Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 106774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
CHAPTER
TEN
Gray
“I don’t know why I agreed to this,” I grumble, squinting in the early morning sunlight as I step out of my truck. “At least it’s recovery work and not weights first thing.”
Early morning workouts are usually my jam. Something is invigorating about the air before it’s filled with exhaust and bullshit. I think better, breathe better, perform better. But I got out of my routine and haven’t been able to find it again. I haven’t been eating right, my mind has been cloudy, and I can’t remember the last time I had a good night’s sleep.
And I feel it everywhere. Especially today, since I barely closed my eyes last night.
I toss my bag over my shoulder and close the door, locking it behind me.
Astrid’s face and those fucking green eyes have flashed through my mind a hundred times since she stormed out of the apartment. Anger. Confusion. Pain?
It’s reminiscent of the same look she had when she left the locker room. It’s slightly different from the usual pissed-off vibe she wears around me. Typically, her dirty looks are believable. Pure loathing, which I understand. I don’t like her either. But before her exit from the facility and again before she left my apartment, it wasn’t just her being mad. Whatever was swimming around those gold flecks has eaten away at me. It’s kept me up. It’s gnawed at my gut.
“Fuck,” I mutter, tucking my chin to my chest against the chill. I slide a hand in my pocket, only to feel it buzz. Again. And again. And again. “These assholes.”
I don’t have to look to see who it is because I already did that … when Nico and Ridge started sending memes to the team chat at five thirty this morning. As annoying as it was, some of them were funny. None, however, was as hilarious as Chase’s reaction since someone added him back to the chat against his will.
I’m about to silence the whole damn thing when the vibration changes, and it begins to ring.
My brows pull together as I yank it from my pocket. Chuck’s name is displayed across the top of the screen.
“Good morning, Chuck,” I say carefully. Why is he calling so early in the day?
“Probably not.”
I stop just a few steps from the front door. My heart skips a beat, then two. I swear I can hear my ribs cracking with the heaviness of the moment squatting on my chest. “Why is that?”
He sighs. “What the fuck did you do, Adler?”
Huh? I nod, acknowledging a couple of guys as they arrive at the facility.
“I hope you have answers because I sure as hell don’t.” Chuck is clearly ready to throttle me. “I got the cancelation notice about fifteen minutes ago. Care to explain?”
My fingers grow cold, a chill creeping through each digit as if my body pulls all my blood to my center to keep my vital organs working. I stand in place with my gaze fixed on the gate to the pitch. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Dammit, Adler.”
I blow out a breath, trying desperately not to lose my shit. “What cancelation?”
“Your bonus.”
My bonus? “Wait—what?” I pace toward the gate, sure I misunderstood him. Or, at the very least, I’m overthinking this. “What happened? Did they cancel a payment? It’ll be another week or something?”
“No. They canceled it altogether. I have a call in to Brewer to see what the fuck happened, but that’s all I know. Are you telling me you don’t know?”
“No, I don’t fucking know,” I say, running a hand over the top of my head. “It’s gotta be a mistake. Why would they do that?”
“Again, I have a call in, and I’ll let you know when I know something. So you haven’t gotten into any trouble there?”
“No,” I snap.
He blows out a breath as if he’s over the day already. “Then go on about your morning, and I’ll let you know as soon as I hear something. If you haven’t done something to expressly void your contract, then I’ll fight back on this, obviously.”
“I’d fucking hope so.”
“All right. Talk to you soon.”
The line goes dead.
I squeeze the phone so hard that something crunches. I’m not sure if it’s the device or my bones—and I don’t really care which one might be broken. I’m so fucking pissed.
Ideas, situations, and probabilities spin around in my head, trying to land on the reason this is happening. Surely, it’s a mistake. It must be. Because if it’s not … I’m fucked.
A cold sweat trickles down my back despite the cool temperature. Why is Renn doing this? What’s the point? I jerk the collar of my hoodie away from my neck, clawing at the fabric to make room to breathe. When I turn around, Jory is holding the door open and watching me.
“Are you okay?” he asks with genuine concern written on his face.