Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Atlas leans into the camera frame. “Tell me you’re in love without telling me you’re in love.”
I shove him playfully and smirk at the camera, gesturing to the pile. “I don’t know… what do you think it says about me?”
I wink and then stop the recording. North shoves the phone at me. “Thanks, man.”
“You’re so weird.” He chuckles and Kace claps like it’s the most emotional moment in sports history.
“Thank you, thank you very much,” I say, waving to the guys. “I accept tips.”
I start placing the items back in my bag, resisting the urge to sniff Winnie’s hoodie. North shifts and leans my way.
“Hey,” he says, voice low but clear. “Can I tell you something?”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“It’s not a huge deal, but… Farren mentioned something to me last night and I think you need to know about it.”
I turn, the smile fading because his tone is grim. “Yeah?”
He hesitates for half a beat, then just says it. “Winnie ran into a couple women in the bathroom. Said some pretty awful stuff to her. About the TikToks. About you. Did she tell you about it?”
My body stills. “No. What was said?”
North’s eyes harden. “Farren heard most of it. They told her she was delusional and there’s no way you like her.”
“She knows that’s not true,” I say, defending myself and Winnie’s common sense.
North nods. “One lady called her a TikTok whore.”
Rage sweeps through me so swiftly, I swear I see red.
I blink. Once. Twice.
An ugly knot twists in my chest.
“Farren confronted the women, but Winnie didn’t say much. She told Farren she was fine and that it was par for the course. Farren got the impression that Winnie was holding it close to the vest, but I wanted to mention it to you so you know it’s going on.”
Par for the fucking course.
Christ, is she really seeing so much of this negative backlash?
“I’ve seen the comments,” I admit quietly. “Some of them are nasty. I’ve even replied to a few. But I didn’t know anyone was saying it to her face.”
North nods. “She’s recognizable, so I imagine that was bound to happen.”
I think back to when she returned to the couch. She seemed okay but she was quiet. I was talking to Rafferty and she just listened, holding my hand. Did I miss something important?
I rise from my chair and clap North on the shoulder. “Thanks for letting me know.”
“Always, my brother. I got your back and hers too.”
I move over to a quiet corner, away from the rest of my teammates. My thumb hovers over my phone. I want to call her. Ask outright. But something holds me back.
I need advice first, so I call my ma.
She picks up on the second ring. “Honey? You at the airport?”
Of course she knows I’m here. She knows it’s a travel day and has watched me play enough, she knows the flight would be early. “Yeah. Hey, real quick—can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” she chirps.
I tell her what happened.
The bathroom. The women. The way Winnie didn’t say anything.
“She gets a lot of positive comments, but some of them are really nasty, Ma. And now people are confronting her. I don’t know what to do.”
There’s a pause on the other end, then she says gently, “You can’t protect her from every mean girl or troll on the internet. But you can be the voice she hears louder than the rest.”
I nod, swallowing the frustration rising in my throat. “For the most part she acts like it’s part of the game, but… I’ve got to assume it really bothers her. She’s a sensitive person, and well… I don’t want this shit to drive her away.”
“She’s strong,” my mom says. “But strong people still bleed. Just quieter. You should talk to her about it.”
“I will. I’ll call her right now.” I close my eyes for a second. “Thanks, Ma.”
“Tell her I said hi. And don’t forget—she’s the one choosing to stand beside you. You make sure she knows she’s not standing alone.”
“Love you, Ma.”
After I hang up, I pace a small circle, going over in my mind what I should say to Winnie. When I have it straight, I dial her number and it feels like a fucking hug when she answers, voice warm and sleepy. “Hey you.”
“You’re still in bed,” I say, smiling at the rustle of sheets through the phone. “Hungover?”
“Nope,” she says, and I imagine her sitting up against the headboard, hair mussed. “But I did enjoy the sleep-in. You should have woken me before you left.”
“I wrote a note. It’s on Buttermilk’s cage—unless he ate it.”
Winnie yawns. “What time’s your flight?”
“Soon.” I shift, my back against the wall. “Hey, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Farren told North what happened in the bathroom at the Rustwood and he told me just now.”