He stands. “I’m a man of few words, but I’d like to kick off the speeches.”
“S-speeches?” I stutter.
“Yup.” His shy smile appears. “I know we can all speak directly to how amazing you are, but I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me in the last year. When my brother got into that car accident, I froze. But you? You jumped into the fire and bought the first flight you could find, promising you’d take care of everything with the Grizzlies. When pushed to come back before I was ready, you fought for me to have extra time with my family. You never stop going to bat for me, and I hope you know I’d do the same for you any day.”
“Lionel,” I choke out, but Brett raises his cup of lemonade before I can finish my sentence.
“Hear hear!” he sings. “Shay Shay, you make this life so much easier. You’re the first person I call with news, genius inventions that’ll make us both rich, updates, and tea. Hell, I know I can call you just to talk aboutnothing because you always answer. I appreciate you every day. You keep me on track, and you keep me sane. I can’t wait to annoy you until the day we retire.”
My laugh is sudden, and I’m once again cut off before I can respond.
Victoria jumps up. “When I first met you, I thought you reminded me so much of myself. Hardworking. Dedicated.Hot. Stubborn in the best way. But within ten minutes of our first conversation, I realized you were a million times better than I’ll ever be. I felt a little lost after being traded to North Carolina, but you made it home. Rage Smut Book Club wouldn’t be here without you, and neither would I. You’re the little sister who acts like the big sister I always needed.”
A sob catches in my throat. “This is unfair, guys. You aren’t giving me time to tell you how I feel about you.”
Lionel chuckles. “You show us how much every single day. This is our chance to tell you how much we care about you.”
Beneath the table, something grips my trembling knee. A quick peek reveals Cade’s hand on my lavender jeans. It’s the supportive touch I need to make it through the speeches everyone seems determined to make.
Deshawn pushes himself up with a soft grunt. “After my injury, I felt lost, but every morning, I woke up to an email from you. You made sure I was getting out of bed, eating breakfast, and taking care of myself. Even when I ignored you. Being an athlete, even with all the fame, can feel lonely, but you make me feel seen. You’re the best agent I’ve ever had.” His smile widens. “Adjacent or not.”
“Deshawn,” I try, but Holly leaps from her seat.
“My professional soccer dreams were practically dead when I met you. I had no team and no future, but in the Permian restroom, you gave me a chance when nobody else would.” Teary eyes meet mine, and she presses her hand to her heart. “When I think back on how I got to this point,you’re the first thing that comes to mind. When people ask how I did it, I say that I couldn’t have done it without my agent. You don’t just negotiate. You fight for me and help me get into rooms I never thought I’d see. You’re the best agent and friend a girl could ask for.”
Tears are already threatening to fall when Cade releases my knee and stands.
“There will never be enough time to tell you how I feel, so I’ll keep it short and say it’s such an honor to know you and work with you. Every time I hear people talk about your fierce loyalty and determination, I get so happy because you’ve always been this way. In a world full of bad agents, who only care about themselves or performance, I can say with certainty that you’re the best. I don’t even think you know how much you have changed our lives.” His eyes are more brown than green tonight, and they’re full of something only I can read. “Mine especially.”
Hooting pulls my gaze from him to their raised glasses.
“And I messaged Delilah,” Holly says. “She was so sad to miss this but said you’ll be receiving her fifteen-minute speech by voice memo after she finishes practice.”
“We love you, Shay Shay,” Brett hollers.
My eyes roam the table. I know I do my job well and they’re happy with their careers, but everything they said was personal. Things completely separate from their sport. In reality, we’re all doing life together. In a professional sense, but also in a personal way that I’ll never be able to thank them for enough.
Even though working at Permian feels like hell, I love them too.
That’s why I hope the letter of intent I submitted to Trevor this morning gives me that promotion so I can stay with them for a long time.
Chapter Thirty-One
I should not behere.
Agreeing to meet Cade at his home after the all-client dinner is objectively a bad idea. Last time I was here, it almost ended with me on his lap and our lips sewn together. But I’m a damn good agent, and his vague comment at the third hole about Jon not being an issue anymore won’t stop needling at me until I make sure he’s okay.
Pacing across the wraparound porch, I weigh my options. There’s still time to leave. Sure, he watched me park my car from the window, but I can come up with a good excuse.
Explosive diarrhea? Food poisoning? Bubble guts?
Maybe something less stinky.
“Debating how to let me down?”
I didn’t even notice the door had opened. Cade stands in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame. It’s hard not to stare, especially now that we’re not surrounded by my other clients. He’s still wearing his mini golf outfit, but a pair of glasses are perched on his nose. He always hated wearing contacts.
“Sort of,” I admit, toe scuffing the ground. “Why did we need to meet at your house for this?”
