I may not completely agree, but I can’t help but smile.
People swear they have the world’s best friend, but I’d die on the hill that mine’s the best.
“You’re too blunt for your own good. I love you big, Mally.”
“I love you bigger.” A smile stretches her voice. “I’m tired of talking about your cruddy coworkers and need a distraction before these kids pelt me with water balloons. Don’t think about the job or the fact that you can’t control it. Do you like Cade again?”
I’ve rehearsed this answer many times. Because I’m a professional, the two-letter word should be easy to say, but my mouth won’t move.
Instead, a three-letter word rears its ugly head.
We weren’t right before. He kept too much in. But now, he’s letting me see parts of him I never had access to. And I don’t know what to do with that except admit that I see the changes. And maybe, that part of me still wants him.
Even though I shouldn’t.
After a beat, I nod, but she can’t see me. “I do, but—”
“Turner!” My supervisor pushes my office door open. The smile on his face is faker than the motivational posters in the HR department.
I whisper, “Gotta go,” before hanging up and standing. “Trevor! What can Ido for you?”
Judgmental eyes take in the small space, likely because his office dwarfs mine. “Can’t I come and see my junior agent?”
My eyes dart to the open door. “You haven’t before?”
“You’ve never had an athlete going to the All-Star Game before. Speaking of, how’s the star doing?”
No clue. Since rushing out of his house four nights ago with none of my dignity, we’ve barely spoken.
“Over the moon,” I squeeze out, taking a seat.
“As he should be. Atlanta is nice this time of year. Gah, he doesn’t know what’s coming. The number of women that’ll be throwing themselves at him is gonna be legendary. It’ll be the best week of his damn life.”
I swallow bile. “The best.”
Cade may have made it clear he isn’t available, but that doesn’t mean women aren’t completely obsessed with him. You’d be crazy not to be. He’s a professional athlete who looks the way he does and has a heart of gold.
“And you’re going to make sure of it,” Trevor says. “Since the game is on Tuesday, you’ll need to be there by Monday.”
The papers in my hand fall to the ground. “You want me to go to the All-Star Game in Atlanta?”
His weighted pause tells me he’d prefer if I quit, but he recovers. “Winston damn near demanded it when he heard the news.” Without waiting for me, he yells, “Ernie! Get in here!”
The rumpled man rushes inside. Based on the crease in his pants, he’s been sitting outside the entire time. “What can I do for you?”
“Reserve a hotel room at The Prescott for Turner. Checking in on Monday and checking out on Wednesday. Book her flight, first class, and send us both the confirmation when done.”
My office feels more cramped than a sardine can when Ernie takes a seat on the ground and opens his laptop. Nobody but my clients, except for Andy that one time, has been inside my office. Now, I’ve got my supervisor, who hates me, and the receptionist taking up all the space.
“After the game, take him to the swankiest bar in town and show him the time of his life. Invite anybody he wants to celebrate with. On Tuesday night, you’re going to make the golden boy feel like a star.”
I bite my tongue. He’s more than the golden boy.
Then my nerves flare up. Taking players out to celebrate after a big game or win is normal. I did it with Holly after the Carolina Rage won the Cup and Lionel when he won player of the year. But this is Cade we’re talking about. The man I almost broke the biggest professional boundary with.
And now I have to take him out for a night on the town.
“Was it a smile like this or like this?”
