Play Maker (Bitsberg Knights Duet)

Aria shook her head. “I don’t think she was here.”

My eyebrows knit together, and I slapped Beauman on the shoulder. He removed himself from Lacey and shot me a glare. “Damn, dude. Kinda busy here.”

Aria swooped in and took the opportunity to grab Lacey’s hand. “He’s looking for Shelby.”

Lacey looked up at me and shook her head. “She wasn’t with us. Did she sit down in a different section?”

Panic fluttered through my chest. Where was she? Did something happen? The roads were beyond treacherous even with the snowplows running around the clock. Had I been playing the best game of my life while my girlfriend—the woman I was falling in love with each and every day—was lying in a tangled mess of metal and glass?

With shaking hands, I fumbled through my coat pockets until I found my cell. There were two missed calls from Shelby. My stomach sank even lower. Was she trapped? I’d never forgive myself if she was hurt. I should have thought to send a car to get her and bring her to the game. Damn it, why hadn’t I thought about that? I shouldn’t have asked her to drive in this nasty snowstorm.

I held up a finger to Lacey and Chance who were both wearing confused expressions. I listened to the phone ring, panic swelling higher with each long pause. Finally, I heard her pick up and heaved a sigh of relief. “Shelby, where are you? Are you all right?”

“I’m at home,” she said, her tone almost like it was a question.

“Home?”

Chance and Lacey exchanged a look and then reached for Aria’s hands. “See you later,” Lacey mouthed to me as they turned away to head for the nearest exit.

I offered a weak wave before they were lost in the crowd of other players and their families. “I thought you would be here, at the game. We just finished. Uh—we won. We’re going to the Super Bowl.”

“I know. I saw the fourth quarter on TV. You did great. Congratulations.”

I dragged a hand over the back of my neck. Something was wrong. I felt like I’d just taken a wrong turn, landed in a bad neighborhood, and the car broke down. “Is everything okay? Are you sick? I saw you tried to call before the game, but I was—”

“I’m fine, Ross. I was calling to let you know I was going to miss the game.” Her tone was still too frosty. It set my nerves on edge. She sighed. “I’m sorry. I wanted to be there, to cheer you on, but something came up with Hudson’s case, and I didn’t have a choice.”

“What happened?” I asked, trying to keep my own voice under control and not let the irritation seep through.

“I had a meeting scheduled with this attorney who my new boss thought could help me with the case. It was supposed to be a cup of coffee tomorrow afternoon, a chance for me to pick his brain, but he called me last night and asked if we could move it to today. I had to go.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. She’d been working with another guy, on a Sunday, instead of being at the biggest game of the season. I knew I had no right to get territorial and jealous, but it felt like someone had dropped hot coals into the pit of my stomach all the same. I forced myself to draw in a deep breath. “All right. Well, I’m uh—I’m sorry you missed it. You want me to come pick you up and we can go get something—well, never mind, I’m assuming you already ate?”

“Ross, I said I was sorry I missed the game. You don’t have to be that way.”

“Be what way, Shelby? Disappointed? Upset?” I shook my head and scanned the room. Everyone was celebrating with their families. No one was so much as glancing my way. “Well, like it or not, I am. This was a huge night for me and when it was all over and done with, I wanted to see your face, to kiss you and spend the night with you. But instead, I’m here, watching everyone else.”

“Ross, I’m—”

“No,” I snapped, interrupting her. “It’s fine. You have your big case, and I’ve had a long night, too. I don’t want to argue with you.”

“I don’t want to argue either, but, Ross, you can’t expect me to be there for every game or be able to drop everything and be the big football fan! I have a life too!”

“Right.” Anger swelled to the surface, and I swallowed hard, pressing it back. I wasn’t going to allow myself to break. It wasn’t worth it. She wasn’t worth it.

Fuck.

Yes, she was. And I knew it.

Shelby had gotten closer to me than anyone in my entire life, and now that I’d let her in—she was trying to find her way out. Just like everyone else. I was a temporary, fleeting thing. Her fling. Her distraction until her real life started.