I walk out of Hank’s, shaking with fury and something dangerously close to fear. How dare he make me feel scared! How dare he try to hold power over me by threatening to take my career away. My thoughts spin. There’s no way I can ignore this. It was bad enough when he was turning up unannounced at my favorite places. Or waiting for me by my truck after games. Or cornering me at the awards. But this is a whole new level of creepy. I need to do something about it. I’m just not sure what that something is.
I’m lost in thought as I make my way through the corridors of the stadium toward the cheer coaches’ office. The cheer squad practice takes place in a professional-grade training space inside a converted warehouse, two blocks away from the stadium, witha practice hall, padded floors, and height clearance for tosses, but I need to grab my gym bag and the snacks I always give out.
Anger has me moving fast. I round the corner and walk straight into a brick wall. At least that’s what it feels like as I bounce back and steady hands grab my arms. My senses fill with the scent of sandalwood and vanilla, and I know without looking who it is.
“Whoa,” Chase says. “I was just about to call you.”
I take in the sight of him as he pulls out his phone. Gray joggers sitting low on his hips, a dark tee clinging to broad shoulders. His skin gleams from a post-practice shower.
“Check it out,” he says, showing me his Instagram feed. “No memes, no DMs asking me out. I mean, there’s a lot here about us, but only how cute we are.” He laughs, then seeing something in my expression, he asks, “Are you OK?”
“I’m fine. Sorry. I was?—”
“Thinking about the mating patterns of mountain lions,” he teases.
I smile despite the heavy feeling in my chest. “Something like that.”
“Hey.” He tugs me to one side of the corridor as the rest of the team leave the locker room. “That was a grade A joke, and you barely cracked a smile. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I lie, not wanting to tell him about Ryan’s threat while we’re standing in the corridor. Of course, Chase sees straight through me, before taking my hand and pulling me into a nearby office. The lights are off, the room lit only by the light from the corridor through the glass door.
“We shouldn’t be in here,” I protest as Chase shuts the door behind us. The space is clean and functional. A desk. Chairs. A filing cabinet. A poster with every team and every game in the NFL schedule is pinned to the wall.
“I’m the star quarterback. You think anyone will tell me to leave? Now talk to me. What’s going on?”
My shoulders drop but I tell him everything. Ryan’s escalating behavior and the conversation we just had. Chase’s jaw tightens with every word. By the time I’m done, fury blazes in his eyes.
“He tried to blackmail you?” His voice is low, almost a growl.
“Sort of.”
“There’s no ‘sort of’ about it, Serena. You’re reporting him to Human Resources.”
I bite my lower lip.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to let him get away with ruining your career.” Chase paces the space in front of me like a caged wild animal. If I wasn’t so worried and scared right now, I’d laugh.Who is this man?Because it sure isn’t the playful, take-nothing-seriously best friend I’ve known for nearly twenty years.
“Of course not. I’m going to do something. I just want to think it through first. Not rush into anything that could backfire on me. Ryan is well liked, and he made sure the conversation we just had wasn’t overheard. It’ll be his word against mine.”
Chase rubs his shoulder. “I’ll report him. You think they’d dare ignore me?”
“Chase, no.” I take a breath, keeping my voice firm. “You’re not my protector. I don’t need you to fight my battles.”
He stops pacing and turns to face me. We stare at each other in silence, and I swear something ripples between us. For a moment I think Chase is going to step close, take me in his arms, but he does the opposite and moves back, leaning against the door instead. “Sorry,” he says. “I just… I hate that he’s treating you this way. You can’t let him get away with it.”
“I won’t,” I say, meaning it. “I’d better go. I’m going to be late for practice.”
Chase opens the door for me. The lights of the corridor suddenly bright.
“You want a ride to the fair tomorrow night? I can pick you up on the way. Our last fake date.”
“Thanks, but I’m going with Elle and the girls first. They’re too little to stay for long. I’ll meet you by the main gate at seven.”
Chase squeezes my hand. His touch is warm and filled with reassurance. And for an awful moment I think I might cry. I flash him a smile and stride away. One thing is clear. Everything’s changing. My job. My future. My friendship with Chase. And there’s nothing I can do to stop it.
SIXTEEN
SERENA