“No. You need to understand it wasn’t what it sounded like.”

She laughed, a frantic, angry sound. “Not what it sounded like? Your coach was making you choose between me and your spot on the team, and you agreed with him.”

Fuck. She’d heard more than I’d thought. I pushed forward a little more and finally spotted her by the kitchen. Curled up on one of the barstools, her head resting on her knees.

I took a step toward her, needing to erase the hurt I’d inadvertently caused, but Eva punched me in the shoulder. “Not another step or I’m getting the taser I promised my dad I’d use at least once.”

Nadia shook her head. “Don’t worry. I understand your choice. Football is the most important thing in your life, certainly more important than a piece of ass.”

I wanted her to be pissed—at me, at Coach, at anyone—but all I heard was sad acceptance. Her biggest fears about our relationship confirmed. Didn’t she trust me even a little bit? Hurt mixed with my desperation.

“Em, I was just using the phrase Coach used. You promised you’d come to me.” My voice cracked on the last word, but I didn’t give a fuck.

Nadia looked away, tears streaming down her face. “I can’t do this right now. I need you to leave. Please leave.”

Her final whisper broke me. I nodded and stepped back, letting Eva finally close the door between us.

13

NADIA

My face hurt. I hadn’t cried like that in a long time, and Eva let me live on her couch for a full seventy-two hours before she made me get up and shower. Abbey brought me some stuff from the apartment, and Pantsy took my shifts at the community center. She also threatened to disembowel Derrick, despite the ‘waste of all that hotness’—her words.

Eva bustled around in her bathroom, putting on her cheer stuff for the football game. She’d been subtly trying to get me to talk since I showed up in tears. Subtle wasn’t her normal style, and I didn’t think her restraint would last much longer.

Honestly, I was surprised she’d stuck. She’d been friends with the guys for much longer, yet she’d skipped lunch the last three days to eat next to me while I moped on the couch. Derrick texted me every day, simple messages to tell me he was thinking about me and he’d wait until I was ready.

Ready for what? An easy letdown? I didn’t doubt that he wanted me, but I’d never win in a head-to-head battle with football. I’d gone over the scene I’d witnessed a million times in my head, but the slash of pain at hearing Derrick call me a piece of ass always sent me burrowing back into my hovel.