Rumor Has It I'm Dating the Football Captain

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: That Wasn’t Him

The second they stepped off the brightly lit stage, Mason violently ripped his arm away from Elena.

They were standing in the quiet hallway behind the press room. The loud cheers of the reporters were muffled by the heavy velvet curtains.

Mason took three massive steps away from her. His jaw was clenched so tightly his teeth ached. He looked at her with pure, unfiltered disgust.

Do not ever touch me like that again, Mason commanded. His voice was a low, dangerous rumble.

Elena simply smoothed the fabric of her white dress. She did not look intimidated at all. She just looked slightly annoyed.

We had to make it look believable, Mason, Elena sighed. You are my boyfriend now. People expect us to look happy.

I am your hostage, Mason corrected coldly. I did exactly what you wanted. I stood on that stage. I lied to the entire country. I secured your father’s stupid PR stunt. But when the cameras are turned off, you stay completely away from me.

Elena crossed her arms. Her sweet smile faded into a sharp glare.

You are playing a very dangerous game, Elena warned. My father can still rip that contract away from you.

Let him try, Mason shot back. He stepped closer. His massive height completely overshadowed her. I am the number one prospect. If he drops me now, the European scouts will ask questions. He needs me just as much as you do. So here are my new rules.

Elena frowned. You do not make the rules.

Yes, I do, Mason stated flatly. I will show up to your fake dinners. I will smile for the press. But you do not touch me, you do not talk to me in private, and you stay out of my locker room. If you cross those lines, I will walk out to those cameras and tell them exactly how you blackmailed me.

Elena stared at him. She finally realized she had pushed a very dangerous animal into a corner. She swallowed hard and took a step back.

Fine, Elena said stiffly. Just play your part in public.

She turned around and walked sharply down the hallway, her heels clicking loudly against the tile floor.

Mason stood completely alone in the quiet corridor.

He leaned back against the concrete wall. He let out a harsh, shaky breath. He reached into his suit jacket pocket and pulled out his phone.

He opened his text messages. He looked at the breakup text from Audrey.

He wanted to call her. He wanted to scream that it was all a lie. He wanted to tell her he loved her.

But if he called her, Elena would find out. And Elena would destroy the exact football career that Audrey had just broken her own heart to protect.

I am sorry, Ellis, Mason whispered to the empty hallway.

He locked the phone. He shoved it back into his pocket. He turned around and walked toward the locker room. He had to survive the next six months in this prison.

It was late Friday night on campus.

The journalism office was completely empty, except for one desk in the very back corner.

Audrey sat perfectly straight in her chair. The only light in the room came from her glowing laptop screen. She was typing furiously. The loud clacking of the keyboard echoed off the dark walls.

She had not left the office in three days. She was completely throwing herself into her work.

The heavy wooden doors of the office creaked open.

Audrey did not stop typing. Ben, I told you I am not editing the basketball spread until tomorrow. Go home.

I am not Ben.

Audrey stopped typing. Her hands froze completely over the keyboard.

She slowly looked up.

Leo was standing in the doorway. He was wearing his team jacket. He looked entirely exhausted. He had dark bags under his eyes, and he had not shaved in a few days.

Leo, Audrey said quietly. She slowly lowered her hands to her lap. What are you doing here?

I was looking for Ben, Leo said. He walked slowly into the dim room. Coach Miller needs the updated media schedule for next week. But Ben’s desk is empty.

He left two hours ago, Audrey said.

Leo nodded. He did not leave. He walked over and sat down heavily in the rolling chair next to Audrey’s desk. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.

He looked at her. He saw her pale face and her tired eyes.

You look terrible, Leo said honestly.

Audrey let out a dry, humorless laugh. Thank you. You look like you got hit by a truck.

I feel like I got hit by a truck, Leo agreed quietly.

A heavy, sad silence fell over the dark office. They were both completely heartbroken. They had both lost the people they cared about most.

Did you see the press conference? Leo finally asked.

Audrey flinched. The memory of Mason holding that girl on stage flashed painfully in her mind.

Yes, Audrey whispered. She stared down at her keyboard. I saw it.

Audrey, listen to me, Leo said. He sat up straighter. His voice was completely serious. I have known Mason since we were kids. That was not him on that stage. He looked like he was walking to his own funeral.

He looked fine to me, Audrey lied defensively. He got exactly what he wanted. He got the top prospect spot, and he got a new girlfriend.

Do you honestly believe he just moved on? Leo asked. After everything he did for you? After the way he looked at you?

People change, Leo, Audrey said sharply. Her voice cracked slightly. The distance was too much. He is in a completely different world now. I sent him a breakup text, and he did not even fight for it. He just let me go.

Leo frowned deeply. He did not fight it?

No. Not a single text back.

Leo rubbed his tired face with both hands. It did not make any sense to him. Mason was fiercely loyal. Something was entirely wrong in Florida, but he had no way to prove it.

What about you and Chloe? Audrey asked gently, changing the subject before she started crying again.

Leo slumped back into his chair. A fresh wave of absolute misery washed over his face.

Nothing, Leo whispered. I have not spoken to her in a month. I walk past her on campus, and I do not even look at her. I am giving her exactly the space she asked for.

Is it helping?

It is killing me, Leo confessed. His voice was thick with raw emotion. I want to talk to her so badly. But if I push her, I prove that I don’t respect her boundaries. So I just have to wait.

Audrey looked at the massive, usually loud football player. He was completely broken, but he was holding back out of pure respect for Chloe.

You are a really good guy, Leo, Audrey said softly.

Leo managed a very tiny, weak smile. Thanks, Audrey. You are a good person too. Mason is an absolute idiot if he actually let you go.

Leo stood up from the chair. He zipped his jacket up against the cold.

Go home and get some sleep, Leo ordered gently. Your laptop is going to overheat.

I will, Audrey promised.

Leo turned around and walked out of the dark office, leaving Audrey completely alone again.

Audrey stared at the empty doorway for a long time.

Leo’s words echoed in her head. That was not him on that stage.

She shook her head aggressively. She could not let herself hope. Hope was dangerous. Hope would just break her heart all over again.

She turned back to her laptop. she forced her hands to start typing. She was going to build her wall higher. She was going to survive the next six months, completely on her own.