Even now, it’s painful to walk into work.
Without turning around, I point at Adri. “This is Adri. Adri, this is Andy Walker.”
The moment she hears his name, her eyes dart to me, and I can practically read her mind.I am not shaking this asshole’s hand. He’s the snitch.
My lips quirk up.Just a quickshake.
She scowls. Fine. Only because I love you.
“Hello.” Andy’s easy-going charm deepens his voice. “It’s nice to meet you, Adri.”
In true Adri fashion, she wipes her hand along her leg and looks him up and down. “I’d say the same, but that wouldn’t be true.”
I bite down on my lip to suppress a laugh and focus on the game. Adri doesn’t care who she offends, and it gives me the boost I need to get through the next four innings.
A hard-fought Pilots win has the stadium buzzing. My hands are still tingling as Adri and I make our way down to the players’ area with our arms looped. She knows I’ve been denied entry before, but having a witness to my shame might kill me.
My chest tightens when I spot the security guard. “I don’t need to meet Cade tonight. I’ll email him or—”
“Nuh-uh. Look at me,” she orders, pulling us to a stop in the middle of the hallway. “You’re gonna go in there and talk to your client. Do you hear me? You’re the best agent in that room. Having a great set of tits doesn’t negate that fact.”
It’s impossible not to smile at the compliment and her undying loyalty. My boobs are pretty great.
“You may be a menace, but you’re my menace. Thank you.”
Her hip bumps mine. “Any time.”
At the door, the guard assesses my badge. “Turner?”
“Shaylene Turner,” I say. “Yes.”
After a brief pause, he opens the door. “Go on in. Cade told me to expect his agent.”
I almost trip over myself as I walk into the restricted area. Being taken seriously fills me with triumph, and I have Cade to thank.
Adri presses her lips to my cheek. “You’ve got this. Find me when you’re done.”
The bustling room is saturated with stunning women and partners, adorable children, and proud family members. I find a small table in the corner and take a seat. My first postgame discussion with Cade has to go well. He’s bigger, faster, and stronger than he was in college. My notepad is filled with praises I didn’t want to forget.
I’m debating how to ask him about his hip, when mint invades my senses and I lift my head. Dejected hazel eyes clash with the celebration around us, frozen on the legal pad in my hands.
“Nice game,” I say, standing quickly.
He blows out a slow breath. “Not really.”
Ready to prove him wrong, I tap on a note about his height being an advantage and smile up at him. “In the third inning you—”
“Missed two grounders. Back to back. It was bad. There’s a lot to work on between now and the next series, especially if I want to keep everyone happy. So, tell me everything I did wrong.”
Defensiveness sharpens his tone. And if I’m right, fear too.
“Why would you think I’d do that?” I ask.
As if bracing for impact, his spine straightens. “That’s your job, isn’t it?”
My mouth falls open. Who is this man in front of me?
“Cade—”
