Dare You to Hate Me

Coach Pearce knows some trainers who are going to push me to my limits to get me ready for the combine. I’m on a strict diet that Ivy has been helping with even though half the shit I eat now is something a goddamn rabbit would consume, but I’ve already noticed results in my energy alone that the dietician said will get me prepared for when my training exercises begin after the New Year.

Rubbing the back of my neck, I nod. “We plan to stay at the house for a while and then spend some time in our hometown.”

His brows go up. “Shit, yeah. Forgot that’s how you know each other. Shouldn’t surprise me I guess. Not just anyone was going to catch your eye. Don’t know if you know this, but you’ve got serious trust issues.”

I snort. “You a therapist now?”

He smirks, the tension between us gone like that. “Nah, just hella observant. DJ always said you would have had to have known Ivy for you to get all territorial over her. Plus, who the fuck hangs out at a bakery instead of sleeping in on the one day off a week we get?”

He has me there. “You’re going back to the city for break, right?”

His hesitation makes me wish I hadn’t asked, especially when his eyes dart back to the office I came from. “Er, yeah. For Christmas at least. My parents are doing a cruise to Alaska or some shit, so it’ll give me time to do my own thing.” He doesn’t need to elaborate on what that is, and I know better than to ask. “Your girl going to be ready for what’s coming your way? She said she officially put in her enrollment withdrawal, so it seems like she’s serious.”

“If anyone can manage, it’s Ivy.” She’s at Bea’s for her shift right now, telling Bea that she may be gone by the summertime. She was nervous te

lling her boss that after everything she’s done for her, but I know Bea will be happy.

He glances down to the phone in his hand, lighting up with a name. All I see are the first two letters and decide it’s my time to go. “I’ll see you around, man.”

I’m pushing the door open when he calls out, “Hey. Thanks. You know, for the advice.”

Nodding once, I head out and find Coach hanging up his phone as I approach his office. He waves me in before I can even knock, so I drop my shit into the chair and sit on the opposite one.

“Just got off the phone with Wilkins,” he informs me as I stretch my legs out. “He said the Bills are still interested, but he has good sources that say the Patriots are going to try snatching you up based on how you present yourself in February. And before you say anything—” He eyes me as my lips part to speak. “—I also heard they plan on making a spectacle of the tensions between you and Mahone. They won’t want any problems between teammates, so they’ll make sure it’s understood you’re on the same ground. No repeats of your time at Wilson Reed together.”

My face drains of emotion, eyes narrowing. “That seems like bullshit. It’s been years and they want to bring it up to make sure the media doesn’t play on it?”

He leans back in his chair, tapping a pen against the playbook open in front of him. “A team like that will do whatever they can to make sure their reputation is clean. I have no doubt they’ll offer you a pretty penny, son. Doesn’t mean the monetary value is going to be worth your sanity if you sign their paper.”

“I haven’t even done the combine yet, so I’d rather not think about an offer.”

“You doubting yourself?”

“No, Coach.”

He studies me. “You change your mind about what you want then?”

“Absolutely not.”

He gives one firm nod. “Good. Then don’t go psyching yourself out before you’ve had a chance to prove to them what you can do. We both know you’re good. Hell, you’re better than every guy on the Dragons and I’ll confirm that on camera even if it pisses off the others.”

“Probably shouldn’t though.”

The limp lift of his shoulders tells me he doesn’t give a shit either way. “I believe in you, Aiden. I believe you can do great things and go far. I’m sure your family and your girl does too based on what I’ve seen. Having that support system is going to be real important for the next few years.”

I huff out a laugh. “Now you’re on board with me seeing someone if she gives me support?”

He shoots me a look. “The missus nearly bit my head off when she found out I’d gone to see your girl at her work. Won’t be making that mistake again.”

I don’t bother hiding my grin.

He nods toward my bag. “You get everything you need from Rachel? She’s adamant that you have what you need in case you decide to finish off your degree. I know some players choose to go back to school, but I highly doubt it’d be useful to you.”

As much as I want to bring up Matt to him, I know it’d only cause more problems in the long run for everybody involved. So, I keep my lips zipped, tell him Rachel got me everything I need, and then get dismissed.

My drive to the bakery is quiet, and when I see the brunette behind the counter handing a cup to an elderly man, I stop in my tracks. She told me she was going to Elena’s before work but wouldn’t tell me why. When she looks up, there’s a secret smile painted across those bright red lips.

I approach after the last customer walks away with his order and lean across the counter. She stops me before I can steal a kiss, putting her finger against my mouth and pushing me away enough to meet my eyes. “What? Afraid to be seen with me now?”