“We’ve dreamed of ExSports since we were teenagers just fucking around. This isn’t some insignificant thing. No way in hell can you say no,” I tell them, and I mean it.

But it hurts to say those words and still hate the fact I won’t be with them on the ground, running.

Enzo shakes his head. “Mason, you’ve always been so solid, such a good friend—doing this without you would feel like we were punching you in the throat.”

“I mean, it,” I say, squeezing Chloe’s hand tighter. “You’ve got to do this.”

“You’re sure, Mason?” Ethan asks tentatively as if he thinks I’m gonna fucking break. “If I tell Black Bull yes they’re going to hold us to our word.”

“Good. Be a man of your word, then,” I say, resolving to be positive for my friends even if I can’t be with them competing. I know they’d do the same for me. “You guys just better win this thing.”

The guys laugh, and Chloe leans over and kisses me softly. “You have such a good heart, and I’ll be at your side, promise.”

Her words comfort me, but I also know she is relaxed and calm this morning because she was off duty yesterday. When we get to LA, I have to find someone else to be my nurse. Chloe deserves to smile more and work less. I want her happy. Her life has been so hard, and the last thing I want is for her to resent her place here and feel like she’s only here to take care of me.

“So, who’s going to be my replacement?”

Ethan looks back at his phone, scanning the email. “Uh, guys...”

“What now?” Noah asks.

“The guy on our team is Drew fucking Riley.”Chapter 27MasonI groan, wondering why, out of all the fucking replacements, mine has to be that douche canoe. “You’ve got to be shitting me.”

“What’s wrong with Drew?” Chloe asks.

Ethan raises his eyebrows. “He uh...” He looks over at me, and I hate it. I do. I do not want this team to become ruined with my drama, but right now, it seems riddled with it.

I exhale, meeting Chloe’s eyes. “My ex-girlfriend cheated on me with him.”

“Oh shit, really?” Her eyes dart around the room. “Baby, I’m so sorry.”

I try to let the reality of Drew being around next week roll off my back, but it’s hard. And the idea of him being around Chloe? It kills me.

“Black Bull really wants us to compete alongside that fucker?” Noah asks.

“No way in hell,” Enzo says, having my back through thick and thin.

“Sorry, man, but we don’t have a choice,” Ethan says. “Black Bull will drop us. Are any of you prepared for that?”

“We could get another sponsor,” Noah suggests.

Ethan shakes his head, tension written on his face. “I get emails from Black Bull every day, voicemails from corporate, we’ve signed clauses and contracts and you can’t just walk away from that shit. Not to mention, we’ve been saving and investing our income so we can be independently wealthy in a few years when our bodies stop working for us.”

I try not to flinch at the words. The truth is my body gave out for us this week and it has screwed us over in more than one way.

As hard as it is to hear what Ethan has to say—I know he’s absolutely right. My teammates have no guarantees on how long their bodies will be strong. Today they are—they shouldn’t waste what they have.

“We aren’t dropping anything,” I tell them. “Listen, I’m not gonna let a fucker like Drew Riley mess up our lives. I’m not giving him the power. Hell, I haven’t seen the guy in over a year. We’ll go to LA and you guys will dominate. Understood?”

The guys tell me they do.

“Let’s drop it then, okay? From now on let’s focus on the ExSports. Nothing else.”

Chloe looks at me with wide eyes.

“What?” I ask.

She bites back a smile. “I’ve never heard you speak with so much... force.” Her eyes are bright and I realize she likes this side of me.

“Uh, we’re gonna go call Black Bull and make a game plan with Drew, okay?” Ethan says.

The guys give me fist bumps before heading me out and leaving me alone with Chloe.

“That was intense,” she says.

“It’s a lot to take in, you know?”

She sits on the edge of my bed, nodding. “Yeah, I do. A lot of changes you weren’t anticipating.”

“Are you okay with going to LA, Chloe?”

She twists her lips. “I don’t have a problem with LA, per se. I do have a problem with you hurting though.”

“When you say it like that I feel so fucking weak, baby.”

“That’s not how I mean it. What kind of girlfriend would I be if I said I didn’t care? I hate to see you in pain and missing ExSports. Then whatever the thing with Drew is... it’s a lot, Mason.”

Tags: Frankie Love Romance
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