When I Need You (Need You #4)(106)

Coach T leaned forward and spoke for the first time. "I guarantee nothing from this meeting will be discussed outside this room except for with the most essential personnel, Rowan. You have my word on that."

"Thank you, Coach T."

"You're free to leave," Brian said. "We'll be in touch."

No, you won't.

As I left the building, I wondered if one of the assistant coaches had already cleaned out my locker.

"Rowan! Wait."

Dante caught me right before I got into my car. "What the hell happened in there?"

I said nothing.

"Coach T threw a fucking chair at the wall after you left."

"She did?"

"Yeah." He considered me. "I overheard something."

"Overheard?"

"Fine. I'm new enough as a full-time trainer that my job isn't secure and I listen in whenever I can to conversations I'm not supposed to know about."

"That's why you're always in the know. I figured you were sleeping with Izzy or something."

He snorted. "I wouldn't hit that for all the inside information in the organization."

"What'd you hear, Dante?"

"You're being suspended for violating the no-frat rule with Jensen Lund."

"You heard right."

"That's just fucking stupid. He didn't even know who the hell you were! And I know Lund, he's not a cheater. He wouldn't be stepping out with you, secretly or otherwise, when he's already involved with someone else."

I froze. "What are you talking about? Who is Jensen involved with?"

"This chick named Astrid. He told me about her months ago." His jaw tightened. "Do you want me to go in there and tell them they're absolutely wrong in suspending you? Because that sucks, Ro. Jens will come forward and tell them-"

"That they're right because we've been fraternizing in a big way for months."

Dante looked like he'd taken an actual physical hit. "What about Astrid?" 

"Astrid is his assistant."

"But-"

"Jensen was protecting me because he's in love with me." I exhaled. "I'm in love with him too."

"Shit."

"I broke the rules, Dante. I knew what was at stake."

"It's a stupid rule."

"I won't argue with that."

His eyes searched mine. "Did you tell them that you and Jensen are . . . ?"

I shook my head. "I just reiterated that he and I are friends. Because we are that. Their proof or whatever they want to call it is pretty thin."

"Did they indicate whether he'd face disciplinary action?"

"They kind of laughed and said, Yeah right, like we're going to suspend a franchise player after a year and a half of being on IR." I groaned. "You know how I tend to blurt things out? I almost said, Technically it's not fraternization when he's on the IR list, but I stopped myself."

"Because you know that's total bullshit, right?"

"Yeah." After Jensen had tossed that in my face, I'd finally understood the lengths he'd go to, to convince me to take a chance on him . . . on us.

"Besides, he's off IR as of today."

I wanted to jump up and down and squeal with joy. "Omigod, does he know?"

"He found out at the end of practice." Dante grinned. "He'll want to celebrate that with you." His smile faded. "Or maybe not, because he will be pissed when he hears about you getting-"

"No." I got right in his face. "Don't you dare tell him about the suspension. I mean it. I've never asked you for anything, but I am begging you. Do whatever you can to keep this from him. He needs to focus on his game, on his career, on finally getting to do what he loves. I love him too much to let him put that in jeopardy because of me." I grabbed his arm. "Please. Promise me you won't tell him."

"Rowan-"

"Promise me, Dante."

"Fine. I promise. But how are you going to keep this from him?"

"I'll figure something out. He'll be so busy that it won't come up."

"Wrong. He'll notice when you aren't on that field. He might not have seen you before, but he'll be looking for you now."

"I haven't figured that part out yet." I blew out a long breath. "Or what excuse I'll tell Daisy. Because she isn't the type to believe what I tell her or to let it go."

Dante smiled. "Let me deal with Daisy, okay?" Then he hugged me. "I'm happy for you. Jensen is a good guy. Really. He deserves a woman like you."

"A woman like me?"

"With a heart as big as his. I should've known you two would be perfect for each other."

• • •


As much as I'd obsessed about how upset I'd be if I got fired from the team . . . when it actually happened? I was oddly calm.