“Why didn’t someone tell me?” I hissed .
“Because Heather and I are the only ones who saw you.” She winked. “And you could use some fun .”
“What’s that supposed to be mean? You think I’m stuffy?” I didn’t know which part was supposed to insult me .
“Your words, not mine, but yes, you’re a little stuffy. You could loosen up and act like you aren’t a prisoner on this team .”
“I don’t act like that .”
But there was truth in what Presley said. I didn’t socialize after practices or games. I didn’t do movie night, or get my nails done with everyone. I used my experience on the squad to keep in shape, use the dance facilities, and learn new choreography. I made it work for me because I had to. There wasn’t another job that could offer everything the Goddesses did .
“You don’t act like it’s a privilege to be a Goddess. You should be proud of what you do, Natalia .”
“You’re right,” I agreed. “You’re completely right. What do I do about last night? I’m not the only one who was hanging out with a Wrangler. I saw you too. Everyone drank with the team. You were with Wranglers. I didn’t doing anything you didn’t do .”
“They bought us drinks. Not the same thing as leaving the bar with them. We left as a squad .”
It was almost time for us to do a group dance. I needed a few more answers from Presley before I got in place .
“But you didn’t tell anyone else?” I asked. “No one knows, right ?”
“No, but if they find out, you’re off the team. No one can help you if it gets out. Not even Heather .”
“What?” My stomach turned. I might be sick in front of thousands of screaming fans. I didn’t love being a Goddess, but I needed the money. It was all that I had. It was how I had health insurance. It was how I rebuilt my leg to ballerina strength. I needed this job .
“You committed a cardinal sin,” she explained .
“I didn’t sleep with him,” I lied .
Her eyes widened. “You didn’t ?”
“No,” I huffed. “He walked me to my car to get my number. And I didn’t give it to him. I didn’t even know his last name or that he was a Wrangler. This is crazy, Pres. I can’t get kicked off the squad .”
“Oh.” She chewed her bottom lip. “We thought you …”
“That I’d have a one-night stand?” I used my best astonished voice .
“I guess not. Ballerinas don’t do that sort of thing, huh ?”
“No, we don’t .”
I walked behind her to start the team dance. I had narrowly saved my reputation. Now
I needed to talk to Heather. In case word spread, I wanted to make sure it was the story I wanted them to hear. They needed to know I hadn’t broken the Goddess code. She was the team captain, and regardless of our friendship, she played a management role .
“That kind of sucks,” she whispered .
“Why is that? You said I could lose my job .”
She giggled. “Because Sam Hickson is fucking hot .”
I closed my eyes, inhaling a deep breath. She had no fucking idea how true that was .
Thirteen
Sam
T he locker room was insane. We had bulldozed the Warriors by twenty-one points. Our defense had let them add a few touchdowns on the board, but that shit happens .