t ready for.
When he pulled away, clearly upset she was not participating Dani began to cry. She did want him, but she didn’t want to hurt him again either.
At her tears Cooper stepped further away, saying, “I’m not forcing you into this. I shouldn’t have dragged you out here.” He turned away on a muttered apology.
“No, I’m sorry.” Dani wept.
“For what?” He turned back, angry.
“Because I’m forcing you into this.”
Cooper was staring at her, the gloom in the alleyway masking his emotions.
“Explain what you mean.” He growled.
“I want things from you, things that you just can’t give me.”
“Like what?”
Dani whispered. “Everything.”
He stepped forward then checked himself, “What else is going on, Dani? Tell me what you’re thinking, all of it.”
Nodding, expecting this, Dani let the words fall. “I’m sorry I wanted you to kill Fisher. I was using you, treating you like my piece of equipment. It was an appalling thing to expect of you and I’m so very sorry.”
Dani was staring at her shoes as Cooper moved closer, brushing her hair from her face. His hands were shaking but she didn’t dare look up.
“Jesus, Dani.” He husked, “I never held that against you.”
“Then why haven’t I seen you? Why have you carried on as if I don’t exist? I see you on television enjoying yourself while I feel miserable and lonely. You forgot me.” She didn’t realize until now how much this upset her. That he had easily walked away as if she meant nothing to him.
“I didn’t forget you for a moment.” He cupped her face to peer into her eyes, tilting his head a little to catch the dim light. She tried to not cry again but tears slipped down her cheeks where Cooper wiped them away with his thumbs.
Rules of her Game: A Contemporary Sports Romance Page 12