Rett leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, staring Hailee down.
I swear, the rest of us hold our breath, waiting to hear what he’s got to say.
“Sweetheart, you can come for me anytime you like,” he teases, giving her a wink.
Hailee sucks in a deep breath, her nostrils flaring and her face turning red.
“You’re impossible,” she finally huffs.
“Meh,” Rett says, resting back in his seat and spreading his thighs wide despite the tight space we’re all cooped up in. “Just think how boring your job would be without me.”
Hailee mutters something that I miss, but it makes those around her chuckle, before she unlocks her cell and begins tapping away, doing her best to ignore Rett.
As we turn the corner, the lights from the club are almost impossible to miss, as is the line that wraps around the building. I guess it helps that this place is owned by a couple of LA’sfootball players. I don’t doubt that they’ll be here tonight, and that their fans will want a piece of them. And us. It’s been well publicized that this place is going to be teeming with professional athletes tonight. Football, hockey, baseball, basketball. We’re all in attendance.
“Are you all ready?” Hailee asks.
Beside me, Freya trembles. I reach for her hand and entwine our fingers, and lean closer so I can whisper in her ear while Hailee attempts to give us all—Rett—more reminders about how to behave tonight.
As per Hailee’s instructions, Linc and Parker go first, followed by Casey and Kodie. The moment the door is open, the noise from outside floods in. People are screaming and cheering.
I look at Freya and find her sitting with her head lowered and her eyes closed.
My heart slams against my chest.
I can’t make her do this. I can’t?—
“Cole, Freya, you guys are up next.”
Freya’s head lifts, and she blinks a couple of times.
I watch her in awe as she pulls some kind of mask of confidence on and nods.
“Just remember, Freya, it’ll be over in a flash, and then you can enjoy the rest of your night in peace in the VIP area,” Hailee says, clocking Freya’s apprehension.
Freya looks at Hailee, and an understanding passes between them.
Whatever Freya is keeping from me, Hailee knows.
I can’t say I’m surprised. As our PR director, she makes it her business to know everything. With Freya working for me and our relationship growing, I guess she decided to dive into her life to learn just who Freya Price is.
I briefly wonder if I should have done the same. But I quickly shoot it down.
When she’s ready, she’ll tell me.
Freya rolls her shoulders back and shuffles forward.
“You’ve got this, Whirlwind,” I tell her, hoping like hell it helps, even just a tiny bit.
I climb out first to the bright flash of cameras before holding my hand out for my girl. She might be feeling all kinds of anxious right now, but as she slides her palm against mine and steps out of the limo, the only thing I feel is pride.
As the cameras flash, capturing us out together as a couple for the first time, all I can think about is how fucking lucky I am.
Fans and photographers both shout things at us, but I can barely make out the words as together, we turn this way and that, smiling until our cheeks are sore.
With my arm locked around Freya, I quickly sign a couple of autographs for some fans who’ve managed to get to the front. We’re almost at the club entrance when a huge scream erupts from the crowd.
The high-pitched, all-female noise gives me a clue as to what’s just happened behind me. And when I look back, I discover I’m right.
