Owen hands me a steaming mug of coffee and leans against the counter. “How’d the early meeting with coach go?”

“It was fine.”

“Fine. Listen to you, communicating like a sullen woman.”

Sunday was shit. The first regular season game of the year and they only put me in on special teams. I met with the Gators head coach this morning and asked point-blank why and got the runaround.

“Bill still giving you the cold shoulder about your new wife?”

I shrug. Bill McCombs needs to back off and let the people he hired run his team, but the Gators is a baby franchise, and he’s been very hands-on—to the point where he never misses a team meeting and isn’t afraid to tell his coaches how to do their jobs. Or when to bench a player who should be in the game. “Coach spent a lot of time this morning making sure I knew that the rookie is better than they expected.”

“Fraser?” Owen shakes his head. “The boy can catch a ball, but he’s gotta play catch-up between the ears if he wants a long career.”

“I hate being on Bill’s shit list.” I squeeze the back of my neck. “How about we change the subject?”

“Sure. Let’s talk about your wife instead.” His face stretches into a shit-eating grin. “I am always up for talking about Bailey.”

“You’re lucky I need this caffeine in my bloodstream more than I want to throw this coffee in your face.”

“I can’t help it that you married the finest piece of ass I’ve ever set eyes on.”

I glare at him. “Fuck you. She’s so much more than a piece of ass.”

He throws up his hands. “Exactly. Why the hell do you think I’m so jealous?”

I sigh. “You can’t have her, so stop.”

“You were pretty damn smart, marrying her like that. What’s that old saying? If you love someone, let her go. If she returns to you, it was meant to be. If she doesn’t . . . get her drunk and marry her in Vegas?”

My lips twist into a smile despite myself, then I go serious. “Can you blame me for trying?” I rub the back of my neck. “I don’t want to lose her. I just have to make her fall for me before I run out of time. If she goes back to Blackhawk Valley, I don’t know when I’ll get another chance.”

“How’s Operation Fake Marriage going for you?”

I look out the window. From here, we can see down into the practice arena inside the Gators’ complex, and there’s my competition, putting in extra time and running plays with Dre. “Far better than I ever expected.”

“Right,” Owen says, “which totally explains why you say that like someone ran over your dog. Disappointed that it’s not settling the playing field with Bill? It was a long shot, but it was worth it. And hey, if you get the girl in the end, Bill can fuck himself.”

“That’s a big if, Owen.”

He hums. “The question is, at what point did this become less about your career and more about trying to win the girl?”

I take a long pull of my coffee. Didn’t my sister essentially ask the same question? “It’s always been about her. Even when I didn’t want it to be.” I turn back to him. “I have to try.”

“You’d be crazy if you didn’t.”

“The man she loved died, and she’s still not over him. She’s starting to open up to me. Four fucking years, and she’s finally telling me her secrets. But the days are going by too fast. She’s been here almost a month already, and I think she’s still planning to leave.”

“You mean her old boyfriend? The one who was in prison?”

“He wasn’t her boyfriend. He was just . . .” More important to her than I ever could have realized. “He was stringing her on. How insane is it that I’m the man in her bed every night and I still feel like I can’t measure up to a dead man?”

He studies me for a beat. “You really think it’s that simple?”

I know it’s not that simple. Bailey’s not the only one with secrets, and as much as I’ve told myself mine were justified, my sister’s warning looms over me.

Four years ago . . .

 

I know I’m a first-level creeper for following Bailey’s ex, but I had to. She’s pulled away from me so completely since he’s been released, and I know it’s because of him. I just need to know she’s safe, that he’s turned over a new leaf. I fucking hoped that was what I’d find out. Instead, it took me a week to discover that the piece of shit is still doing the same crap that got him put behind bars to begin with.

I followed him to the Cavern tonight, but this time it’s not because I want to see what he’s up to. No. This time I’m following Nic because we need to talk.

I wait until he heads to the back door for a cigarette and I step in front of him, blocking his path.

He looks me over once before lifting his chin. “You’re the guy my girl’s been fucking? Mason, is it?”

It makes my stomach turn to hear him talk about her like that—saying the guy my girl’s been fucking the way someone else might say the guy my girl works with. It’s no wonder Bailey thinks so little of what she has to offer outside the bedroom. “Does she know you’re still dealing?” It’s the only question that matters, and I refuse to take the bait on anything else.

He stiffens, and his nostrils flare. He can handle that Bailey slept with me, but it riles him that I see him for what he is. “You think you know things? Rich boy, you don’t know shit.”

“She was over you. Then you got out of prison and started fucking with her mind again. You made her believe you’re someone you’re not.” I shake my head. “If you can’t stay clean, then you stay the hell away from her.”

“Why would I do that? Because you said so?” His lips twist into a smile. “You think I’m going to back off just because you got a taste of her and want some more? Because lemme tell you, you’re not the only guy who’s had a good time with her. You’re not special.”

It’s like he wants me to break his nose. “I’m not. But she is.” I shake my head and back away. “Fuck this. You’re not worth it. I’ll just tell Bailey who you really are.”

His face pales. “She won’t believe you.”

I shrug. “That’s up to her.”

He looks around, confirming we’re still alone. “Say I’m willing to let her go so you can have your chance. What’s in it for me? How much?”