After Math(45)
“Tucker, you didn’t know.”
His gaze lowers to mine, his anger simmering. “See? You don’t know shit about me. I knew exactly what they were doing.”
We stare at each other in silence while I struggle with what I can possibly say to make him realize he has a choice in this. Whether he stays with me or not, he doesn’t have to play professional soccer.
But he knows me, too. “Keep your arguments to yourself, Scarlett. It’s wasted breath. There’s nothing you can say that will change my mind.”
“So what does this mean for us?”
He shakes his head. “You already know what this means. You knew the second you opened your door this afternoon.”
I know I should be upset, but I’m numb from disbelief. How can this be happening? “So this is it? Right now? You’re just going to walk away from me? From us? Because you feel like you owe a rich couple who bought you to be their source of pride?”
“Everyone’s always telling me to be more responsible. Maybe that’s what I’m finally doing.”
“Walking away from me is being responsible?”
He shakes his head, self-disgust covering his face. “I never deserved you. I’m getting exactly what I deserve.” He pauses in the doorway. “Goodbye, Scarlett.’
And then he’s gone.
Chapter Twenty-Five
It’s a Saturday in spring in Tennessee, and the campus at Southern University is full of youth and excitement. The Chicago Fire is about to play Sporting KC and students at Southern have become professional soccer fans since Tucker’s addition to Fire. The student body has taken over the student union to watch the match on a big-screen TV every Saturday for over a month.
“This is a terrible idea,” Caroline grumbles as we walk across the campus. “Why are you doing this to yourself?”
I wish I knew. Tucker’s been gone for over two months and just the mention of his name shreds my soul, but I feel like I owe him my support. No matter how much it hurts.
“She just needs to move on.” Tina loops her arm through mine. “Let’s attend this thing, look for a new guy for you, and call it closure.”
I shake my head with a condescending smile. I’m nowhere near ready to think about another guy. I’m not even close to having recovered from the last one.
“Have you heard about your internship with the FBI yet?” Caroline asks in an attempt to change the topic.
“No, but since the math department got that new computer program, it makes me much more likely to get accepted.” I’m counting on that. Most internships I’m interested in are in Washington D.C. or New York, which means additional living expenses I can’t afford. This internship is at the local FBI office and would be great on my application for a job at the CIA. My heart may have been broken, but I refuse to give up on my own dreams.
The student union is crowded when we arrive. This is the fifth party they’ve had to watch Tucker play, but it’s the first time I’ve attended. I was still too raw before, and I’m not entirely sure why I’m coming this time. Perhaps Tina is on to something. Not about hooking up with another guy. Maybe I need more closure than watching Tucker walk out of my life. Maybe I just need to see him playing and prove to myself that he’s happy.
As stupid as it sounds, I just want him to be happy.
People give me curious glances when we get drinks and hang out in the back. They know I dated Tucker briefly, but it was longer than he’d dated anyone else. They are curious about our current status. Most think I’m just one more in a long line of women caught in Tucker Price’s aftermath.
Perhaps they’re right.
When the game starts, the crowd hushes. The announcers introduce the players on both sides and seem confused that Tucker isn’t on the field. They begin to speculate where he might be.
“Price has been the model player, despite the fact that he had quite the reputation for partying at Southern University—”
The students shout and cheer at the mention of the university’s name, drowning out part of the announcer’s statement.
“—hasn’t been any official word from the Fire’s camp, leaving us to wonder where he might be. But word has been leaked that he’s battling a flu bug and won’t play in today’s game.”
Everyone groans, and I’m suddenly feeling claustrophobic. I needed to see him play, but I can see that’s not going to happen.
Caroline has found a friend from one of her classes and Tina has disappeared with a guy. I lean over to Caroline. “I’m going to go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”