“Tightass,” Paxton muttered as I walked away. I lunged back his way, but Romelski had already issued Paxton a “watch it.”
Once Mikey had me outside, he spoke. “What was that about?”
“He was being disgusting about Annie. She’s his potential agent.”
“I know, man, I heard.”
“And you didn’t care to defend her either? She’s your fiancee’s friend.”
Mikey shrugged. “That kid’s trash. They’re probably not giving him a contract anyway.”
“That’s not what Coach said,” I grumbled. And anyway, Annie needed that contract. How often did she have to deal with shitheads like that at work? I knew things were harder for women agents, but I’d never seen the evidence. This kid was the reason why, in the flesh.
If he was going to be vile, the least he could do was pay her bills.
“Just get through today, bud. He’ll be gone in an hour, back to his mom. I’ll sit with him and scare him off. Take a few and come back when you’re ready, alright?”
“Don’t scare him off,” I groaned.
Mikey rolled his eyes. “Which way do you want it, Obi?”
I rubbed my eyebrows. “I want assholes like him not to exist.”
“One asshole at a time, my friend. We can only manage one at a time.”
Chapter 38
Annie
MARCH | Balance: $45,397
I was on my way to Nick’s from the office on a Friday evening, leaving yet another voicemail for Paxton Marshall.
“Hey, Paxton. It’s Annie Markham. Just wanted to check in with you. I got some good feedback from the Princes’ staff, and I wanted to touch base with what might be on the table. Give me a call back when you get a chance.”
As I was hanging up, my phone rang. Kitty. I answered.
And all I heard was sobbing.
“Kitty, what’s wrong? What happened?”
Through a deep, weepy gasp, she cried, “Can you come over?”
“Of course. On my way. Did someone die?”
“No. Guy’s—” more sobs, “I think he’s cheating on me, Annie.”
Fuck.
“I’ll be right there, Kitty Cat. Just hang on. Have you called Jessie yet?”
“She’s here. Guy sent her down when he went to Mikey’s. I told him to leave because I can’t even look at him right now.”
I sucked a breath through my nose. “I’m sure there’s an explanation for everything.”
Her nose honked into a tissue. “I don’t know, Annie. It looks pretty bad.”
I called Nick, who had just gotten off the phone with Mikey. The guys were assembling at Mikey’s house, and the girls at Guy and Kitty’s. It was almost farcical. It seemed surreal. They were the most in-love couple I knew, almost star-crossed lovers. How could Guy? Did he really? It felt impossible.
