Any semblance of contentment goes down the drain the moment I see that text from Veronica.

Can we talk?

That would be a resounding fuck, no. I’m actually surprised it’s taken her this long to reach out to me. But we are over. And no amount of crying on her part will repair the damage done in our relationship. I’m sick of her lies. Of her drama. Of her bullshit.

Besides, any feelings I had for her withered and died the night of the draft when she leveled that bomb at me. The moment she left, I packed up the shit she had at my place and shipped it to her mother’s the next day.

Jeanine pops her head into the locker room, jarring me from the foxhole I retreat to whenever I think of Veronica. “Daren, I need you out here in five. The other guys are here, and the station is ready to tape.”

When the door closes, Quentin struts over naked and mimics her voice. “Daren, I need you out here because all of your adoring fans are ready!” And then he pretends to make out with himself.

The guys laugh, and I toss a jockstrap at his face. He ducks with a laugh and shakes his bare ass at me.

I tilt my head back and laugh. “I see how it is, Q. Jealousy is an evil thing. Not everyone can be Boston’s number one bachelor.”

Dumbest contest ever, and if it didn’t raise millions for a few great causes, I’d never do it. Besides, the guy who wins gets the donation to his charity matched by the sponsoring corporations, and I plan to get the St. Martin’s Homeless Shelter expanded threefold.

My parents might be rich now, but my mother’s family was homeless at one point when she was a child, and that always resonated with me. Bad things happen to good people every day, and my family found help in this charity back when it was a one-room food pantry behind a grocery store. So yeah, I’ll stomach a silly bachelor contest if it means I can help St. Martin’s.

Brentwood rolls his eyes at me, not caring that I’m obviously joking. He’s been bitchy all week, and I’ve been tempted to ask if he needs tampons. But then, I don’t know any woman with PMS this bad, so it’s an unfair slight to females.

By the time I get to the conference room, the guys are each standing by their respective female fans, who have been rounded up to coo over us. Five Rebel cheerleaders hover in the corner, and when one spots me, she beelines over and hugs me.

“Hey, Daren.”

I give her an awkward side hug while my eyes search for the girl who has been front and center in my dirty dreams all week.

A fire-engine-red dress in the corner catches my attention.

Sweet mother.

Maddie glances over her shoulder, and I catch my breath. Her black hair is down, tousled like my hands have been in them. Doe eyes stare back at me in a moment that drowns out the thirty other people in the room.

I’ve never seen her so dressed up. Although she looked awesome the night of my party, the color red amps up her sexiness, which I didn’t think was possible. Today, she looks like a flame, from the silky smooth fabric wrapped around her like a second skin to her sky-blue eyes. Damn, she’s mouthwatering.

Her pouty lips give me a flirty smile before she returns her attention to the camera guy, and I take a gasping breath when our connection is broken.

Voodoo woman.

I haven’t had time to connect with her this week. And when I say connect, I mean fuck her senseless. I intend to rectify the situation as soon as possible. She’s supposed to come over tonight, thank Christ.

That Spencer asshole grabs the mic that’s been set up in front of a black backdrop and welcomes everyone, promising that the only reason we’re doing this on my home turf is because the team has the available space. Jeanine winks at me from his side, and I know that’s all bullshit. I’d bet money she talked Spencer into doing all of our group promo shots here. Why it makes a difference where it’s shot is beyond me.

Spencer motions toward us. “We’re adding two more athletes and breaking you into two teams. The group that gets the most money will get your cause featured in prime time segments, which can raise additional revenue for your charities. We’ll still do an individual winner, but this is another way to generate interest. One team of three guys will go with Maddie for interviews and promos, and the other will go with Nicole.” He motions to the two girls who wave behind him.

After a few more introductions, I get ushered toward Maddie, and as we’re gearing up to shoot our first promo, the back door opens and some tatted-up fighter walks in with what appear to be cage girls. He looks vaguely familiar.

Maddie tenses next to me and curses under her breath.

The guy heads straight for Maddie, and the way his eyes crawl up her body make me want to launch my fist into his face.

“Hey, babe,” he says to Maddie, which doesn’t seem to bother the two girls draped over him. “You’re looking as hot as ever.”

Maddie shakes her head, closes her eyes for a moment and then points across the room. “Jacob, you’re with Nicole. And do me a favor.” She waits for him to lean forward. “Don’t talk to me. In fact, you can pretend we've never met.”

The arctic air blowing off her is enough to give me chills. He starts to open his mouth, but Nicole trots over to usher him to the other side of the room.

“You know that guy?” I whisper to her when he’s out of earshot.

Maddie taps the mic that’s clipped to her dress and asks, “Now what gave you that impression?”

Even though she’s clearly brimming with tension, as soon as we’re taping, she’s all charm and smiles as she beams confidence into the camera. I love her focus. She can block out that drama and get her shit done like a pro.

Pride fills me for my girl.

Whoa.

No, Daren. My friend. My fuck buddy. But definitely not my girl. Don’t forget that.

Surprisingly, though, our interview is strangely awkward. I can’t totally pinpoint why. Was it the conversation with that fighter guy or is she pissed the cheerleaders are grabbing onto me? But damn. That’s all at the direction of her boss. Spencer tells the girls to sit on my lap and wrap their arms around me.

I guess I can’t be surprised Maddie’s all business, getting the segment done before she’s off interviewing the other guys.

But that’s not what bothers me. That’s not what has me second-guessing our arrangement.

I can’t lie. Slipping like that, thinking of Maddie as mine, scares me a little. Okay, it scares me a whole helluva lot.

I’ve done monogamous sex before without getting attached. In retrospect, that basically describes my entire relationship with Veronica. Because now that I’ve had some space, I realize I didn’t love her. And she sure as hell didn’t love me.

I tell myself I won’t fly into asshole mode and ignore Maddie when she calls, but that’s a moot point because she doesn’t call like she said she would. Our Tuesday night plans come and go with radio silence.

By the time Thursday morning rolls around and I head out to the field for our weekly Football 101 interview, I’m feeling like a dick for not at least texting her yesterday to ask if she was okay after the run-in with that MMA fighter.

Turns out he’s her ex. Guess I’m not the first jock she’s dated.

But we’re not dating, so scratch that.

She’s cordial during my interview, and I can’t decide if her nonchalance is a relief or irritating as hell. Getting distance from her should be a good thing. If we’re just fucking around, then none of this should bother me.

But it does.

I’m hoping to get a moment to talk to her afterward—to say what, I’m not sure—but Jeanine is hovering like a starved vulture and ushers me over to a group of sorority girls on the sidelines to shoot more hype footage for the bachelor contest. I don’t know why I’ve turned into her pet project, but it’s taxing.

On my drive home, I’m in a foul mood, so when my cell rings, I press the Bluetooth button on the steering wheel and grunt hello.

“Son, now what kind of greeting is that? You sound like a constipated bear.”

I chuckle. “Hi, Mom.”

“How’s my favorite son?”

“I’m your only son, Mom. If I’m not at the top of your list, I’m doing something wrong.”

“Guess who I saw the other day?”

This can’t be good. “No idea.”

“Clementine.” Here we go. Mom’s never gotten over my breakup from my high school sweetheart. But this is not the shit I want to talk about today. Or ever. “Have you talked to her lately?”

My mom is digging around for something. “We talked a couple of days ago. Why?”

“I was wondering if you’ve read her new book. My friend says it’s fantastic!” She lowers her voice to a whisper. “But I heard it has sex, so I’m reading it on my Kindle where I keep my Fifty Shades.”

That is… something I don’t need to know. “You really called to tell me this?”

Mental note, avoid Clem’s new book and my mother’s e-reader.

“No, I called to find out if you’ve ever considered asking her out again. The two of you grew up together. You were inseparable. That girl always had her heart set on you.”

“Mom, that ship has sailed. She’s got a boyfriend. They’re practically married. Honestly, I don’t have those kind of feelings for her anymore. Never mind that if I messed up her new relationship, Jax would choke me with his bare hands.”

My best friend Jax, Clem’s twin brother, almost broke my face when he found out what I’d done in high school. And I let him. Because I fully deserved it.

“But you two were so good together.”

I shake my head. “No, we weren’t. I was a dick.” And if I’m being totally honest with myself, she never looked at me the way she looks at Gavin. The asshole.

“But have you apologized for what happened with Veronica?”

My hands grip the steering wheel. “Of course I apologized. I’m tempted to ask what you know, but that might be awkward.”

“Son, I’ve known all along what happened in high school, how you broke Clementine’s heart”—she lowers her voice again—“by sleeping with Veronica.” She clears her throat. “But I knew you were going through so much then, and I didn’t want to add to your situation.”

Fuck. This never gets easier.

Yes, I was the cocksucker who cheated on the girl I’d been crazy about since I was in diapers with a woman who would make me miserable. That’s some karmic shit right there. Reason number one why I should never be in a serious relationship again.

“Did you call me to crack open my chest and dig around with a pitchfork?”

Her little laugh rings through the phone. “Good heavens, no. I just want you to find a good woman, someone to anchor you. Someone to tell you the truth when you don’t want to hear it. A nice girl who will take care of you, maybe even when you don’t deserve it.”

An angelic face with stark blue eyes comes to mind, but I shake my head. Because dating Maddie in any kind of serious way is epically stupid. I can’t go out on a ledge again.

The lie slips off my lips easily. “I’m not interested in dating anyone right now.”

“You know who is so beautiful and really seems to have her act together? That sports reporter.”

Please don’t say Nicole. I need to date another blonde cheerleader type like I need a hole in my head.

“That dark-haired beauty, Maddie. Is that her name? I love your interviews with her. She’s adorable, and I’ve seen her news stories too. Oh, that girl has her head on straight. I bet if you’d ask her out—”

“I’m pretty sure she’s not interested, Mom.” Something tells me that after this week, Maddie really isn’t, and that just puts me in a pissier mood. “Okay, this was fun, but I gotta go.”

“Son, I’m sorry. Don’t listen to me. I only want you to be happy.”

“I’m fine, Mom.”

“You know, your father misses you.”

Christ. This conversation won’t stop. Discussing Mason definitely will not alleviate my stress. “That’s… I don’t know what to do with that. Mom, I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

Her sigh of disappointment is cut off when I curse at a driver for nearly sideswiping me.

“Oh, you’re driving. Why didn’t you tell me? Did you know that most accidents happen because people are on their phones?”

“Okay, Miss CNN, thanks for the tip. You’ll be happy to know I’m on a hands-free set, but I’ll call you soon.”

By the time I get home, any thoughts of calling Maddie have disappeared. I might miss her like hell, but maybe space is what I need to clear my head.