LIESEL
After another long day of meetings, Cooper and I have officially presented our proposal to the GM, along with backups and backups of backups. That means we’ve recommended signing Colton Spencer, keeping Jessup for another year, and signing my brothers to the extended roster. I don’t think either Coop or I are truly thrilled about it, but what happens now is out of my hands.
Bah humbug.
Being in control is the best, and I hate the idea that I’m not. That may be the way life goes but I don’t have to like it.
“You two seem to have gotten past your differences,” Kathy says afterwards. “Good.”
“Liesel gave a very heartfelt apology,” Coop tells her. “It moved me.”
Kathy shakes her head, and walks past us. “See you at six for cocktails.”
When she’s gone, I scowl at Coop. “You can’t shut up, can you?”
“Oh no. Not even a little,” he says. We leave the room together. “And it’s so much harder when Ihaven’t slept.” He bumps his elbow into my side, and I swat it away.
“People will get the wrong idea,” I hiss.
“Again with this? What do you think they’ll think? That we—gasp—successfully put aside our differences? Or do you mean they’ll think wecanoodled?”
He waggles his eyebrows, and I have the urge to shave them off. “Don’t say that.”
“Canoodle? Why not? It’s a great word.”
It’s the end of our second day, and I’mspent. Between the late night and the full day of meetings—including a two-hour long presentation on a new ticketing system that will surely rock the sports world—I could hibernate for the winter. Oh, and if that’s not enough, Coop has been my shadow all day.
I go between amusement and annoyance every time he opens his mouth. Also, and this is probably the exhaustion talking, he has areallyattractive mouth. If only it would stop long enough for me to look at it.
“Why are you so bent on vexing me?” I ask.
“Why are you so easy to vex?”
I punch his arm, and he laughs. We’re near the stairs, and while I’m used to taking them with Juliet, I don’t want to, not even with Coop.
I mean, especiallynotwith Coop.
I’m tired.Tootired. And I haven’t showered yet after our long night. I’m not saying I stink, but I’m saying the dry shampoo I used this morning makes me look like a frosted fruitcake.
“See you in an hour,” I say when Coop opens the stairwell.
“I’ll be the one in a Santa hat.”
I groan but smile.
He’s not that bad.
I’m just walking into my suite when I get a video call from Lucas. My brothers both play for the same Triple-A Firebirds affiliate team, so I’m sure Logan will be close by.
“Hey,” Lucas says.
“Hey,” I say. “Are you wearing one of your Christmas sweaters?”
“Of course I am,” he says, looking at me in confusion. It probably was a silly question, but I avoid wearing mine until I have to. I really am the Grinch of the family, but I have my reasons. “Speaking of which, are you going to come over to the house and help us decorate the Christmas tree? Dad insists we can’t do it without you.”
I prop the phone against the poinsettia at the dining room table and unpack my laptop bag. Hopefully he can’t see the frown I’m fighting off. “You can do it without me.”Please.
“He says Mom wouldn’t have done it without you.”
