“McCoy, I don’t get to pass judgment on your love life because everyone involved is a consenting adult, but I am telling you right now I am not happy about this. I know you’ve said you’re not discussing team business with Ms. Tracy, but things have a way of slipping out when we don’t expect it.” He let out a long breath. “I’m not going to bench you for Sunday, but you won’t be seeing a lot of playing time. You also need to decide if this relationship is important enough to jeopardize your career over.”
“I don’t see why that would be an issue.” He knew it would be an issue, but backing down wasn’t an option.
“The Miners are our biggest rivals in the league. There was nobody else for you to get involved with?”
“Coach, we met. There was interest. We are pursuing it. End of story.”
The coach shook his head. “We can talk more at another time. Thanks for stopping by.”
It really wasn’t Drew’s choice to “stop by,” but he got up and stuck his hand out to shake the coach’s hand.
“Thanks, Coach.”
Fifteen minutes later, Drew had got the thumbs up from the trainers as far as his condition after last Sunday’s game when the cell in his pocket rang. He grabbed it out to take a look on his way back to the team gym. He recognized the number of one of the local sports talk stations. He hit the “talk” button with one finger.
“McCoy,” he said.
“Hey, Drew, it’s Mike from The Score.” He’d talked to the guy multiple times in the past, so it wasn’t a surprise he’d call. “Have you got a few minutes for us this afternoon?”
“I’m on my way in to do some lifting right now.”
“We’re trying to clear up a nasty rumor over here. We heard you’re dating the Miners’ acting GM. True or not?”
“No comment.”
“Our phone lines are on fire right now. Why don’t you give us ten minutes or so at three o’clock to clear things up and set some people straight?”
“Mike, I enjoy chatting with you guys, but my private life is kind of off-limits right now.”
“You have to know Sharks fans are going nuts. They think you’re angling for a trade or something.”
“No. I have no interest in playing for the Miners, now or in the future.”
“Well, then, what the hell are you doing, guy? It’s like the Montagues and the Capulets with shoulder pads. The Sharks hate the Miners, and the Miners return the favor.”
“I get what you’re doing here, Mike, but I don’t think giving an interview today would be a great idea.”
“Will you call me back when you change your mind?”
“Yeah.” Drew pulled in a long breath. “I’ll do that.”
Drew wasn’t as reclusive about his personal life as some of his teammates were, but he’d rather talk about football than who he was dating. He wasn’t so sure Kendall wanted to discuss their relationship with any member of the media, either. He wished one more time he’d chosen somewhere a bit more private to kiss her goodbye this morning.
His phone chirped with an incoming text.
All Hell’s breaking loose here. I miss you.
TO SAY THAT the next few days were a challenge for both Kendall and Drew would be an understatement. Kendall and Sydney spent the rest of the afternoon talking with the team’s attorney, who had just quit. They were in Kendall’s office with the door shut planning what to do next. Kendall didn’t want to run away with her tail between her legs, but finding out once and for all what the guys she worked with really thought of her made her wonder if she’d be a lot better off somewhere else.
She’d planned to stay with the Miners as long as possible. She enjoyed her former job. She’d never wanted the GM job in the first place. She was more than happy to let one or more of the assholes at the conference table today take the job, if they wanted it so badly. She’d decided in the past couple of hours that she deserved better than to work with a bunch of guys that feared and mistrusted women, but she’d like to have something else lined up before she made her move.
“Would you like me to help find you another job?” Kendall said to Sydney. “There are several people I know that would hire you in a heartbeat. I’m not leaving until I know you’re going to be okay.”
“You have to leave,” Sydney argued. “You can’t stay here and put up with that crap daily. Plus, I have documentation.” She held up her iPad. “Let them offer you an obscene amount of money first, a formal apology, or both.”
“They’re not going to offer me a thing. They believe they can gut it out and force me to quit first.”