I bite my lip and glance away, not even trying to deny that he’s pretty much right on the money.
In my head? Yeah. I have a baby on the way with a billionaire chick who also happens to be part of the family who owns this team and who I also happen to be really into but can’t because she likes to fly around the world every ten seconds.
“Just nerves.” I shake out my arms. “Pressure, I guess.”
Chase arches a brow and stares straight through my bullshit. “Come on. Talk to—”
“Don’t you fucking dare call yourself Daddy.”
He snorts. “What’s going on, bro? Seriously.”
I puff out a breath and nod toward the locker room, which is empty since most of the guys are still on the field, finishing up drills.
We walk into the massive locker room, and I savor the icy blast of air conditioning that settles on my skin. Even in January, Florida heat is a damn bitch on the field.
“Pop a squat.” Chase sits on a bench and smacks the spot next to him with his palm.
I roll my eyes and sit on the bench. “Why are you so concerned with me and my problems?” I turn to him and give a half smile. “You hated my guts when you thought I might have a chance at replacing you. And now, here I am, in your position. And you wanna help me?”
Chase takes a long, deep sigh. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Junior. I’m injured, not retired.” He raises his brows in warning. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want you to succeed. Plus, if there’s anyone who can understand the massive pressure you’re dealing with right now, it’s me.”
“That’s true,” I mumble. I let my mind wander for a second, thinking about the crazy mess of confusion in my personal life.
I guess it would be kinda hard not to let all the shit going on affect my game, no matter how hard I try.
“You know I’m like the world’s greatest advice-giver, right?” Chase cocks his head.
I let my head rest in my palms and think for a second. Ellie and I never discussed who we’re going to tell. I mean, it’s pretty obvious the whole knocking-up-a-one-night-stand thing isn’t exactly something you’d send out announcement cards for, but is it supposed to totally be a secret?
Chase Kennedy is a lot of things. Trustworthy is definitely one of them. Besides, I’ve got to tell somebody, or I’m gonna totally lose it and screw up the whole rest of the season.
“All right, Kennedy.” I glance around at the empty locker room and lower my voice, eyeing him. “This has to be on the lowest down low of all time.”
A smile spreads across his face. “So there is some dirt?”
“Yeah…” I run a hand through my hair and figure out how I’m gonna word this saying it out loud for the first time. “All right…so…”
He gives me a side-eye. “Spit it out, Junior.”
“Yeah, man, this isn’t exactly some little bullshit chick problem.”
“Oh shit. Well, if it doesn’t involve a chick or throwing a football, I don’t know how much help I’ll be. But I can listen.” He raises a shoulder.
“Okay. Like I said, way down low.” I rub my hands together and swallow. “I hooked up with this girl about a month ago.”
“Ah, so it is a chick problem?” Chase half smiles.
“No. Well, sort of. Let me finish, jackass.”
He raises his hands defensively and laughs. “Letting you finish.”
“Anyway…” I brush some dirt off of my pants. “Hooked up with this girl. She’s ridiculously cool and gorgeous, and we totally hit it off and…”
“I think I can use my imagination on the rest of the night,” Chase remarks with an eye roll.
I laugh a little. “So, yeah. Everything seemed fine and normal, and I was really down to see her again, but she’s sort of a…” I wave a hand and imagine Ellie stepping out of her private jet in one crazy-exotic city after another. “Traveler. To, like, an extreme degree. She’s all flighty and nomadic and adventurous and didn’t seem to want anything more than the one night.”
“I know you have a sensitive side, my dude. And I appreciate that.” He pats my shoulder. “But this is kind of sounding like the ideal one-night stand to me.”
I turn to him and glare. “You wanna hear my story, or you just wanna keep throwing your two cents in?”
He chuckles and holds up a hand. “Okay, okay, I’m done. Talk.”