“Grow up, Talon! There’ll be other project lead assignments. You can shine on the retail portion of this project if you’d put your injured ego aside and stop acting like a child. I’m giving you a chance to do that. Not because I give a damn about you, but because despite being an asshole, you are talented. But another stunt like that, and I will take you down.”
* * *
Ibring the pent-up aggression from the day to the field with me. We’re playing a tough team, not to be fooled by the cutesiness of their name, Victorious Secret. These women came to win.
In the last of the second half, with Victorious on the scoreboard, the whistle blows, and they have the ball. There’s a rush to take control. Martinez gets there first and passes to me with a side kick. I run it down the pitch, weaving in and out of attacks. The stars are aligned, and my aim is perfect. I kick the ball hard, watch it sail straight past the goalie’s shoulder, and hit the back of the net.
I high-five Martinez and Hines, two of the better players on the team. The small crowd of families cheers loudly for us. Keeping up the pace, Hines gets the next goal in the final five minutes, and we finish it, taking the win two to one.
After fist bumps all around, I head to my car, chugging a bottle of water when my phone pings—a message from Dee in our group chat.
Dee: Well??? How did the talk with Stiles go?
Me: Fantastic
Dee: Really?
Me: Oh yeah!
I peel back the wrapper of a protein bar and bite off the end.
Lexie: Wait. Let’s do Facetime.
Me: I’m just leaving the field and need to get home. Dinner this week?
Dee: Ur going to make us wait for details?
Me: I’ll have more to tell since we’re “talking” again tonight.
Dee: OMG. You did the deed!?
Me: 3 times
Lexie: In one night?
Me: Yes ma’am. And it was the BEST I’ve ever had.
Dee: How am I going to look at Stiles now?
Me: The same way I look at Mick. Like dang, girl, you’re tapping that.
Dee: ??
Lexie: Do you like him?
Me: I actually do. Turns out he has a personality and a dry sense of humor when he’s not being Robocop. But it’s just hot sex.
Dee: Famous last words.
Me: Take your romantic thoughts elsewhere. They’re not wanted here.
Dee: Lol. Have a fab night. ??
Me: I will. Let me know about dinner. xo
* * *
Arriving home, anxious to get in the shower, I’m derailed by a note on my door marked Urgent. What now? I take the stairs up to the second floor. My knock is answered by Miss Carol and her hooded son.
