"Thanks," I reply hesitantly, "although I'm not sure what you mean." I shouldn't have said that last part. I could sense she was hoping I would which should have set off warning signals. Too late.

"He was sent to Mesquite so we could keep him in line. You've been doing a great job keeping him on a short leash. You've made my job much easier."

Oh, that wasn't as bad as I expected.

"No problem," I answer kindly, then add, "I can't say I really have him on a leash, he's free to do whatever he wants. He's a big boy."

"He sure is." Did she just lick her lips? "either way, thanks. I hope you won't be too upset once he's done."

"Done?"

"Yes, sweetie - done. You know he's spending his time with you because it's what he's here to do, right? That, and coach that ridiculous high school team. He's a good boy - doing everything he's told. It's amazing that the public will swallow a story like this the way they do. Playboy to good boy overnight? Ha! He's as good an actor as he is quarterback."

"I don't think you have any idea what you're talking about," I reply. My fists are clenched tight. She's trying to get a rise out of me - she has to be. I knew she liked Jax.

"Oh, honey, I know exactly what I'm talking about. It's part of my job. Season's almost over, hon. I hope you wise up soon or you're going to get very hurt," she smirks, "unless you're acting too? Oh, you're good." She laughs.

I can't answer her. Other than 'go fuck yourself', I don't know what to say. If she was any other woman, I might say just that, but she is working with Jax. I have to keep my cool.

"I guess we'll know soon enough. It was so nice talking to you, hon. Too bad we won't be seeing much of each other anymore - you know - now that Jaxson's image is all clean and the season is almost over, you won't be needed anymore either."

Satisfied with my answer, I turn around and walk away before she can answer. Nadia made her point and I made mine. I'm fuming right now. Unfortunately, when I'm mad, I also cry. It's not because I'm sad, it just happens. I can't let her see my tears and mistake them for weakness. I don't want Jax to see me like this either though. Without looking back, I quickly leave to find my way to a ladies room.

The game is long over and there aren't many people around so luckily when I find the restroom, it's empty. I stand in front of the sink and grip the sides tight with both hands. I stand there, trying to cool down from the disturbing comments Nadia just made. She's such a bitch.

But what if she's right?

Is she? Is this all just another game to Jax? The football team - me? Have I been kidding myself this whole time? I mean, he's never had a girlfriend - ever -it's not a secret. Was it crazy for me to believe that he changed all because of me? Can he really be that self centered that he would use me like that - just to clean up his image? And then what? When the season's over, so are we?

I know Jax. We've spent enough time together that I know him better than anyone - I think. Or maybe I don't know him at all. Ugh. I can't let this bitch get into my head. She doesn't know Jax at all. She works for him. She wants him. That's what it has to be. She's trying to trip me up. Right now, it's working.

I'm too smart for those kind of games though, right? It's her playing with my head, not Jax. I won't believe it. He wouldn't do that to me. He wouldn't do that to the football team. Why would he be spending his own free time helping those boys if he didn't want to? He's tutoring them for God's sake. Nadia is crazy - not me.

I shouldn't be in here getting angry. I should be talking to Jax. He's the only one who can answer all of these questions.

I splash some water on my face and fix my hair. I give myself a nod in the mirror for an extra boost of morale. Nadia doesn't scare me. If anything, she's the one who should be afraid. I may be sweet and nice, but don't fuck with me. My relationship may be at risk, but she's playing with her career.

I walk the long stretch back to where the locker rooms are. There aren't many people left, but Jax must have come out while I was gone. I see him and Nadia speaking. They're standing very close to one another. I wouldn't have cared before, but now the scene is affecting me like nails on a chalkboard. I hold my head up high and walk right over to them.

"Hey, baby," I say to Jax as I approach.

He smiles when he sees me coming, not paying attention to whatever Nadia is saying anymore. "Hey, babe," he greets me.

I step closer and he kisses me. I thought I may have to put on a show for Nadia's sake, but I don't. Jax does it for me.

I catch the exaggerated eye roll Nadia makes while she waits for us. I realize, maybe it's not that she wants me to think Jax is acting, perhaps she believes he really is. I mean, how could Jax fall for someone like me when he can have someone like her, right? As if.

Remembering she's there again, Jax turns to Nadia, "are we all set here?"

"Yes, Jaxson. We'll talk again, when you have some alone time."

"Sure," he says, slightly confused by her tone. I'm sure she sounded much more amicable before I got here.

"Bye, Nadia," I say smugly with a little wave.

Nadia walks away without replying to me.

"She's acting extra strange today," Jax comments.

"Is she ever normal?"

"No. Not really, she's just different weird today."

"Whatever. She's almost run her coarse with you anyway, right? How about we get out of here?" I suggest.

I don't think it's the time or the place to talk to Jax about the conversation I had with Nadia. Whether she's right or wrong, he's going to be pissed. Hopefully at her and not me. I'm pretty confident that's how it will go, but he's on a high from his win right now, and there are still some team mates lurking around. I'll wait until later to bring it up.

"Sounds good. I'm starved. Let's go, babe."

Jax takes my hand and we walk out of the stadium. He better not be acting his way through this relationship. I really like him. No - I love him, and I know he loves me - I mean, no one can be that good a player, right?

Chapter 30.

SYDNEY.

Jax was so pumped about winning the game, I didn't have the heart to bring up Nadia's conversation with him. Besides, I need to talk to someone else about it and make sure I'm not crazy first. Maybe I shouldn't even mention it to him at all. I don't know - I'm not used to having drama in my life - or my relationships.

Several times during dinner, Jax stopped to ask if I was okay. He said I didn't seem like myself - which I wasn't. I couldn't get Nadia out of my head. That was probably her plan all along - plant the seed and let me sabotage my own relationship. Bitch.

I just told him I wasn't feeling great and had him take me home after dinner. I don't like lying to him - but I need to think before I speak and say something stupid. Luckily, Kelly is awake and home when Jax drops me off. Her and Tim are laying on the couch watching television.

"Hey. Where's your man?" Kelly asks. It's out of character for Jax not to come home with me, or at least walk me in.

"He went home."

"Is everything okay?" she asks, sitting up.

"I don't know. I mean, I think so, but I'm not sure."

"What happened?"

I look at Tim. He stands up.

"I'm going to the bedroom. This sounds like a conversation for the ladies."

Tim walks into Kelly's room and closes the door. I wouldn't mind if he listened, and I'm sure Kelly will tell him everything anyway. It doesn't matter. I fill Kelly in on the details of my conversation with Nadia, "basically, she told me Jax was using me for his image and would be done with me when the season is over."

She listens with a look of disgust, but waits for me to finish before commenting.

"Okay, number one, she's a bitch," Kelly starts, "I don't care how much of a professional she is - women are women and she wants your man. Bitches be crazy."

I giggle, "that's what I think, but then I start second guessing myself. Jax has never been with one girl. Why me? Maybe it is some kind of image thing."

"Syd, do you really believe that? Why not you? You're beautiful and smart and a million other things. I don't know, I don't get any kind of vibe from Jax other than he digs you - a lot."

"I want to think so. I never would have thought otherwise. Nadia just put these crazy thoughts in my head."

"I'm sure she was hoping you would take the bait and run."

"Probably. Should I bother telling Jax? Do I need to cause drama?"

Kelly contemplates my question for a minute. "I think I would. I don't think it will cause too much drama, but I wouldn't be satisfied until I heard the words come from his mouth, you know? You know him well enough at this point that the look in his eyes will give you the real answer, no matter what words cross his lips."

"You're right, Kel. I won't be able to fully believe it myself until I hear it from Jax. I should have just talked to him about it tonight. He knew something was wrong." I frown.

I hated lying to him - even a little white lie like not feeling well. I can't expect him to be honest and open if I am going to lie. That's not fair.

Kelly smiles, "of course I'm right." She winks. "Sleep on it tonight, then talk to Jax tomorrow. You will feel a lot better. Plus - it will put all of your feelings out on the table - and his. Everything will work out, you'll see."

"I hope so."

Chapter 31.

JAXSON.

Something is up with Syd - I know it. She was definitely not acting like herself at dinner. She said she wasn't feeling well but I know that's bullshit. I've been racking my brain, trying to think of something I could have said or done to upset her, but I can't.

I start to worry that maybe she just changed her mind about me, but I can't figure out what would have caused that. Like, dating me is too much pressure, or she doesn't like being in the limelight sometimes. Dam the paparazzi and public interest. I play football - why does everyone care so much what I'm doing in my free time?

Or maybe things are moving too fast for her. I haven't told Sydney I love her yet, even though I've wanted to so many times. I haven't even told her half of what I've been thinking. I may even want to marry this girl - which is crazy for a guy like me. I can't imagine spending my life without Syd in it. I don't want to. She's everything to me now.

I didn't want to scare her so I never told her all of that, but maybe I did in some other way. I feel so deeply for her, I'm sure it's transparent. We've spent so much time together - maybe it's just too much.

Shit. I've never had to deal with these kind of feelings before. Love 'em and leave 'em. One and done. That's the way it's always been. This love and caring shit is hard. I never knew I could feel this way. I've never experienced so much doubt. I need to make things right.

Syd's not being up front with me and that's not going to fly. I'm an open book - sometimes too much so - but I would never hide anything from her. It's not my style. Tomorrow, I'm going to talk to her. We're going to lay everything out on the table and get to the bottom of whatever this is.

I love her. We need to make things work. I need Sydney in my life and I will do whatever it takes to keep her there.

Chapter 32.

SYDNEY.

Kelly is in the kitchen already when I wake up. She's at the table with her laptop.

"Good morning," I say, sleepily. I make my way to the coffee pot.

"Yeah. Morning. Not sure if it's going to be a good one, though."

I look at her, confused, too tired to ask what she means.

"Just browsing my social media sites this morning. I saw something that might upset you," Kelly says softly, "but you know it means nothing," she adds.

"What?" I ask, afraid of what I'm going to see.

Kelly turns her computer so I can see the screen.

There's a photo of Jax and Nadia. It looks like it was taken in the parking lot after the game last night. I can tell it's from last night from what each of them are wearing - although Nadia is always in something tight and black so I can't be sure. They're not doing anything scandalous, really. Nadia is leaning against his car. She appears to be trying to look seductive. Her arms are reaching for him, her hands look like they're resting on the arms of his jacket.

The blurb underneath says 'James seen post game canoodling with the sexy Nadia Tate of Corporate Consulting. This after party looks like it is going to be a private one.'

I grind my teeth together. I know it means nothing. I know they're trying to make something innocent into a scandal. I just can't help feeling like I'm being played by the both of them right now.

Kelly looks at my face contorting. "Syd. It's nothing. It's the media doing their best to stir the pot and make headlines. Jax wouldn't hurt you like that." She looks at me, my expression hasn't changed. "Besides, even if you weren't in the picture he wouldn't mess with that bitch. She's so not his type."

"I don't know," I say.

"You do know, Syd. Listen to your heart, not this bullshit you're reading. You know Jax."

I continue to stare at the photo and try to analyze it. Tim walks into the kitchen.

"What are you ladies discussing so intensely this early in the morning?" He glances at the laptop and stops where he's standing, "what the fuck?"

"Exactly," I agree.