Updated Mar 22, 2026 • ~8 min read
Chapter 13: Too Deep to Run
POV: Rory
Rory – MEETING THE TEAM (OFFICIALLY)
Rory is covering a mandatory team dinner at some expensive steakhouse in River North—one of those industry events where players and press and sponsors all mingle with open bar and networking opportunities—when she realizes that hiding her relationship with Henrik has become significantly more complicated now that Lucas knows and is apparently incapable of not smirking every time she and Henrik are in the same room together.
“Stop that,” Rory hisses at Lucas when she finds herself cornered near the bar waiting for drinks, and Henrik is across the room talking to sponsors who want photos with the star center. “You’re being obvious.”
“I’m being supportive,” Lucas corrects with a grin that suggests he’s enjoying this entire situation far too much. “You two are good together. Anyone with eyes can see it.”
“Anyone with eyes absolutely cannot see it because we’re maintaining professional distance,” Rory argues, accepting her wine from the bartender while scanning the room to make sure no other journalists are close enough to overhear this conversation. “We have to keep this secret or my career gets destroyed.”
“Your career won’t get destroyed,” Lucas says, though his expression suggests he understands the complications. “Maybe temporarily complicated, but destroyed seems dramatic.”
“You don’t understand journalism ethics,” Rory says flatly. “Sleeping with someone you cover professionally is grounds for termination in most newsrooms. My editor would reassign me at minimum, fire me at worst. I can’t risk that.”
“Then tell your editor you’re involved and request reassignment,” Lucas suggests reasonably. “Cover a different team. Someone else takes the Frost beat. Problem solved.”
“Except I love covering the Frost,” Rory argues. “This is my dream assignment. Why should I have to give it up because I fell for someone?”
“You’re asking the wrong person,” Lucas points out. “I’m happily married with kids. I gave up lots of things for my wife—late nights with teammates, certain sponsorship opportunities that required too much travel, the idea that my career was the only thing that mattered. Compromise is part of relationships.”
“I’ve already compromised,” Rory says, more defensive than she intends. “I followed Carlos around for years, sacrificed career opportunities, put his baseball schedule ahead of my journalism ambitions. I’m not doing that again.”
“Henrik’s not asking you to,” Lucas observes gently. “He’s the one suggesting you keep your job and maintain professional boundaries. He’s accommodating your needs. But Rory, eventually something has to give. Either the relationship goes public and you deal with the professional consequences, or it stays secret forever which seems unsustainable, or you end it to avoid complications entirely. Those are your options.”
Rory knows he’s right—has been avoiding thinking about the inevitable choice between her career and her relationship because facing that decision feels impossible when she wants both—but hearing it stated so clearly makes the panic spike in her chest.
“I don’t want to end it,” Rory admits quietly.
“Then don’t,” Lucas says simply. “Figure out the other stuff. Together. That’s what partnerships are—figuring out complicated things as a team instead of individually.”
He leaves to rejoin his wife at one of the tables, and Rory stands at the bar trying to regulate her breathing while processing the conversation, and when Henrik appears beside her with a concerned expression, she realizes he must have noticed her distress from across the room.
“You okay?” Henrik asks quietly, close enough that she can feel the warmth from his body but not touching because there are too many people around.
“Lucas thinks we should go public,” Rory says, keeping her voice low. “Says the secrecy is unsustainable.”
“Do you want to go public?” Henrik asks carefully.
“I don’t know,” Rory admits. “Part of me wants to claim you publicly. Stop hiding. Let people know we’re together. But the professional consequences terrify me.”
“Then we stay secret,” Henrik says immediately. “As long as you need. I meant what I said—I’ll wait.”
“What if I need forever?” Rory challenges. “What if I’m never ready to risk my career for this?”
Henrik is quiet for a long moment, and then he says gently, “Then eventually we’d have to talk about whether staying secret is sustainable or if we’re delaying an inevitable end. But we’re not there yet. Let’s just… see how things go. No pressure for decisions right now.”
A photographer approaches asking for a shot of Henrik with some sponsors, and he excuses himself with an apologetic look, leaving Rory at the bar trying to figure out how to navigate loving someone when loving them might require sacrificing the career she’s spent years building.
The dinner continues with Rory conducting obligatory interviews and taking notes about team dynamics while carefully not spending too much time talking to Henrik, and by the end of the night she’s exhausted from the performance of professionalism when what she actually wants is to go home with Henrik and stop pretending they’re anything other than two people falling in love.
She’s heading toward the exit when one of the rookies—Tyler, still friendly despite Henrik’s jealous interruption weeks ago—catches up to her with a smile.
“Hey, can I ask you something?” Tyler says, and there’s something uncertain in his tone. “About Andersen. He’s been… different lately. Happier. Less intense during practice. Some of the guys think maybe he’s seeing someone. You cover him pretty closely—have you noticed anything?”
Rory’s stomach drops because this is exactly the kind of question she was afraid of, exactly the reason secrecy matters when journalists start speculating about player personal lives.
“I cover his professional performance,” Rory says carefully, journalist mask firmly in place. “His personal life isn’t really my concern unless it affects his game. And his game has been solid this season, so whatever’s different doesn’t seem to be a problem.”
“Right,” Tyler says, but he’s studying her with the kind of attention that makes Rory nervous. “It’s just… he looks at you sometimes. When you’re doing interviews with other players. Like he’s paying attention to who you’re talking to. Thought maybe you’d noticed.”
“Henrik looks at everyone during practice,” Rory deflects. “He’s the team captain. It’s his job to pay attention.”
“Sure,” Tyler agrees, but his tone suggests he’s not entirely convinced. “Anyway, see you at practice Monday.”
He leaves and Rory escapes to her car before anyone else can corner her with speculative questions about Henrik’s personal life, and she drives home with her heart racing because if rookies are noticing Henrik’s attention, other people probably are too, which means their secret is less secure than they’ve been pretending.
Her phone rings as she’s pulling into her parking garage—Henrik calling instead of texting, which usually means he needs to actually talk instead of just coordinate logistics.
“Tyler asked me about you,” Rory says immediately when she answers. “Asked if I’d noticed you acting different this season. Said you look at me during practice in ways that seem personal.”
“Fuck,” Henrik mutters. “I thought I was being subtle.”
“You’re not subtle,” Rory says, pulling into her parking space and killing the engine. “You’re obvious. And if rookies are noticing, other people probably are too. Lucas already knows. How long before someone says something to press or management?”
“What do you want to do?” Henrik asks carefully. “We can dial back the contact at work. I can stop volunteering for your interviews. We can be even more careful about keeping distance.”
“Or we could just end this before it gets more complicated,” Rory hears herself say, and immediately regrets it because she doesn’t actually want to end things, is just panicking about potential discovery.
Henrik is quiet for a long moment, and then he says very carefully, “Is that what you want? To end this?”
“No,” Rory admits. “I’m just scared. About getting caught. About losing my job. About having to choose between my career and you.”
“You don’t have to choose right now,” Henrik says gently. “Let’s just… be more careful. More deliberate about maintaining professional distance. And Rory? If it comes down to your career or us, I’d never ask you to choose me over your job. I know what journalism means to you.”
“But what if I want to choose you?” Rory asks quietly. “What if I’m falling in love with you and I hate that it might cost me everything I’ve worked for?”
“Are you?” Henrik’s voice has gone soft. “Falling in love with me?”
“Maybe,” Rory admits. “Probably. Yes. I’m in love with you and it terrifies me because the last time I loved an athlete it destroyed me and I don’t know if I can survive that again.”
“You won’t have to,” Henrik promises. “I’m not going to destroy you. I’m not Carlos. I’m just Henrik, who’s completely in love with you and will wait however long you need to trust that.”
Rory sits in her car crying softly while Henrik talks her through the panic on the phone, and by the time she finally hangs up and goes inside her apartment, she’s made a decision—she’s going to keep seeing Henrik, keep taking this risk, and just be more careful about hiding it until they figure out what happens next.
Because walking away from him feels impossible when she’s already in too deep to protect herself.
🔥
END CHAPTER 13
Reader Reactions