Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 121095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
I shift my weight, taken off guard. I didn’t expect such a heartfelt and thorough apology from Luca. And I certainly didn’t expect him to call me his secret weapon. My dad and brothers often call me that, but they’re family, so their praise of my talents doesn’t count nearly as much as an objective outsider’s.
“I mean, don’t get too big a head over me wanting to keep you all to myself,” Luca quickly adds. “I was impressed this morning, but it was still only one drill session. It’s still early days yet, and like we agreed this morning, I still have that three-day trial period to figure out if—”
“Oh, hell no. The trial period is now officially null and void, motherfucker, thanks to you making it impossible for me to work with anyone else. You’re in this with me now, Montague, totally and completely, whether you like it or not.”
Luca twists his gorgeous lips, but he doesn’t push back.
I place both fists on my hips and stare him down. “Now would be the time for you to dutifully say, ‘Yes, Coach.’ Otherwise, I won’t believe a single word of your apology.”
Luca shifts his weight and his Adam’s apple bobs. But finally, with visible discomfort on his face, he gives me what I’ve demanded in a barely audible whisper: “Yes, Coach.”
I put a hand to my ear. “Sorry, what was that? I didn’t quite catch it.”
He’s only slightly louder the second time, but it’s enough for me to let him off the hook. Waggling my finger at him, I say, “I’ll forgive you this one time. But if you ever disrespect me again, whether it’s to my face or behind my back, I swear I’ll go straight to my father and tearfully beg him to cut your ass as a favor to me—and I’ll say it’s for reasons I don’t feel comfortable disclosing to him.”
“Jesus, Chelsea.”
I’d never actually do that to him, but Luca doesn’t know that.
“So don’t test me,” I add.
“I won’t,” he chokes out. “I promise. Now tell me everything Bellamy told you, including who said all that shit about me to him. I need to know who in that room was willing to stab me in the back to get ahead.”
“Nobody stabbed you in the back. Bellamy happened to be in the security room when you had that conversation. He said your room looked particularly animated, so he turned up the sound on your screen and overheard the whole conversation.”
“Motherfucker.”
“You have to be careful, Luca. There are cameras everywhere around here. At least, in the newly renovated areas. Unless you’re in the older part of the complex, always assume you’re being watched.” It’s probably not true, actually. From what my father’s told me, the footage captured by security cameras isn’t normally viewed by anyone. What happened to Luca this time was a fluke. But you never know what’s possible, as the situation with Bellamy proved, so he shouldn’t take any chances.
“I’ll keep that in mind, ‘Coach.’” He smiles at me when he calls me Coach, and when I don’t return the gesture, he exhales and says, “If you want, I’ll tell everyone you’re a total badass during tomorrow’s film review, okay? Or I’ll do it at dinner tonight, instead. In front of the whole team, if that’s what you want.”
“Don’t you dare. I don’t want you saying another word about me to anyone, ever. Now that you’ve mocked me, nobody can redeem me but me. I have to earn their respect through my actions. I’ll need to show them. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do at every practice and scrimmage throughout camp.”
Luca grimaces. “I’m really sorry, Chelsea.”
“You can make it up to me by kicking ass. By taking everything I tell you to do seriously.”
“Why don’t we study my playbook at dinner together? You can quiz me while I’m eating.”
I shake my head. “I’m not going to dinner. Now that you’ve shit-talked me, I’ve got to get back to the hotel so I can watch more film on you.”
Luca’s face turns mischievous. “I heard a rumor you’re staying at the same hotel as me. You’re one of the player liaisons, right?”
“You heard a rumor? Luca, the fact that I’m a player liaison who’s staying at the player hotel is literally part of the ‘get to know your staff’ page on the app.”
“Oh. I didn’t download it.”
“It’s loaded onto the iPad that was issued to you!”
“Really? I didn’t see it.”
“Christ almighty.” With a palm to my forehead, I start marching toward the front door of the auditorium. As I go, I toss out over my shoulder, “Be on the practice field at five twenty-five sharp tomorrow morning, five minutes early for our next one-on-one. If you’re not early, then you’re late, Montague. Don’t you dare be late.”