She appeared, looking completely bewildered as she swung the bar’s door shut behind her. “What’s this cloak and dagger routine, Ober?”
“We have to keep a low profile.”
“To do what? What are you getting me tangled up in?” Confusion screwed up her face.
I sighed, looking around the alley to make sure no one was around. “I need your help.”
“Are you . . . in danger? What’s wrong?”
“No, not really. I just—” I pulled at my temple with myfingertips.
“Oh, spit it out, Nick!”
“Okay! I know we’re not supposed to see each other or anything, but I—”
Shit, what was I going to say? I couldn’t tell her that I liked her. I couldn’t give her that satisfaction after she talked shit about me behind my back. I hated myself for still liking her. I was a rich athlete. I should have a little more self-respect than that.
“I need you to . . . let me practice on you.”
Her eyes widened, jaw dropped. Her mouth formed a handful of shapes before she spoke. “Practice what, exactly?”
“Um,” I coughed and looked away. “Sex stuff?”
Her chest heaved as she breathed. “Are you a virgin or something?”
“No. I’m not. I’m just, ah, not as skilled as I’d like to be. And you already know that, so it’s less embarrassing.”
She sighed, shaking her head. “Meet a nice girl, Nick. Take her on some dates. Get to know her. Go into it easy. You’re a nice guy. I’m sure some girl would love to be that for you.”
“I already tried that. It has to be you.”
“Oh, no. No no no. I, you, we, you’ve got the wrong gal,” she said, making an X with her arms. “There are professionals for that sort of thing.”
“You think I didn’t think of that? You think it wouldn’t get out that Nick Oberbeck uses sex workers? You’re my agent, Annie.”
“Yeah, exactly. I’m your agent!” she huffed. “Are you out of your mind?”
“No! I mean, it’ll also give me a chance to make up for last time without compromising my reputation.”
“Yeah, and what about mine? You know how my last job ended!” She slipped the tip of her manicured pinky nail between her lips and nibbled. She always had cute, done-up nails, sometimes with little pictures, sometimes just pretty colors.
I was stunned to silence for a second. “I didn’t know that’s whyyou left.”
She tossed her head from side to side. “This was a good opportunity, too. One of those signs, you know.”
“Don’t you think it’s a sign that we’re in the same place again?”
Her eyes softened. “Nick, you know we can’t.”
“We wouldn’t have to let anyone know!”
“I live with your teammate. People would know.”
I scowled. “And you wear his number.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Is that a problem for you somehow? I borrowed a jersey from Kitty.”
“If you’re going to wear somebody’s name, it’d damn well better be mine.”
