Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 69794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
“So he left his job for his father?” I asked. “That’s sweet.”
“It’s not just his father,” Ellis admitted. “Seraphina and Beaufort do not get along. At all. I have a feeling that he’s just doing this to stick it to Seraphina.”
I leaned toward her. “Why don’t they get along?”
She looked sad. “I forget that you don’t live here. You didn’t hear. It’s pretty common knowledge. Seraphina was driving her sister home from school when she got into an accident and hit another vehicle. Killed Sonja on impact.”
“Oh,” I said. “What a terrible accident.”
“That’s just it.” Ellis accelerated as she got onto a highway that was eighty-five miles an hour. “It wasn’t exactly an accident. Seraphina was drunk. Had apparently been drinking at school. She wasn’t fit to drive, and she lied to her brother when she said that she was. Beaufort allowed her to go get Sonja against his better judgment, and then Seraphina killed her.”
“Whoa,” I breathed. “That’s awful.”
“It is,” she agreed. “Sonja was three weeks away from graduating. She was sixteen. Seraphina was eighteen and graduating as well. Neither one walked at the ceremony.”
My stomach hurt for their family.
“I can see why Beaufort would be upset,” I admitted. “My parents were killed in a drunk driving incident. Then, a few years ago, my aunt and uncle, who’d adopted my sister and me, also died in a drunk driving accident. Only, they were the ones drinking and driving. I have zero empathy for drunk drivers. Underage or not.”
“I heard about your story,” Ellis continued. “That was one of the reason that I fought to get you here. I wanted you to help turn this team around before you retired.” She looked a little sheepish. “Plus, I knew that it would intimidate Seraphina. I’ve had enough of her shit. I’m tired of her digging the hole that will eventually bury the Cowgirls.”
Our talk the rest of the way to the stadium was less informative.
We talked about the weather and the area, but we did not broach any more topics about the Vanderbilt family.
At least not until we arrived at the stadium and drove around to the back entrance that led into the depths of the building.
“That’s Beaufort’s vehicle,” she said as we parked next to it. “Seraphina used to park sideways so no one could park next to her. She was the important one. She deserved to always have the closest parking spot.”
“She sounds like a really great person,” I lied.
“Just be happy you won’t have to deal with her this season,” she grumbled. “I’m hoping that I’m done, and that Beaufort will keep this job. But I highly doubt it. He agreed to a season, but that was all he was willing to agree to. He said that he loved his job, and honestly, I can’t blame him. This job is a high-stressor activity. Beaufort’s all about the end of the school day and enjoying the summer.”
I would’ve asked what she meant by that last comment but she bailed out of the car and walked to the door.
She unlocked it at the keypad, then said, “You got your key code?”
“I did,” I confirmed.
“I know you haven’t officially signed yet, but I have a feeling you’ll stay.” She smiled. “You sounded pretty tired of Texas.”
I groaned as we walked into the building and down a long corridor with slightly offensive LED lights lining it. “Texas is exhausting. I loved the team management, but there were a few players that were quite…”
“Assholeish?” she offered.
“Yeah,” I grumbled. “They felt like I got special treatment with Iris. They hated that she was always ‘fucking up the vibe.’ I don’t know. But I wasn’t willing to leave her. She’s my baby. What did they want me to do? We’re gone for days on end sometimes. I can’t afford a nanny, either. Our pay is on the higher end of the league, but that wasn’t enough to cover a full-time nanny.”
“Beaufort encouraged Benedict to put in a state-of-the-art childcare facility here. Plus, there’s two other women that will also be bringing their children on the road with us. We have a team nanny willing to help.”
“That’s also why I came,” I admitted. “But I want to be abundantly clear. I don’t plan on staying any more than this season.”
She got to the end of the long hallway and opened the door that said “locker room.”
“I know,” she said. “We just need to win this season. Just help us win. Beaufort’s already promised to give you any help you need this year.”
That I could do.
Especially seeing as I would be working with one of the best defensive players in the business, Nettie Windsor.
I’d played against her for so long, my defense to her forward, that I felt like I knew her really well. Even if all we did was meet on the soccer pitch.