His passion and sheer respect for the game he loved only made me love him more. I admired the way Jack played ball. It showed a lot of internal character to pitch the way he did. He was focused, determined, and played with a full heart. How can you not love that?
When the game ended, I asked three different security guards for directions to the visiting team’s locker room. With my ID card in hand, I wandered underground and waited for Jack to emerge. It was odd being the only person waiting. Players started to walk out of the locker room, each one flashing me a quick smile before walking away. I wondered if they even knew who I was. I hadn’t really met any of the players since Jack, and I didn’t spend time with them socially.
Trina’s boyfriend Kyle walked out, and I smiled. “Hey, Cass. Jack’s on his way out,” he said, before giving me a quick hug.
“Thanks. Tell Trina I miss her.”
He laughed. “I sure will. See you later.” He waved as he walked down the corridor out of view.
Jack walked out moments later, his hair still wet from the shower. I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed. “Great game, babe.”
“Thanks,” he whispered before kissing my lips.
He led me outside where the team bus rumbled. “I’m sorry you have to take a cab back to the hotel.”
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. I should be able to ride with you instead of sending you off alone at eleven o’clock on a Friday night.”
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.” I tried to reassure him, but I sensed that he was uncomfortable.
“I’ll wait with you until you get a cab.” He grabbed my hand and walked me toward the busy street.
“You don’t have to do that, Jack. I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“Half the team isn’t even out of the locker room yet. It’s fine.”
Hailing a cab took longer than I anticipated. It was a Friday night and the majority of the taxis driving past me were already filled with passengers. I started to worry that Jack would have to leave me alone when an empty cab came our way and Jack hailed it.
“Thanks, baby.” I craned my neck up to give him a kiss before hopping inside.
“I’ll see you at the hotel,” he said before shutting my door for me.
I arrived before the team bus, so I stepped inside the grand lobby and waited. I almost headed into the bar when Jack’s warning coursed through my mind.
Don’t look in there, Cass. Jack told you not to look.
But the team’s not even here yet. What could I possibly see?
I argued with myself mentally before caving and turning my head to peer inside the bar area. I spotted the three college girls who were sitting near me during the game. One of the girls waved her hand in my direction as if recognizing me from earlier, and I quickly averted my eyes.
Holy shit. Those girls were sitting in the player ticket section?
The team barreled into the hotel lobby, making a loud scene as they entered. I scanned the burly men, searching for Jack. Kymber’s husband passed by me without a glance, and I watched as he turned into the bar.
No fucking way.
I observed the scene unfolding like a car crash before my eyes. I couldn’t look away if I tried. He sauntered into the bar as one of the blonde girls hopped up from her stool and into his arms. She giggled as he gripped her ass, giving it a couple of smacks, much to her delight. She wrapped her legs around his waist, planting kisses all over his lying, cheating, rat-bastard face. Two more players, both married, entered the bar and a similar scene unfolded. I wanted to puke.
My jaw dropped wide open as all the feelings of Jack cheating on me poured into my bloodstream. My stomach churned, threatening to empty its contents all over the shiny tile floor. Jack suddenly appeared in front of me, his expression grim. “I told you not to look in the bar, Kitten. I told you.”
“Holy shit.” I shook my head, still shocked at the blatant display of infidelity and my own hellish flashbacks.
Jack grabbed my arm and led me toward the elevator. “That’s why I said no bar. And that’s why we’re on a different floor than they are. So you don’t have to see that shit. Come on.”
I stumbled as I tried to keep pace with Jack, who was clearly desperate to remove me from the area. “I can’t believe they act that way in public. Aren’t they worried about getting caught?”
Jack eyed me. “Not here.”
“Huh?”
Jack’s lips tightened. “We’re not talking about this here. Wait until we’re in our room.”
“Oh.” I sighed.
Stepping out of the elevator, we walked down the long corridor toward our room. I ran my fingers across the wallpaper as Jack pressed the card key into the slot. With two clicks, he pushed on the door, holding it for me to enter before he followed. He lay down on top of the bed.